5 Tips for Incorporating House Plants and Their Benefits
Did you know that decorating with indoor houseplants can actually improve your health?
While a little greenery goes a long way toward decorating a space, it can also deliver a range of other benefits, including ones that affect your physical wellbeing.
With so much inspiration all around you, it can be challenging to know how to incorporate these plants in a way that looks natural and beautiful. Check out these five easy ways you can start today!
Why Decorate with Houseplants?
Today, you can hop online and order almost any type of accessory or knick-knack that you want. While these can be attractive, it doesn't take long for them to accumulate and pile up, leaving you with a pile of junk that you don't know what to do with.
Indoor plants, on the other hand, look effortlessly chic and botanical, no matter how or where you place them. Why should you consider going this route? Put simply, the science-backed benefits don't lie. Let's take a look at a few of the top reasons it's time to bring the outdoors in.
May Improve Indoor Air Quality
Phytoremediation is the process that describes how plants help decontaminate the air around you. Back in the 1980s, when NASA needed a way to improve the air quality inside a sealed spacecraft, they found that the roots and soil of some plants reduced the quantity of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the air.
Certain species are better at phytoremediation than others. If you want to improve the quality of the air in your home, consider buying one of these:
- Spider plant
- Ficus tree
- Rubber tree
- Boston fern
Indoor Houseplants Can Improve Mood and Lower Stress
Working from home and feeling particularly on-edge? A houseplant can help.
One study found that indoor gardening reduced the stress response in participants while performing even a short, computer-based task, which otherwise would cause their heart rates and blood pressure to spike.
In addition, counselors and therapists often use horticultural therapy to help promote a sense of wellbeing among those who suffer from a range of disorders, including depression and anxiety. When you need a natural pick-me-up, tending a plant can gently improve your mood.
Reduce Fatigue and Improve Productivity
If you find it hard to get going in the mornings, then consider adding a few houseplants to your home.
One study found that real foliage plants were most effective in helping students study, compared to both fake plants and images of plants. Students' brain scans showed that they were more attentive and concentrated when real plants were in the room!
The same properties can help you feel more productive around the house, whether you're working in your home office or whipping up a meal in the kitchen.
How to Incorporate Indoor Houseplants in Your Home
Feeling inspired and ready to decorate with a few plants? Here are five easy ways you can incorporate this healthy trend in your own home.
1. Decorate Your Tablescape
Are you used to reaching for a vase every time you see a pretty bud or a flowering limb? Consider skipping the vessel and arranging greenery in a long garland across your table, instead.
To help your centerpiece span the full length of your table, weave decorative elements among the flowers and foliage! A few ideas include:
- Votive candles
- Short vases
- Small lanterns
- Decorative baskets
This is a great way to pay homage to anything that is currently in season and blooming outside of your window! For the summer, few things beat a table filled with gorgeous magnolia blooms and their huge, deep green leaves.
2. Use Hanging Baskets
Think hanging baskets are only for outdoor porches? Not hardly!
Today, you can find a variety of indoor hangers that make it easy to display your favorite plants. Soft, macrame designs look serene in a bedroom, while more vibrant rope baskets are right at home in a cheery kitchen.
Affix them to the ceiling or high on a wall for a visually dynamic look. You can also arrange them to hang over a bedside table to add a natural touch without cluttering up your nightstand.
3. Group Like Plants Together
Do you have a few different sizes of potted cacti that you are not sure what to do with? What about oversized palm plants?
No matter what you are working with, consider grouping the individual planters together to form a curated, collected look. While this usually works best with taller plants, you can use any similarly colored or shaped varieties for the same appeal.
To pull the look together and make everything more organized, try to choose planters in coordinating materials, such as natural stone.
4. Use Tall, Dried Stems
If you love the look of indoor plants but do not want the upkeep, then tall stems are for you! While it is easy to find faux ones, you can make a more vibrant statement with the real thing.
Think of the style you want and let that be your guide. For instance, dried bamboo stems or pampas grass look earthy and nautical, while eucalyptus stems give off more of a spa-like aura. This approach is ideal if you have small children or curious pets who might damage a delicate plant.
5. Add a Tall Tree to Your Entry
Looking for a way to wow guests as soon as they walk into your home? If you have a foyer with a tall ceiling, then consider adding an indoor tree to this spot!
One factor to keep in mind? Unless your front door gets a lot of natural sunlight, you'll need to stick with trees that don't need a ton of light to thrive. Here's a handy list of the top low-light indoor trees!
Liven Up Your Space with Indoor Plants
Are you looking for a simple, cost-effective way to decorate your home? Indoor houseplants are vibrant, attractive, and endlessly versatile.
These five tips can help you find new and unexpected ways to freshen up your space. As you brainstorm which plants to buy and how to arrange them, we can help you clear out the perfect spot to display them. Book our team today to schedule professional junk removal services!