So often, our most cherished memories unfold in nature: taking a dip in the icy ocean, picnicking in a sweet, sun-glazed garden, and hiking through a shaded, age-old forest.

Unsurprisingly, the golden thread of nature in these memories speaks to the very human tendency to seek connection with that which is primary, pure, and grounding. Our tendency to take deep breaths when met with the sweet, earthy, and refreshing air sweeping through these spaces gives us greater strength, energy, and a sense of being one with the world. 

Being surrounded by both nature and fresh air offers a boundless positive effect that influences the mind, body, and soul.

Enjoy these benefits more frequently by enhancing your home with nature and being mindful of the air you surround yourself with.

Purify Your Space

More indoor plants allow you to both lean into your biophilia and purify your air.

The right selection and density of air-cleansing greenery in your home can help reduce the presence of airborne viruses and illnesses, increase your productivity and performance, reduce chemical ingestion, and improve your slumber.

What’s more, a greater presence of plants in your space can increase overall wellbeing by humidifying your environment to benefit your skin and your respiratory health.

Just a few thoughtful choices can significantly enhance the health and aesthetic benefits of indoor plants. Place a few low-maintenance, air-purifying plants in each room and check on them occasionally; they shouldn’t require too much attention to make a big impact.

Before deciding where to place your plants, take their lighting needs into account:

• Bright light: Suits powerful purifiers like dracaena and weeping fig.


• Indirect light: Best suited for the bamboo palm, Boston fern, aloe vera, peace lily, spider plant, and fiddle leaf fig.


• Low light: Perfect for the snake plant, a champion of low maintenance that thrives in central or dimmer areas of the home.

Embrace Natural Scents

Some essential oils offer therapeutic compounds and antibacterial properties that can clear the air of airborne ills, as well as support healthy respiratory function.

Essential oils, such as eucalyptus and lavender oil, have antiseptic, antifungal, and antimicrobial properties that can clear the air of harmful particles. Tea tree oil is known for being antibacterial and for warding off infection-causing microorganisms. Peppermint oil, on the other hand, supports respiratory health by opening airways.

Consider diffusing one of these oils, or a combination of a few of them, in your home. Feel at ease taking a deep breath and knowing that the air in your home is looking out for you.

Mindfully Reset Your Home

While including purifying plants in your home and clearing the air of lurgies with the use of essential oils can boost your wellbeing, there are a couple of additional steps that you can take to improve your indoor air quality and bring nature indoors:

• Ventilate your home frequently by opening your windows and using a fan to disturb stagnant air and bring fresh air inside.
• Regularly dust and vacuum your home to reduce the presence of dust particles in the air.
• Invest in an air purifier and clean its filter frequently so that it can actively remove dust, pollutants, chemicals, and smoke from the air.