If you don’t already have plants dotted around your home, there are health reasons for becoming a little more green-fingered. Plants don’t only add to your interior design but can help you be more productive, boost health and ease stress, science has proven.

Here are five reasons that adding houseplants to your homes and workspace can be beneficial.

1. They boost your mood: If you feel happier when you’re outdoors in nature or surrounded by plants, you’re not alone. Research has consistently shown that people who live around nature have improved mental health. If you are living in an urban area, bringing plants into your home is one way to add a touch of nature to your home and reap the benefits too.

2. Plants can help increase productivity: Plants make great additions to workspaces too, research has shown that they can increase productivity and keep you focused. In fact, a previous study from the University of Exeter suggests that adding plants to an office could increase productivity by 15%, as well as improving workplace satisfaction as well.

3. Houseplants can remove toxins from the air: We all know that plants absorb carbon dioxide, but they also remove volatile organic compounds (VOC) too. VOCs include formaldehyde and trichloroethylene, which can come from everyday products, such as shopping bags, paint and man-made fibres. NASA’s clean air study from 1989 found plants can purify the air by removing up to 87% of these toxins and the results have been touted ever since.

4. A plant can ease stress: Linking to improved productivity, plants can help ease stress and lower people’s heart rate and blood pressure. As a result, placing one in high-pressure environments, like the workplace can help you feel calmer and more focused.

5. They can help you sleep better: The combination of purifying the air and easing anxiety levels can also mean plants help you fall asleep quicker and have more restful sleep too. Placing a plant in your bedroom can help you feel more refreshed and ready to go in the morning.

Perfect plants to brighten up indoors

If your home or workspace could do with some greenery to liven it up, there are hundreds of different options. If you’re not the type to be found pottering in the garden in your free time, it can be more than a little confusing when you’re picking out a new houseplant. But some are easier to care for, including these:

• Aloe Vera is well known for being used as a natural remedy and featuring in beauty products today. But being a succulent plant, they’re good at storing water too, perfect for homeowners that don’t want a high maintenance plant. All they need is a warm place with plenty of light and the occasional water when you remember.
• Cacti are incredibly adaptable, so you can plant them and leave them be with just a bit of water now and again. If you’ve earned a reputation for plants dying in the past, a cactus could be just the low maintenance option for you. They come in plenty of varieties too, including those that flower to add a dash of colour to your interior.
• A spider plant is a popular option for potting or hanging thanks to the way it grows, making it a good option when you want to add plants to shelving. Once again, they’re easy to look after, with just sunlight and regular watering needed.
• If you want a plant that’s going to look stunning in your home, a peace lily is perfect. The dark green leaves and beautiful white flowers when it’s in bloom is ideal for a houseplant. It does take a bit more looking than the others on this list, however. It needs moist soil but prefers low levels of light, so it’s a great way to add flowers away from the windows.
• For greenery and practicality, especially if you enjoy home cooking adding herbs to your kitchen décor is an option. From parsley to coriander, most herbs will be happy to sit on the windowsill of your kitchen and just need watering regularly. Adding some fresh herbs to your culinary creations can add an extra flavour too.