Spring is definitely in the air! And who says spring, says new beginnings, new growth… and plants!
As a designer, plants can be the final touch to a new decor. Plants have now regained popularity within the last few years. They are versatile, they quickly softens the look of a room, they easily give a pop of colour and sometimes add a much needed organic element. Depending on which type of plants you are using, they can bring a lot more to the table than meets the eye! Many plants have amazing health benefits, such as purifying the air we breathe, improving our sleep and they can be great stress relievers!
So let’s review a few of my favorites! All the plants I’ve selected are super easy to grow and require very little maintenance to thrive!
#1 LAVENDER
Lavender is a flowering plant in the mint family that has a very gentle and pleasant aroma.
It’s believed to be native to the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and India, with a history dating as far back as 2,500 years.
Best known for its stress-relieving mental benefits, the scent of lavender is often used in spa products like bath salts, skincare creams, soaps and candles. Lavender oil has also a plethora of proven benefits such as improving skin blemishes, reducing blood pressure and heart rate, relieving asthma symptoms, lessening menopausal hot flashes (hoorray!!!), combating fungus growth, etc.
Factoid: you will need approximately 3 pounds of lavender to produce 15mL of lavender oil, so plant away!!!!
#2 ROSEMARY
Rosemary is a member of the mint family, (yes, like lavender!) along with many other herbs, such as oregano, thyme and basil. The herb not only tastes good in culinary dishes, such as rosemary roasted potatoes, but it is also a good source of iron, calcium and vitamin B-6. (medicinalnewstoday.com)
Rosemary is an herb that’s been used in folk medicine for centuries to help improve concentration and memory. It turns out that there may be some merit to this claim since a study conducted by Northumbria University found that people who were exposed to the scent of rosemary essential oil performed better on questionnaires.
This plant works great in the kitchen. They add a touch of greenery, they’re easy to take care of, they smell amazing (one of my favorite smells!) and a twig or two will dress up any cheese platter beautifully!
#3 PEACE LILLY
Not only a beautiful name but beautiful in nature – the Peace Lily makes a gorgeous floral addition to any room. A study conducted by the NASA found the Peace Lily to be one of the top indoor plants for cleaning air (Engledow.com). Another low maintenance plant (if you remember to keep it in the shade), Peace Lily’s are renowned for removing harmful toxins from the air: everything from carbon monoxide, ammonia and formaldehyde, to benzene and richloroethylene (now that’s a mouthful!). Mine has been flowering for years with almost zero care…so you should be able to, as well.
#4 BOSTON FERN
This evergreen plant not only helps to rid the home of harmful toxins such as formaldehyde, xylene and toluene. It improves humidity by helping to restore moisture to the air naturally as well. Because of these air-purifying properties, the Boston Fern is said to offer real health benefits to those who suffer from dry skin or irritably dry noses or throats. (interflora.ie)
#5 SNAKE PLANT
WHERE TO BUY
So now that we all know how beneficial it is to incorporate naturel plants in our home, I’d like to remind everyone to consider the pots in which you will grow your new friends!!! I found this amazing artist, right here in Ontario. Common House Studio offers more than 30 options to choose from, their collection of modern designs and on trend colours are sure to add flair to any space or home. (www.commonhousestudio.ca ). Let’s support our local businesses!
Thanx for stopping by!
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