If you're here today, it's probably because, like us, you love plants and would like to integrate them into your home. You've come to the right place! What are the beneficial effects of plants in our interiors? How have plants become an integral part of design? In this article, we tell you all about integrating plants into your interior.

 I.        Plants in our homes for our well-being?

"Green spaces make people happy" Tim Smit KBE

There's a reason why plants are so popular in the world of design: they're known for their beneficial effects on reducing air and noise pollution, as well as for their positive effect on well-being, as they've been the subject of numerous scientific studies. These have shown that plants aid concentration, reduce stress and anxiety, and purify the air. They are therefore considered to be of great benefit to both our mental and physical health. So many good reasons to find a place for them in your home! For example, a study carried out by the Urban Nature and Biosystems Engineering Research Group at the University of Seville's School of Agricultural Engineering showed that having plants in the home had a positive influence on the well-being of inhabitants during the first confinement.

Another study, carried out by NASA, also shows that plants have a purifying effect in polluted environments, since they can (with careful selection of the type of plant) improve air quality thanks to their oxygen supply and ability to absorb C02. Less well known are their ability to counter the electromagnetic fields emitted by household appliances, to trap dust in the air, and to reduce the number of bacteria in the air.

As already mentioned, the beneficial effects of plants include stress reduction and improved attention and concentration. For these reasons, plants are very often used indoors as part of a workspace. In addition to all the beneficial aspects already mentioned, indoor plants help to regulate temperature, humidity levels and noise pollution, ideal for a workspace. And all these positive aspects of well-being are considerable and not to be underestimated, not only within a company but also for us, who are increasingly practicing telecommuting.

Employee well-being is essential for good working conditions. What's more, the presence of plants tends to promote social cohesion and calm relations between individuals, ideal in a working environment. What's more, in addition to reducing stress, the presence of plants offers a pleasant, decorated interior, which undoubtedly improves the quality of life at work.

II.                     A bit of history!

Today, it's very common to integrate plants into our interiors, but this wasn't always the case. For many centuries, owning domestic plants was a luxury that not everyone could afford. Plants were first used for decoration in China in 1000 BC. They were considered a symbol of high social status for the following reason: they were high-maintenance and purely decorative. From the 6th century onwards, the elite adopted potted plants, including the famous Bonsai, now a symbol of the Zen tradition.

In the 20th century, modern chic interiors rooted in the Art Deco movement replaced Victorian interiors full of vegetation. Although the modernists rejected ornamentation of any kind, they nevertheless retained the large bay windows and verandas that tended to let outside vegetation into the home. In Scandinavian interiors, designers also kept a place for indoor plants, often imagining furniture that included receptacles for plants.

It was after the Second World War, in a post-modernist design style, that plants made their real comeback in interior design. Plants came back into fashion in abundance in the 70s and 80s. After a brief spell with plastic plants in the 90s, we are now entering a period where technological and economic developments have made access to plants much easier, plant prices have fallen considerably and it's easy to find online resources for looking after them. What's more, with a general awareness of the strong growth in climate change and over-consumption, there is a real desire to go natural in many areas, including design.

It took a little longer for houseplants to be used in Europe.

In 400 BC, the Greeks, Romans and Egyptians began to incorporate plants into their interiors, but this tradition was lost with the fall of the Roman Empire, and it was not until the Renaissance that they made a comeback, thanks to the European sailors who brought back tropical plants from their expeditions, and then to the aristocrats who imposed the fashion for gardens.Once again, it was mainly the wealthiest families who could afford to own and maintain tropical plants.

It was in the Victorian era that houseplants arrived in middle-class homes, as more economical heating systems made the upkeep of houseplants easier and therefore more affordable.This desire to integrate houseplants was at the root of the evolution in architecture, with more and more bay windows and conservatories to provide more light and the necessary requirements for plants.

III.                     The perfect match between plants and decoration :

You're no doubt already convinced by the idea of incorporating plants into your interior design. But perhaps you need some advice on how to choose them? Here are a few tips on how to choose the perfect plants for your interior style!

Plants & bohemian style decor :

For a bohemian interior, we'd definitely recommend cacti (from the cactus family) and Aloe Vera. However, try to avoid cacti with needles, which can be dangerous and especially anti-Feng Shui!

Plants & vintage design:

In a vintage interior, inspired by furniture from the 1960s and 1970s, we recommend opting for plants that were fashionable at the time, including Ficus Elastica and Monstera Deliciosa. What do you think?

Plants & contemporary design :

In a contemporary interior, opt for plants with graphic, colourful foliage such as alocasias, caladium or tradescantia. Or why not a terrarium?

Plants & industrial decor:

In an industrial interior, it's essential to avoid creating an atmosphere that's too dark and cold, and what better way to do this than with plants? You can imagine a world in which vegetation reclaims its rightful place in an industrial space, with ivy and ferns coming to mind. Or why not imagine an areca?

Plants & scandinavian decor:

In a Scandinavian interior, we tend to be seduced by calatheas or bromeliads.

IV.                  Plants at the service of ecology in architecture :

Plants can also be used to optimise our homes and make them more environmentally friendly. In fact, while the orientation of our house is essential for saving energy (by paying attention to the orientation of windows and verandas, we can play with the sun's rays and minimise the use of artificial light and heating, thus reducing energy consumption!), plants can regulate the entry of heat and light according to the season.

Here are a few examples:

- If you live in a windy region, use a hedge in your garden to reduce draughts on the most exposed façades.

- In hot regions: A bay window to the south-east of your house will allow heat and light into your home. This is ideal in winter, but can be problematic in summer. In this case, opt for a pergola with deciduous plants. The foliage will provide protection in summer, but in winter the leaves will fall to make way for the sun's rays.

- In rainy regions: If you can afford it, a green roof is ideal! Not only does it provide good insulation, it also absorbs rainwater and prevents flooding.

In conclusion, plants have their place in decoration and architecture! What's more, these days we have access to a whole host of tools to help us look after them. For example, you can use smartphone applications. Here are a few we recommend:

- Blossom and NaturekID: help you identify plants, find the one of your dreams and give you maintenance tutorials.

- Happy Plant: by taking a photo of your plant, the app tells you if it needs watering.

- PictureThis: just like Happy Plant, the app tells you if it needs watering, but goes a step further and tells you if any other action is required.

- Plants and Light: This app will tell you whether your plant needs more or less light.

Finally, if you're in Lisbon and need a little help, our friend Claire has set up Janvier Plants, and can help you create an atmosphere of plants in your home or on your terraces, as well as looking after them!

Click here to find out more : Janvier Plants & Design – janvierplants

PS: And if you really can't integrate plants into your interior, for example if you're renting a flat for a short period, at least opt for dried flowers: Pampa or something similar. What's more, we've discovered Stéphanie, who has launched her company Dame de Coton, creating stunning decorations using dried plants! Professional floral decorator - Dame de coton (damedecoton.com)

Do you have any other tips for using plants to decorate your home? Don't hesitate to write to us and share your tips!