Plants can survive without humans but humans cannot survive without plants.
Bringing the outdoors in has long been a favorite design theme practiced by interior decorators the world over. Houseplants can add warmth to what might be a cold and barren living room. They can brighten up kitchens and personalize bedrooms. Plants will, literally, fill your home with life. But did you know that something as simple as a potted Eucalyptus can actually help to improve the quality of said life?
Research has proven that living with plants can help to reduce mental fatigue, lower stress, eliminate depression and increase self-esteem; results that are very similar to the benefits reaped from a lifestyle complete with a healthy diet and a moderate amount of exercise. Now, I’m not saying that just because you own a fern you’ll never have to hit the gym again… Sorry if I got your hopes up. But certain houseplants contribute to many aspects of our daily lives and we’d be unbeleafably crazy not to fill every room with them.
The houseplant blueprint –
The Kitchen:
Whether you’re a culinary genius or just a whiz at reheating leftover takeout, the kitchen is generally the heart of the home and often the room where you spend the most time. With close proximity to a convenient watering source and the potential for shelf or windowsill space, it is the ideal place in the house to start introducing interior plant life.
Boston Fern – known for its air-purifying qualities, the Boston fern is especially good at removing formaldehyde (found in many household products).
Feverfew – predominately grown for decoration, a few leaves of feverfew added to your steeping tea can help to relieve and prevent headaches.
Herbs – while it may be an obvious choice, potted herbs are both beautiful and useful. Basil, thyme, and rosemary do well in a sunny area and just a few sprigs will liven up any dish.
The Living Room:
Due to high traffic volume in and out of this space and long hours spent entrenched on the sofa (thank you Netflix), the living room is the perfect canvas for making a statement with focal point plants in trendy containers.
Areca Palm – able to survive in low light areas, the areca palm helps to combat colds and sinus problems by releasing moisture into the air, making it easier to breathe.
Chinese Evergreen – with a high transpiration rate that helps to humidify the air around it, the presence of a Chinese evergreen can decrease the survival and transmission of the flu virus.
Peace Lily – proven to increase the air quality by up to 60%, the peace lily is the work-horse of houseplants. It can successfully eliminate toxins like ammonia, acetone, benzene, and ethyl, even preventing the toxins from spreading to different rooms.
The Office:
A room dedicated solely to wheeling, dealing and putting in work, the home office should be filled with low maintenance, high motivation level inducing plants.
Jasmine – apart from the understated beauty of the simple white buds, inhaling the scent of the jasmine flower have been found to transmit signals directly to the limbic system (the region of your brain that regulates emotions).
Red-Edged Dracaena – ridding the air of chemicals such as xylene and trichloroethylene, the dracaena works to improve concentration and decrease stress levels.
Spider Plant – by boosting the relative humidity which minimizes the particulate matter a.k.a. dust in the air, the spider plant reduces the appearance of common allergy symptoms and has a calming effect on any workspace.
The Bedroom:
A sanctuary devoted to rest and relaxation, the boudoir and the plants residing there should be focused on helping you achieve great sleep, every night.
Gardenia – crocetin, an acid naturally occurring in the gardenia has been found to significantly improve one’s quality of sleep.
Pineapple Plant – reported by NASA, the pineapple plant has been used to improve overall air quality and also to aid in the reduction of snoring.
Snake Plant – studies show that 80% of people confirm they sleep better in cooler weather and since the snake plant has been proven to keep air temperatures low, it is extremely beneficial in creating a comfortable sleep environment.
The Bathroom:
With high humidity levels and often times, low light, bathroom houseplants must be capable of adapting to a wide range of conditions while still performing efficiently on doody duty.
Aloe Vera – hailed the “plant of immortality” by ancient Egyptians, aloe vera is known for its miraculous healing and nourishing properties. But it is also very proficient in removing formaldehyde from the air in your home.
Eucalyptus – antioxidants in the eucalyptus plant have been known to reduce head and chest congestion.
English Ivy – widely known as one of the best air-filtering plants due to its ability to absorb toxins and other unwanted airborne elements, English ivy is perfect for bathrooms of any size.
A house is not a home until its filled with love and laughter. Unfortunately, those things are usually accompanied by germs, pollutants, toxins, and smells. By incorporating some strategically placed plants into your interior design plan, you can still have the best of both worlds: more of the people you care about and less of the inevitable unhealthy extras. Plus your space will feel infinitely more chic and stylish. Now, you’ll have to excuse me, as I have some work to do… ***walks through every room, distributing plants like Oprah giving away cars, “You get a houseplant, you get a houseplant, everybody gets a houseplant!”
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In combination, our efforts have earned us 45 years worth of awards on both a regional and national level, including the Grand Award for Color Design from the Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado. Contact us today at 303.584.0496 for a free consultation and estimate for your next landscape design project.
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