Spruce up your Space with Plants
When I walk into a room, I notice plants first. Could it be because it is that touch of nature indoors that wraps warmth around me? Or is it just the eye appeal of green and the color of flowers that pop? Greenery around me always helps me feel more relaxed and at ease.
Knowing this, plants are essential décor for my living spaces. It really goes beyond just looking good. I bring life to my main living spaces by using houseplants as an accessory. Height, texture, color and warmth fill the room when trees, plants and pots appear! That’s code for an instant lift in my mood and creativity while helping me stay focused on my work, worry less and have fewer sick days! Flowers especially liven my rooms with blooms that just make me smile!
That’s not all! Did you know that researchers found that rooms with plants have less dust and mold than rooms without any foliage? Leaves and other parts of the plants act as natural filters to catch allergens and other airborne particles. That’s a big plus!
Let’s talk about furnaces and air conditioners that sap our indoor humidity, especially in the winter. That is when I am more susceptible to itchy, dry skin and catching a cold or flu. So, I make sure my houseplants are plentiful for all the right reasons. Houseplants add moisture to the air and soak up toxins in the air given off by carpets, paint, cleaners and inks. Some good air scrubbers that I love are:
Of course, I must mention my digestive herbs on my kitchen window ledge. Herbs like mint that I pinch a few leaves to chew on as I do the dishes after each meal. Mint helps tamp down bloating, gas and other problems after eating while freshening your breath. Common varieties you can grow in containers are
Peppermint
Spearmint
Orange Mint
Lemon Mint and even
Chocolate Mint that is delicious as a topping on desert!
Have you ever tried flavored mints in cooking or as a garnish? Basil is another herb for cooking that can help calm your stomach. Try steeping the leaves in hot water.
Next, let’s talk about Relaxation. Yes, plants can help with that too! Lavender is my favorite plant for that. This fragrant plant has been an important herbal medicine for centuries. I take the oil from this plant and massage it on my scalp for aromatherapy on self-care days. I also boil the leaves for tea to calm my mind at the end of the day and it works!
What about first aid? My aloe plant has me covered. Gel from this plant is a popular home remedy that packs a powerful punch! It can treat nasty sunburns and other minor burns. It also soothes psoriasis and other skin conditions. Juice from the aloe plant can even help you poop if your’re constipated. (did I just say that?) Just sayin…
And the big asset of plants that I soak in daily is OXYGEN. Plants take in carbon dioxide and give off oxygen. It’s how they turn sunlight into food, known as photosynthesis. Some flowers, like gerbera daisies, keep giving off oxygen even after the sun goes down! Try putting a few cheerful pots in your bedroom and the extra oxygen may just help you sleep more soundly! Let me know how it goes!
I must make a mention of how gardening and plants just bring JOY to my daily life. Research proves that nurturing living plants helps reduce anxiety, improve attention and lessen depression. Just knowing that makes me feel better! When I was young, my mother used to grow my favorite flowers, hydrangeas, outside my bedroom window. Whenever I did my homework at my desk and looked out my window, the sight and smell of them helped me get through my homework with a smile! Sometimes she would clip flowers and put them in a vase to set on my desk and that was her way of showing me her love. Well, it stuck with me and to this day, I put flowers on my desk and on the nightstand in my spare bedroom whenever my kids visit, so they too can experience the beauty, comfort and love that come from plants!
So why not grow or bring home some flowers, green foliage and herbs to add oxygen, health, wellness and JOY to your home? Are you ready to reap all these benefits? It’s easy. For best results, simply place one 10-12” container houseplant (or larger) per 100 square feet of living area and soak in the satisfaction…Optimal YOU thanks you!
