There is something exciting about decorating a new apartment or home.  It gives you a chance to start over and express your style and esthetic.  When deciding what to put in your new place, you might consider adding a little greenery to your humble abode.  Studies have actually shown that having houseplants and greenery in your home can extensively improve your health!  Here are the ways that greenery will not only add esthetic appeal to your home, but also benefit you holistically.

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Increase in Oxygen

Take a deep breath… When you breathe, you take in air and exhale carbon dioxide.  The amazing thing about houseplants is that they take in your carbon dioxide and turn it into oxygen!  Your houseplants create a perfect balance in your home!  This release of oxygen by plants increases the air quality of your home significantly.

Plants Purify the air

Along with releasing oxygen, household plants actually serve as natural air filters.  HGTV states in an interview with NASA that, “Houseplants scrub indoor air pollutants, making our air fresher and safer, [and that] this is especially important as our buildings get more energy efficient and we end up trapping those pollutants inside.”  Additionally, if there are any smokers in your home, plants like Peace Lilies can actually remove the deadly chemicals released by cigarettes.  That’s pretty impressive for a little plant!

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Plants are Natural Humidifier

Usually, people are not the biggest fan of humid environment.  Although the dry air that comes from your air conditioning may be pleasant, it can actually increase your risks of getting sick.  You can counteract this by adding some houseplants to your home.  According to Mastersinhealthcare.com, “Indoor plants have been shown to reduce cold-related illnesses by more than 30%. This is due to their effect of increasing humidity levels and decreasing dust.”

Plants help you heal more quickly

According to researchers at Kansas State University, the presence of plants in hospital rooms have sped up recovery times compared to rooms without plants.

Plants help you focus

Plants actually have been known to help people focus better.  This has been apparent in classrooms and work spaces.

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Reduce Stress

Nature is a natural stress reliever.  Unfortunately, not everyone has the luxury of taking a walk through nature everyday.  Adding plants to your desk at work and throughout your home can actually reduce your everyday stresses.  Having a plant present has been proven to improve your mood, boost your creativity(especially if your plant is brightly colored), and keep you calm in the midst of stress.

It is so important to take care of the places that you spend most of your time.  Your home is a place where you entertain, relax, and take care of the ones you love the most.  Just by adding a few gorgeous plants to your, you can truly improve the quality of your home.  So head to Lowe’s, Home Depot, or your local florist and grab some greenery.

Here is a list of household plants if you need a place to get started: Boston Ferns, Peace Lilies, Chinese Evergreens, Spider Plants, Weeping Figs, Anthurium, Pothos, Snake Plants, Aglaonema, Bamboo, Dieffenbachia, and Orchids.