Science-Backed Benefits Of Adding Houseplants To Your Living Room

Indoor gardening is becoming increasingly popular, and you’ve probably seen more about it on your social media feeds. Instagram reels and plant podcasts are all the rage. While indoor gardening might be a popular social media trend, there are real benefits behind it all.

So, whether you add just a few plants to your living room or decide to create indoor gardens in every room of your house, you’ll enjoy many proven health benefits that you might not be aware of. All in all, having house plants in your living room can actually improve your life.

In this guide, we’ll discuss the science-backed benefits of adding houseplants to your living room space!

Reduces Your Stress Levels

It may surprise you to know that putting houseplants in your living room can reduce your stress levels overall. Studies show that plants in your home make you feel more soothed and comfortable.

When you’re more comfortable and relaxed, your heart rate and blood pressure are also lowered, which also contributes to your overall health. In fact, having houseplants lowers your stress response, so if you’re working from home on the computer, the usual blood pressure spikes you’ll experience from this work are reduced.

This stress level is reduced no matter what type of plants your buy. So, if you’re deciding whether to get a Monstera Pinnatipartita or Peru, you’ll still experience the same benefits. The great thing about these plants is that they’re native to tropical regions like Peru, so they do best in warmer temperatures that are stable. Therefore, as long as your living room has plenty of sunlight and a temperature from 65 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, these plants will thrive.

Can Help You Recover From Illness Faster

If you’re recovering from an illness or surgery, having houseplants can help to speed up your recovery. A research study in 2002 of the health benefits of plants in gardens and hospitals showed that it positively influenced the recovery of patients.

People looking at greenery also had less of a need for pain medication and had shorter hospital stays overall. Ultimately, looking at natural scenery in a hospital or at home can provide amazing healing benefits.

Provides Allergy Relief

If you suffer from allergies, you can understand how much they can impact your daily life. Although taking allergy medications can provide relief, sometimes, it’s not quite enough. However, if you put a houseplant in your living room, it can provide you with the allergy relief you’ve been looking for.

Research says rooms that have houseplants tend to have less mold and dust than rooms without them. This is because plants act as a filter that catches airborne particles and allergens. Most any type of houseplants will help to reduce allergens; however, plants that have textured leaves are most effective. If you have allergies, avoid plants that have spores or pollen.

Improves Indoor Air Quality

Think about all of the products you use in your home to keep it clean. Paint, carpet cleaner, disinfectants, etc. All of these things can give off pollutants that affect the air quality in your home. They also build up in the air, irritating your skin and eyes, and can even make conditions like asthma worse.

Plants act like natural scrubbers, soaking up contaminants in the air. In fact, when researchers were looking for various ways to improve air quality inside a sealed spacecraft, they discovered that houseplants significantly reduced volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the air. They also determined that the roots and soil of these plants are most effective in reducing VOCs.

If you put houseplants in your living room, you’ll naturally make the air in your home healthier to breathe. Certain plants are more effective at freshening up your air, which include:

• Spider plants
• Boston ferns
• Ficus trees
• Bamboo plants
• Areca plants
• Rubber trees

Keep in mind, to get better effects on your air quality; you’ll need to have multiple houseplants in your living room, so take your time to do research on different plants.

Can Boost Your Productivity

Did you know putting houseplants in your living room can boost your overall productivity? Multiple studies in various workplaces have been done, which showed that plants boost both creativity and productivity in employees.

If you work from home, putting plants in your living room is a fantastic way to start an indoor garden. You can then begin adding plants in other areas of your home.

If you live in an area with a mild climate or like to work outside on sunny warm days, you should consider extending your indoor garden outside. When you do this, you’ll have a garden wherever you go. Be sure to do some research to figure out what landscape design ideas you’d like to try. Landscaping outdoors can also make your home feel like it extends outside. For example, you can consider creating a small nursery area on your outdoor patio space to get started.

Great for Medicinal Purposes

Finally, you can put certain plants in your living room that you can use for medicinal purposes. You can consider buying an aloe plant. Aloe plants are extremely popular and are often used as home remedies to treat minor burns and sunburns. It’s also effective against skin conditions like psoriasis.

You can also grow herbs like mint, peppermint, and basil. Not only are they great options for your living room, but they’re great for digestion and calming your stomach. You’ll also have them available for cooking, saving you money long-term.

Lavender is also a wise choice. It’s been used for centuries as herbal medicine for stress and anxiety. You can take the leaves of your lavender plants and boil them. Then, massage it on your scalp or use the leaves in tea.

Enjoy These Science-Backed Benefits of Houseplants

Now that you know about these amazing science-backed benefits of houseplants, you can start researching the different types of plants you’d like to put in your living room.

Be sure to talk to take the time to learn about the proper care of the plants you buy. For example, some plants need less water or more sunlight. Don’t be discouraged if you’re not successful with the first plants you buy. With some trial and error, you’ll be a pro before you know it.