Indoor plants are great home or office decor, and it's not surprising that research shows these plants can boost your health and well-being. The lush flowers and the foliage of houseplants adds more beauty to your indoor spaces. You can have indoor plants almost anywhere in your home, including the sitting room, kitchen, bedroom and cubicles.
No space is unsuitable for indoor plants and they offer an opportunity to liven up your home. With just light and some water, you have a flourishing indoor oasis. Indoor plants are aesthetically pleasing and can offer some surprising benefits. As CEO of a plant nursery, I want to offer my experience with houseplants and the research that shows their benefits.
Reduce Signs of Stress
Many people find interacting with the natural world is often an effective stress reliever. From taking walks in the parks and forest bathing to gardening, these activities usually bring your mind to the present moment. You tend to refocus, relax and savor the good moments, which helps to cope better with stress. However, getting outside isn't the only way to manage or reduce stress. It turns out that indoor plants can help.
Studies reveal that indoor plants can bring a natural ambiance into your home, making you feel more comfortable and calm. Based on this study, attending to your houseplants can significantly reduce common stress symptoms, including increased heart rates, blood pressure and cortisol levels.
While it might sound cliche, watering indoor plants or repotting them can calm your mind and slow your respiratory rate. So, besides walking in the parks and enjoying the beautiful landscapes when hiking, adding some indoor plants in your interior spaces promotes relaxation and lower signs of stress.
Indoor Plants Are Good Air Purifiers
Phytoremediation refers to a plant-based approach that uses plants to remove pollutants from the air. Adding a few plants to your home can help improve your home's air quality. We might not realize it, but some everyday household products have volatile organic compounds. The paints, cleaning supplies, particle board furniture and carpets release organic compounds like formaldehyde, benzene and more.
These compounds have detrimental effects on our health, including posting risks of cancers, headaches, respiratory diseases and allergies. Opening the windows more often helps bring fresh air into our homes. However, adding natural air purifiers like plants is another approach to helping mitigate volatile organic compounds and other pollutants.
Improving your indoor air quality can have a positive impact on your overall health. Indoor plants that can freshen up your home include the rubber tree, Boston fern, ficus tree, bamboo palms and dwarf date.
Indoor Plants Can Boost Productivity
Bromeliad in your indoor spaces may be just what you need to increase concentration and boost productivity. Several studies have shown that indoor plants can increase creativity and creativity.
A study conducted in 2004 on the effects of indoor plants on mood and creative task performance showed that people were more creative when plants were in the room. The reasons for the positive effects of houseplants on creativity still need to be clarified, but the oxygenating ability of plants might explain this occurrence.
Try a few plants to brighten your living room or office. If you're looking for ways to be creative and more productive, indoor plants are the trick you need to make things work.
Improved Sleep
Are you struggling to get some sleep? Lush greenery and radiant flowers can make your bedroom more comfortable. The plant's oxygenating capabilities can also help purify the air in your bedroom, allowing you to enjoy a restful slumber.
Studies also reveal that interacting with plants right before bedtime can enhance sleep quality, especially for individuals living in isolated environments. Indoor plants add color to your home, and evidence suggests that color is one of the main reasons plants have a soothing effect. The green color of plants has a soothing effect — an attribute that can help you relax before you retire to bed.
The soothing smells of flowers may help with relaxation and mood regulation. Since emotions and sleep are closely tied together, sleeping in a good mood improves sleep quality.
Plus, I've mentioned that indoor plants can also help reduce stress. In turn, this has a positive impact on sleep. Getting a good night's sleep can help ensure you feel refreshed and energetic.
To use plants to improve your sleep patterns, ensure you interact with plants more often. Keep green plants in your bedroom since you can interact with them before you sleep. Watering the plants in the evening or smelling them is a great way to connect with them.
Indoor plants can also be part of your movement meditation practice. Watering them as you move from one plant to the other can calm the inner chatter in your mind.
Plants that may help you sleep better include lavender, jasmine, gardenia, spider plants and snake plants.
Improve Physical Health and Healing
Have you ever wondered why people bring bouquets or plant gifts to their loved ones when recovering from an illness or surgery? Evidence suggests that plants can enhance physical health and promote quick recovery. This is because plants generate happiness.
Having flowers around you can improve your mood and reduce stress. This can help reduce the likelihood of depression and other mental health issues. The good vibes evoked can have a positive impact on speeding up recovery. So, if you're feeling down or want your loved ones to recover faster, buy them flowers and deliver them in person. It's the perfect way to spread love and ensure plants' healing effect speeds up their recovery.
You now know that indoor plants aren't meant to only beautify your home. Stefano Gabbana once said, "To me, flowers are happiness."
Houseplants are a great addition to make your home welcoming. They also have plenty of benefits for your overall health and well-being. Aim to interact with your indoor plants more often and you can gradually notice their benefits to you and your indoor spaces.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
