Houseplants to boost your wellbeing
Houseplants are an easy, low-cost way to add more colour into your home - not to mention they’re pretty to look at!
But the benefits to houseplants go beyond their aesthetics. Did you know that some houseplants may help improve the air quality in your home, which as a result has energy and mood-boosting benefits, including reducing anxiety and increasing productivity? What’s more, having a plant to grow and care for gives you something to focus on to take your mind off everyday stresses
With so many plants to choose from it can be hard to know where to start, so we’ve compiled this list of some of our favourite air-purifying houseplants to put in your relaxation spaces. Whether that’s soaking in a bubble bath, sleeping in at the weekend, or cosying up in your favourite reading spot, light your favourite scented candle and find out the best plants to use to create a houseplant haven anywhere in your home, surround yourself with nature, and reap all the wellbeing-boosting benefits too
Spathiphyllum (peace lily)
Besides being a symbol of peace, hope and tranquillity, peace lilies are known to be one of the best air-purifying plants. Most houseplants only release oxygen during the day, whereas peace lilies also oxygenate at night, making them great for bedrooms. They also do well in bright bathrooms as they thrive in humidity. With its smooth, shiny leaves and brilliant white flower, this low maintenance plant adds some simple beauty and elegance to any room
Did you know that the peace lily is our January plant of the month?
Areca Palm (butterfly palm)
The breathtaking areca palm, also known as a butterfly palm, humidifies and purifies the air, and looks stunning while doing it. They can grow up to 2cm tall and will brighten up any room with their numerous jungle-like stems. They thrive best in humidity, but if you don’t have a large bathroom you can just mist the leaves a few times a week or stand it on a pebble tray topped with water instead. Areca palms can be a bit trickier to care for, and are fussy with their light and watering preferences, but we think it’s worth the hard work just for how beautiful they look
Hedera (ivy)
Bring some of the outdoors in with ivy. It’s naturally smaller when indoors, so you can relax knowing it won’t grow out of control! This bright and feathery plant looks wonderful trailing down a shelf or from a hanging planter. Since it copes well in both the shade and bright light, it’s ideal for your candle-lit cosy spaces or big-windowed bedrooms
Phlebodium aureum (Blue Star fern)
Most ferns only thrive in humid environments, but this undemanding houseplant will be happy in just about any room. It tolerates low light, is relatively easy to care for, and is the perfect plant for beginners. Still, it won’t say no to a bit of extra moisture, making it a particularly lovely addition to bathrooms. With a pleasant green-blue colour and elongated, wavy fronds, this funky fern really is the star of the show in the houseplant world
Calathea makoyana (peacock plant)
If you fancy more of a challenge, the Calathea makoyana from Brazil needs careful and considering watering – but the payoff is worth the effort. More often known as a peacock plant, its pale green leaves are decorated with dark green stripes running from the centre of the leaf to the outer edges, almost like feathers. Its new leaves grow rolled up, which lets you take in their unique purple underside, before unravelling to reveal its attractive patterns on top