There are few ways to inject life into a home that are as effective or satisfying as adding live plants. Keeping houseplants in the home isn’t just a good hobby or a way to devote attention towards tending to a living being, although those are both great benefits. Houseplants exude all the forces of life, growth and nature that we glean from the outdoors, brightening our day and refreshing our surroundings. It does the body so much good to be surrounded by green life even while indoors.
In addition to the natural benefits that come from adding more life to your home, many plants also have special abilities to lend to us and our indoor spaces. Here are five houseplants that will not only provide you with a refreshed and peaceful space but will cleanse your air, provide you with sweet aromas or bring you positive energy as well. The living world has so many gifts to offer us, if we take the time to invite them into our lives.

Sansevieria
Also known as a snake plant, the popularity of the sansevieria has exploded over the past few years. Snake plants are hardy and resilient, thriving on low water and even dim light. They are also great oxygen providers, and many sources recommend keeping a snake plant in the room where you sleep to give you access to better air quality.

Pothos
Pothos plants are easy to care for and radiate light with their bright green leaves. They’re also great at filling space; a pothos plant hung from the ceiling can fill a corner with its leafy vines, creating just as much lush green as an expensive tall plant at a cheaper price.

Rosemary
Every home should have access to fresh-grown herbs, and rosemary plants are an easy place to start. Rosemary is hardy and will fill your porch or kitchen with a beautiful fragrance without needing much maintenance. The biggest risks with rosemary plants are overwatering and crowded roots; experts recommend keeping rosemary in a planter that’s as deep as the plant is tall so the roots have room to grow, and keeping it in a pot that has drainage.

Money Tree
Aside from the soothing patterns these plants are often woven into, money trees have a great symbolic value. They’re seen as an icon of prosperity, good luck and fortune and are believed to bring good things. In feng shui, money trees are known for creating positive energy wherever they’re placed. They’re also easy to care for, not having many light or water requirements.

Aloe Vera
Aloe vera plants have been kept around for their medicinal benefits for thousands of years; they were first used by Ancient Chinese and Egyptians to treat burns. Having a living aloe plant in your home can bring the same benefits we’ve relied on for thousands of years to your home. Aside from its beautiful coloring and hardy nature, aloe leaves can be used to soothe skin, particularly after a burn.