Top 10 Best Houseplants for Improving Indoor Air Quality Naturally

If you’ve ever thought that your home could use a bit more greenery, well, here’s your excuse to get planting. Houseplants do much more than just make your home look like a jungle-inspired Instagram photo shoot – they can also help clean the air you breathe. With pollutants, allergens, and just the general stuffiness of modern life, adding some air-purifying houseplants is a brilliant way to improve your indoor air quality naturally. And guess what? They look good while they’re at it. So, here’s a look at the ten best houseplants that will have you breathing easier and living healthier, all from the comfort of your own home.

Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata)

The Snake Plant, sometimes affectionately known as Mother-in-Law’s Tongue, is as tough as they come. It’s virtually indestructible, which is ideal if you’ve not exactly got green fingers. Besides being one of the best houseplants for beginners, the Snake Plant is also brilliant at filtering out nasty chemicals like formaldehyde, xylene, and benzene. It’s also a night-time oxygen producer, making it ideal for the bedroom. Place it somewhere it gets indirect light, water it occasionally, and it’ll keep on trucking, all while helping to improve your home’s indoor air quality and allowing you to breathe cleaner air.

Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum spp.)

Peace Lilies are the elegant, sleek superstars of the houseplant world. With glossy green leaves and striking white flowers, these plants don’t just look stunning – they’re also fantastic air purifiers. They’re known for removing toxins such as ammonia, benzene, and trichloroethylene, all of which are found in common household products. Peace Lilies are also quite low maintenance – just give them a bit of indirect light and keep their soil slightly moist and they’ll continue working to improve your indoor air quality. Just a heads-up, though: Peace Lilies are toxic to pets, so be careful if you’ve got a curious cat or dog at home.

Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

If you’re looking for a plant that’s as fun as it is functional, the Spider Plant might just be the one for you. This cheerful, easy-going plant produces long, arching leaves and adorable spider-like “babies” that hang from the mother plant. Spider Plants are champions at improving indoor air quality – removing pollutants like formaldehyde and xylene from the air, making them perfect for reducing indoor toxins. They thrive in bright, indirect light but are pretty tolerant of low light too, making them a fantastic addition to just about any room.

English Ivy (Hedera helix)

English Ivy is like that classic, timeless piece you can’t go wrong with. Not only is it easy to grow, but it’s also highly effective at reducing airborne mould and improving air quality. It looks lovely hanging from shelves or cascading from a pot, and it can adapt well to both bright and low-light conditions. English Ivy is especially beneficial for allergy sufferers as it helps to filter out airborne mould spores. Just make sure to keep it away from pets, as it can be toxic if ingested.

Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis miller)

The Aloe Vera plant isn’t just a fantastic natural healer for cuts and burns – it’s also great for improving your indoor air quality. It’s especially good at filtering out formaldehyde, which can be found in cleaning products and furnishings. Aloe Vera is a low-maintenance plant that loves a sunny spot, making it ideal for a windowsill. What’s more, it’s a brilliant plant for beginners, as it’s quite forgiving if you forget to water it now and again. Plus, you get the added bonus of having fresh aloe on hand for any skincare emergencies.

Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)

Boston Ferns are perfect if you’re aiming for a bit of that lush, tropical look indoors. They’re also known as one of the best natural humidifiers, which can be particularly helpful during those dry winter months when central heating is in full swing. Boston Ferns are great at removing pollutants like formaldehyde and xylene, but they do need a bit more care than some of the others on this list. They thrive in high humidity, so mist them regularly, keep the soil moist, and place them in indirect light.

Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica)

The Rubber Plant, with its strong, dark leaves, is a classic when it comes to indoor greenery. Not only does it look sleek and sophisticated, but it’s also excellent at improving indoor air quality by removing pollutants like carbon monoxide and formaldehyde. Rubber Plants are pretty easy-going – they prefer bright, indirect light but can tolerate low light, and they don’t need a ton of water. Just give them a wipe-down every so often to keep their leaves free of dust and allow them to work their air-purifying magic.

Areca Palm (Dypsis lutescens)

If you’re searching for a plant that gives off tropical vibes, the Areca Palm is a winner. Sometimes called the Butterfly Palm, this graceful beauty is particularly effective at removing indoor air pollutants like toluene and xylene. It’s also a natural humidifier, which makes it great for improving the overall air quality in your home. The Areca Palm likes bright, indirect light, and you’ll want to keep its soil consistently moist – but not soggy. It’s a bit fussier than some others, but its benefits and beauty make it worth the effort.

Golden Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)

The Golden Pothos, or Devil’s Ivy, is practically indestructible and is well-known for being one of the best houseplants for purifying the air. This trailing plant works wonders against formaldehyde, xylene, and benzene – all common indoor pollutants. It’s very adaptable, thriving in both low and bright indirect light, and requires very little care. Just water it when the soil feels dry, and watch it grow – its vibrant, heart-shaped leaves add a lovely pop of green to any corner of your home.

Gerbera Daisy (Gerbera jamesonii)

If you’re after something a bit more colourful, the Gerbera Daisy is not only pretty but functional too. Known for their bright blooms, Gerbera Daisies are incredibly effective at removing benzene, often found in household materials like paints and glues. They’re also great oxygen-producers, especially during the night, making them perfect for the bedroom. Just keep in mind that they like lots of light. Place them in a sunny spot, and they’ll repay you with gorgeous blooms and cleaner air.

Improving Indoor Air Quality: The Plant Power Effect

These ten houseplants are some of the best natural allies you can have in your home to help improve indoor air quality. From filtering out pollutants to adding some much-needed humidity, they each play a role in creating a healthier, more pleasant living environment. Not only do these plants make the air cleaner, but they also bring a sense of calm and beauty to your space, making your home a more enjoyable place to be.

Remember, you don’t need to turn your home into a full-blown greenhouse to see the benefits. Adding just a few of these air-purifying plants can make a noticeable difference to the quality of the air you breathe. So go ahead, pick up a Snake Plant or a Peace Lily, and let the magic of nature do the rest. Not only will your home feel fresher, but you’ll also have a beautiful green companion to brighten your space.