According to a study conducted by Forbes, 63% of the UK workforce is now working from home, up from just 4% before the pandemic. With so many of us spending over seven hours a day at our desks, it’s more important than ever to create a workspace that supports both productivity and wellbeing.
One simple and affordable way to improve your environment? Add plants. Certain houseplants don’t just brighten up your space, they actively purify the air, absorb toxins, and release oxygen, all while being relatively low-maintenance. Below are five of my top picks for air-purifying plants that thrive in home office settings.
1. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
Resilient, adaptable, and virtually impossible to kill, spider plants are perfect for beginners. They love indirect light and can tolerate occasional neglect. More importantly, they’re natural air detoxifiers absorbing carbon monoxide and formaldehyde, and helping break down harmful substances like benzene and nicotine. One healthy plant can purify the air in a room up to 200 square feet.
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2. Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)
Popular and easy to find in supermarkets, garden centres, and florists, the peace lily is not just pretty it’s powerful. It removes alcohols, acetone, trichloroethylene, benzene, and formaldehyde from indoor air. With its elegant white blooms and glossy leaves, it also adds a calming visual element to your workspace. Bonus: it releases oxygen day and night.
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3. Echeveria (Succulent)
Ideal for small spaces and forgetful plant owners, Echeveria is a hardy succulent that needs very little water. While they prefer bright, indirect sunlight, they’re incredibly tolerant of indoor environments. Like peace lilies, succulents help purify the air and produce oxygen 24/7, making them a great option for productivity and health, even in compact office corners.
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4. Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata)
Also known as mother-in-law’s tongue, this structural beauty is one of the best air purifiers out there. It’s known to remove toxins like formaldehyde, xylene, toluene, and nitrogen oxides. Snake plants thrive on neglect, they prefer to be left alone, needing only occasional watering and low to moderate light. Perfect for anyone juggling a busy schedule.
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5. Aloe Vera
Famous for its skin-soothing gel, aloe vera also has impressive air-cleaning abilities. It clears benzene and formaldehyde from the air, while doubling up as a natural remedy for minor burns and dry skin. Keep it near a sunny window and water sparingly. A stylish, practical multitasker for your desk or windowsill.
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Bringing nature into your home office isn’t just about aesthetics, it’s about creating an environment that supports your health, focus, and peace of mind. These low-maintenance plants not only help cleanse the air you breathe, but can also offer a small daily reminder to pause, breathe, and reconnect with nature, right from your desk.
Sources
Forbes (2023). The Future of Work in the UK. forbes.com
NASA Clean Air Study (1989). Interior Landscape Plants for Indoor Air Pollution Abatement. NASA Technical Reports
Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). Houseplants for Clean Air. rhs.org.uk
WebMD. Health Benefits of Indoor Plants. webmd.com
Healthline. Science-Backed Benefits of Houseplants. healthline.com
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