There are many things that contribute to poor indoor air quality. Outside pollution seeps in through open doors, windows, cracks in the home, it hitchhikes on our clothing and hair, and hides in chemical filled cleaning or beauty products. We add filters to air vents and vacuum cleaners with the expectation that the air in our home will be much cleaner, better for us to breathe in. Unfortunately, this may not be enough, especially for folks already suffering from asthma and other respiratory illnesses or such conditions can be brought on by poor air-quality.

By having indoor plants in your home, you are not only going to be breathing better air, but plants also double as natural mood enhancers. And who wouldn’t be happier if they are finally able to breathe a little better? Let’s take a look at some of the ways indoor houseplants help us to breathe easier as well as how they can change your mood for the better.

Natural Air-Purifiers 

Plants Absorb Gases

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids such as paints, cleaning supplies, pesticides, and building materials, and concentrations of many VOCs are found to be higher indoors than outdoors, up to ten times higher! The good news is that VOCs could be eliminated by keeping certain indoor plants like Japanese royal ferns, English ivy, aloe vera, and peace lilies.

Plants Produce Oxygen

Through a process known as photosynthesis, plants take in carbon dioxide then converts it to oxygen, which is released into the air for us to breath in.

Plants Clear Out Toxins

According to NASA, certain houseplants improve indoor air quality by absorbing environmental toxins and increasing healthy oxygen levels. In addition to increasing oxygen, plants also capture toxins from indoor air then converts and releases them back out as harmless byproducts. Try keeping plants like bamboo palm and ficus.

Natural Mood Enhancers

Plants Can Reduce Stress

It’s known that spending time outdoors in nature can reduce stress levels and helps to relieve tension. So bring nature inside your home with you in the form of some air-purifying, oxygen producing plants to get on the path to a happier you.

Plants Can Balance Energy

Try placing indoor plants according to Feng Shui to begin feeling surrounded by a naturally balanced energy throughout your home. Still have that pop of green color in plants, but shoot for other calming, stress-reducing colors like soft blues and lavenders found in flowers and plant veins. Check out How to Revitalize Your Home For Spring Using Plants for a simple and useful guide.

Plants Can Beautify a Space

For a home filled with beautiful air-purifying plants, surround yourself with plants that also appeal to your senses of smell and sight. Liven up a space with houseplants like the gerbera daisy. This flower offers beautiful colors while also treating you to a boost of oxygen as you sleep, so put this daisy in the bedroom!

Additional Things to Do to Breathe Better Air at Home: dust and vacuum often, keep doors and windows shut when the outside air-quality is rated unhealthy, don’t buy cleaning or household products containing chemicals, use non-toxic green cleaning methods, and be eco-friendly indoors and out.

How do you keep your home a breathe-friendly place?

Image source: Mae Chevrette/Flickr