You might not realize it, but the plants you keep inside your home can do more than just look pretty. They can actually help clean the air you breathe every day. This is especially helpful if you spend a lot of time indoors or live in a place with less fresh air.

Some common houseplants have been shown to remove harmful chemicals and improve the air quality in your living space. This means adding the right plants to your home can make your environment healthier without any extra work from you.

Snake Plant

Snake plant in gray ceramic pot, green leaves with yellow edges, indoor setting, blurred background
Image Credit: Adobe Stock.

The snake plant is super easy to care for. It can live in low light and doesn’t need much water. It’s great at cleaning the air by taking in toxins. Plus, it looks cool with tall, upright leaves.

If you want a plant that works hard but doesn’t ask for much, the snake plant is a solid pick for your home.

Spider Plant

A spider plant with long, arching green and white variegated leaves growing in a hanging pot. The plant has thin, striped foliage cascading downward, displayed against a blurred background with hints of red
Image Credit: ellinnur bakarudin/Shutterstock.

The spider plant is easy to care for, so you don’t have to be a plant expert to keep it alive. It’s good at removing common indoor air pollutants like carbon monoxide and formaldehyde.

Plus, its long, arching leaves add a nice green touch to any room. You’ll find it works well in almost any lighting.

Peace Lily

White peace lily (Spathiphyllum) with elegant white spathes and lush green leaves, placed indoors near a window, symbolizing peace and purification
Image Credit: Adobe Stock.

If you want a plant that cleans the air and looks nice, the peace lily is a great choice. It can remove toxins like ammonia from your home.

Peace lilies like low light and do well in bathrooms because they enjoy moisture. Just remember to water them regularly to keep them healthy.

Aloe Vera

Pot with green aloe vera houseplant and books on window sill
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

You probably know aloe vera as a plant that helps with sunburns. But it also cleans the air by removing chemicals like formaldehyde and benzene.

It’s easy to care for and releases oxygen, especially at night. This makes it a great plant to keep in your bedroom. Having aloe vera around is a simple way to freshen your space and add a bit of green.

Boston Fern

A small fern plant with delicate green fronds growing in a white textured ceramic pot. The plant sits on what appears to be a gray surface against a blurred neutral background
Image Credit: Adobe Stock.

If you want a plant that helps clean the air, Boston ferns are a good pick. They can remove certain pollutants like benzene and formaldehyde from your room.

These ferns like high humidity and moist soil, so you’ll need to water them often. They also help keep the air a bit more humid, which can be nice in dry spaces.

Bamboo Palm

Indoor Bamboo Palm plant with slender green leaves against white wall with blue baseboard and tiled floor
Image Credit: Teddychen81 – CC BY-SA 4.0/Wiki Commons.

If you want a plant that helps clean the air, the bamboo palm is a good pick. It can remove toxins like carbon monoxide from your home.

This palm also works well in dry spots since it adds moisture to the air. With good care, it can grow pretty tall indoors, making your space feel fresh and green.

English Ivy

Close-up of glossy ivy leaves with distinctive three-pointed shape and light green veining forming a dense groundcover
Image credit: Adobe Stock.

English Ivy is a great choice if you want a simple plant that cleans your air. It has pretty, lobed leaves and climbs nicely on walls or shelves.

You just need to give it some light and water now and then. It helps reduce common indoor air pollutants, making your space a bit fresher.

Gerbera Daisy

Close-up of bright yellow gerbera daisies in focus, showing detailed petals radiating from a golden center. A second daisy is partially visible to the right. Green leaves appear on the left against a soft gray background
Image Credit: Serge Melki – CC BY 2.0/Wiki Commons.

If you want a colorful plant that also helps clean your air, the Gerbera Daisy is a good pick. It can remove harmful chemicals like benzene and trichloroethylene from your home.

This plant needs bright light and well-drained soil to stay healthy. Plus, its bright flowers can boost your mood while making your space fresher.

Calathea

Calathea plant with striped leaves in white ribbed pot, alongside other houseplants on woven rattan table mat
Image Credit: Adobe Stock.

