There are a number of reasons that houseplants are such a popular way to decorate homes, and not all of them are aesthetic. Houseplants are proven to produce extra oxygen in addition to reducing stress. What’s more, having plenty of houseplants can actually help to boost productivity. This doesn’t mean you need to have an indoor jungle – you can tastefully decorate your home with just a couple of smaller houseplants and still reap the benefits. But how can you tell which indoor plants would be the best for your home?

Consider the Amount of Light Needed

Some indoor plants require a great deal of sunlight while others don’t, so before you commit to a purchase be sure to learn just what that kind of plant requires in terms of light.

 If you have a lot of natural light in your home, you should be okay with buying plants such as the jade peperomia (offered by Brisbane-based artisan Bosque). This kind of plant does well in bright, indirect light, so rooms with southern or western facing windows would be the ideal choice. 

Medium light plants, such as the golden pothos, do well when placed near east-facing windows. East-facing windows will provide a great deal of sunlight and heat without being too overpowering for the plant. 

Low light plants do best near north-facing windows, which will provide the lowest light levels. Low light plants are also great for those dark room corners where you need a bit of colour, as they can get by just fine. 

If You Don’t Have a Lot of Room, Start Small

Just because you may not have a lot of room doesn’t mean you can’t have your fair share of houseplants – quite the opposite, in fact! If you’re starved for space but are still craving some greenery to brighten and cheer up your home, consider kokedama!

Kokedama is the Japanese art of growing plants contained inside moss balls. Not only do they look incredibly unique, they also take up very little space (depending on what size of moss ball you go with). Local artisan Green Leaf Lounge specialises in kokedama and has two kits you can purchase in order to create your own kokedama, one with a plant included and one without. 

If you want to try your hand at picking your own plant to make a kokedama, here are some highly recommended considerations: 

• A pothos, due to their trailing foliage which looks fantastic when suspended from a kokedama ball. 
• A peperomia, due to the compact yet attractive nature of the plant
• A peace lily, due to their upright nature and beautiful flowers.

Of course, there will be a learning curve no matter what plant you select for your kokedama. It is recommended you start with something compact and hardy and once you get the hang of it, branch out into more high-maintenance house plants. 

Go With Preserved Plants

If you don’t have a lot of time to devote to keeping houseplants alive, don’t have a lot of natural light in your home, or would simply prefer something low maintenance, there are other options such as preserved moss terrariums! These terrariums don't require watering and should be kept out of direct sunlight.

Two fish & me has a large selection of preserved moss terrariums, all of which you can assemble yourself to your liking. These DIY kits, such as “Calm”, come with everything you will need to make your own preserved moss terrarium, including the moss itself, a glass jar, pebbles, and feature rocks. 

Bring Some Nature Into Your Home

As you can see, there are plenty of choices for indoor plant accents for your home, regardless of whether you choose to go the traditional route or something more unique such as kokedama or terrariums. Adding a bit of greenery can go a long way toward brightening your home and adding an element of serenity, so take a look around your home and envision what kind of plant would look best!