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Reasons you need some indoor plants

By Sereba Agiobu-Kemmer
27 March 2021   |   4:11 am
The COVID-19 pandemic scare and lockdown forced many to spend almost all of their daily lives at home.

The COVID-19 pandemic scare and lockdown forced many to spend almost all of their daily lives at home.

Indoor plants have become increasingly popular over the last few years, and for good reason. Not only are they pretty, they also have a whole host of health benefits. And for apartment dwellers, they are a great way to bring the outdoors in. Who needs a yard?

In case you are not already on the bandwagon, here are 10 excellent reasons to become a plant lady or plant guy.

They Purify The Air
Studies by NASA have shown that houseplants remove harmful indoor pollutants, such as carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, ammonia, pollen, mold, and more nasty things that are known to cause headaches, fatigue, sickness and allergies.

Adding some indoor plants to your apartment can improve the air quality, and cleaner air can lead to better health.
They Reduce Stress

Besides the physical benefits of better air quality, there are all sorts of psychological benefits to having plants around. They have been shown to reduce stress, lower blood pressure and make people happier.

They Add Colour
Most apartments are a whole lot of beige- tan carpet, white walls and builder basic kitchens. Plants are a great way to add some much needed colour and texture, especially if you put them in colourful pots

P.S. “Greenery” is the Pantone Colour of the Year and there is no better way to incorporate it in your home than with greenery, literally.

They Are Perfect For Styling Vignettes
I always love using small decorative items for styling bookshelves or mantels (things like ceramic animals, picture frames and candlesticks). But when you have too many in a row, it can start to look like a random thrift store collection instead of a home.

Small houseplants fit on a shelf, but their organic shape breaks up all the hard lines, and they feel homier.

They Are A Great Way To Decorate Seasonally
Nature, including potted plants and cut flowers, is the easiest and best way to update your decor for every season.

I love tropical leaves and sunflowers for they reign supreme.

They Are The Ultimate Local Produce
Trying to eat local and organic? You literally cannot get any better than edible plants grown in your own apartment. And the nice thing is growing plants indoors gives you more options than the weather in your region might allow outside.

Live in London, but want to grow a lemon tree? You can!

You Will Save Money
Speaking of which, growing your own plants can save you a nice little chunk of money. There are plenty of plants that have practical purposes beyond decoration, such as aloe for sunburns, herbs for cooking, citronella for mosquito repellent, tomatoes for eating, etc.

They Smell Amazing
If you want to make your place smell good, fresh plants and flowers win over candles or air fresheners any day. Some of my favourite fragrant plants are lavender, lemon trees, rosemary, mint and roses.

They Are Easier And Cleaner Than A Pet
There is something fulfilling about taking care of a living thing, but many apartments don’t allow pets. Plants (sort of) satisfy that need to give something TLC, and they are 100 per cent landlord-approved.

You Don’t Need A Green Thumb
Some may be reading this list like, “Yeah, I know plants are great and all, but I just cannot keep them alive!” Good news is: there are lots of plants that require super low maintenance, such as snake plants, air plants and cacti.

There are also plenty of “plants” that require ZERO maintenance, such as dried plants (like eucalyptus and billy balls), freshly cut greenery and flowers and even fake plants.

They may not purify the air, but they do still have psychological benefits, and they are great for decorating with.

So, no excuses, people! Go get some plants in your life!

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