Calathea is a cool plant to have around. It cleans the air by removing some common toxins.

You’ll like its big, colorful leaves that move a bit during the day. Just make sure it gets low to medium light and likes humidity. It’s not too hard to take care of if you keep the soil moist.

Kentia Palm

Kentia palm trees with yellow-green fronds rising above dense tropical foliage against clear blue sky in bright sunlight
Image Credit: Black Diamond Images – CC BY 2.0/Wiki Commons.

The Kentia Palm is a great choice if you want a plant that cleans the air and looks nice. It moves moisture into the air and helps remove some harmful chemicals.

You don’t have to water it often, which makes it easy to care for. It can handle low temperatures well, so it fits in most rooms without trouble.

Bromeliad

Colorful bromeliad plants with vibrant red, yellow, and purple flower centers surrounded by green spiky foliage
Image Credit: Adobe Stock.

If you want a plant that looks cool and cleans the air, try a bromeliad. It helps remove toxins and adds moisture to your room.

Bromeliads are easy to care for. Just keep their central cup filled with water and give them bright, indirect light. They also don’t need much space, making them great for small rooms.

Rubber Plant

A rubber tree plant with glossy, dark green leaves, potted in a green plastic pot, placed on a wooden surface with a rustic background
Image Credit: Single Action Photo/Shutterstock.

The rubber plant is a great choice if you want a low-maintenance indoor tree. It can grow pretty tall and helps clean formaldehyde and other chemicals from the air.

You don’t need to water it often, but it does like a good amount of natural light. It’s perfect for your living room or a bright corner.

Areca Palm

Modern living room with a gray sofa, Areca palm plant, floor lamp, pouf, rug, and minimalist decor accents
Image Credit: Adobe Stock.

If you want a stylish plant that cleans your air, the Areca Palm is a great choice. It helps remove common toxins like formaldehyde and carbon monoxide from your home.

This plant is also safe if you have pets, so you don’t have to worry about them getting sick. Plus, it’s easy to care for, making it perfect for beginners.

Philodendron

Philodendron plant with variegated green and white leaves in rope-wrapped pot on wooden floor in modern living room
Image Credit: Adobe Stock.

If you want an easy plant that cleans your air, philodendrons are a good pick. They help remove formaldehyde, a common indoor toxin.

These plants have big, green leaves that look nice and fresh. Plus, they don’t need much care, so they fit well in most rooms.

You can place them on shelves or hang them, making your space greener and cleaner without much effort.

Chinese Evergreen

Dieffenbachia houseplant with variegated green and white leaves in a light pink ribbed planter pot on wooden surface
Image Credit: Mid Photographer/Shutterstock.

If you want a plant that’s easy to care for, Chinese Evergreen is a great choice. It helps clean the air by removing toxins like benzene and formaldehyde.

You don’t need to worry about lots of sunlight, since it can do well in low light. It’s perfect if you want something that looks nice and helps your home’s air.

Maidenhair Fern

A lush fern with bright green, finely divided leaves, growing in a natural setting, water droplets on the leaves, healthy foliage, vibrant and fresh appearance
Image Credit: Adobe Stock.

If you want a delicate-looking plant that helps clean your air, the Maidenhair fern is a good choice. It prefers indirect light, like near an east-facing window.

Keep its soil moist but not soggy. Using a self-watering pot can make care easier. A bit of air circulation helps prevent problems too.

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As a mom of three busy boys, I know how chaotic life can get — but I’ve learned that it’s possible to create a beautiful, cozy home even with kids running around. That’s why I started Cultivated Comfort — to share practical tips, simple systems, and a little encouragement for parents like me who want to make their home feel warm, inviting, and effortlessly stylish. Whether it’s managing toy chaos, streamlining everyday routines, or finding little moments of calm, I’m here to help you simplify your space and create a sense of comfort.

But home is just part of the story. I’m also passionate about seeing the world and creating beautiful meals to share with the people I love. Through Cultivated Comfort, I share my journey of balancing motherhood with building a home that feels rich and peaceful — and finding joy in exploring new places and flavors along the way.

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