3 Houseplants That Will Add Brightness and Fresh Air to Any Room
Winter can make your feel house feel less exciting than the spring and summer months. Brighten any room with these houseplants that will pretty up your space and purify the air!
Dress up a dining table with a snake plant trio.
“Air-purifying houseplants not only clean the air in our home, but they also make us feel happier,” says The Houseplant Guru Lisa Eldred Steinkopf, author of Houseplant Party (Buy on Amazon, $18.59). And the snake plants shown here lower indoor carbon dioxide levels and release oxygen to reduce stress and boost concentration, she raves. With so many varieties to choose from, they’ve become super popular. In fact, the long-leafed beauties are the most Instagrammed air-purifying houseplant, according to Real estate.com.au. For a standout display, drop three snake plants into cream-colored pots and arrange them at the center of a dining table for a lovely living runner. Give plenty of sunlight and water when soil is nearly dry. The snake plant can be toxic if ingested, so keep away from pets and young children.
Beautify a kitchen with a spider plant.
“Spider plants add beauty and interest to a countertop,” notes Steinkopf. The houseplant has microscopic openings in its leaves that absorb traces of carbon monoxide and formaldehyde (a colorless gas emitted by some carpet materials and furniture) to guard against wheezing, headaches and brain fog. For a rustic-chic display, Steinkopf suggests dropping a spider plant into a square pot, then dressing up the outside of the pot by gluing on craft-store bark sheets. Give bright light and water that is free of fluoride, which can cause leaf tips to brown.
Liven up a living room with a single Chinese evergreen.
“Chinese evergreens are often used to add a little life to an area that doesn’t get a lot of sunlight,” notes Steinkopf. The plant has also been shown to remove benzene (a toxin found in many household cleaning products and detergents that has been linked to headaches and trouble concentrating) from the air. For the prettiest display, drop a Chinese evergreen into a green striped pot to enhance the color of the leaves. Give medium light and water when the soil is fairly dry. One caveat: Chinese evergreens can be toxic if ingested, so keep away from pets and kids.
A version of this article originally appeared in our print magazine, First for Women.
