Partner Post: Celebrate National Indoor Plant Week and Get Happy

Indoor plants are trendier than ever, gracing our homes with beauty - while making us healthier. As home décor, they’re fabulous because they change as they grow. Plus, it’s easy to swap out their container to get a completely different look. They’re delightfully affordable, too - so it’s easy to build a fun collection in your home.

In honor of National Indoor Plant Week, which is always the third week in September, here are five ways indoor plants make your life better.

1. Indoor plants purify the air.

Air pollution is all around us, including inside our homes and offices. NASA research shows indoor air can be even more polluted than what’s outside. Plants can pull harmful VOCs like formaldehyde and toluene (things you may not even realize are there) from the air, giving us healthier homes.

2. Indoor plants make us feel more relaxed.

One of the most intriguing plant-related benefits is that a variety of scientific studies say they help us feel more relaxed and at peace. Perhaps it’s because they take us back to our roots, before we surrounded ourselves with steel and concrete.

3. Indoor plants help our minds.

My favorite reason to have plants is that scientific studies show they boost our learning abilities by increasing memory, concentration, and problem solving. Indoor plants are must-have accessories for our homes and offices.

4. They help improve our overall wellness.

Does it seem like someone’s always sick around the office? Protect yourself with indoor plants. Studies show people who have a plant or two on their desks typically use fewer sick days, don’t have as many headaches, and experience a reduced number of sore throats and coughs as compared to their plant-less colleagues. Plants are like a natural hand sanitizer that works 24 hours a day.

5. Houseplants help as we age.

Indoor plants also keep us happier and healthier as we advance toward old age. University research reveals senior citizens feel better and have an improved sense of purpose when they have houseplants or pets to tend to. Not sure which to get?  An indoor plant is a lot easier and less expensive than pet care. The process of keeping an indoor plant healthy makes us more socially connected and gives us a sense of increased control of our lives.