10 Stunning Air Purifying Plants That Are 100% Instagram-Worthy

We’ve all seen them. Scrolling through Instagram, fawning over this person’s bedroom and that person’s living room. And we wish we could make our house look like theirs. Well, now you can get one step closer with these 10 stunning air purifying plants that look absolutely amazing in any home décor!

NASA Study

In 1989, NASA conducted a study involving plants in closed-off spaces. They wanted to see which plants could effectively purify the air of different chemicals. From that study, a list of 12 plants was tested to see what their benefits to the surrounding environment would be.

They got some pretty good results. I won’t go into too much detail here, but if you would like to read the study here it is.

I also found a really handy site that has a list of the NASA approved air-purifying plants in really cute infographics. Check it out.

Do They Or Don’t They

There is still some debate about whether or not plants could effectively clean the air without growing an entire forest in your home.

Some people believe that since the study was conducted in small closed-off spaces, it doesn’t accurately represent daily life in a home that constantly has people coming and going, introducing more air pollutants.

In my personal opinion, even if the plants can clean a small portion of air, then it is at least a little bit cleaner than it was before. It may not make a huge difference as it does in a closed-off space, but any help is better than nothing.

Besides, the plants not only help clean the air, but they look amazing and add some interest to your home décor.

Air Purifying Plants

Now that we got all of the debate out of the way, let’s get into our list of 10 air purifying plants that are totally Instagram worthy. I’ll link each plant to an article I found if you want more information about growing and caring for each individual plant. So let’s go!

Aloe Vera (A. barbadensis)

Difficulty: Easy

Aloe is a very well known plant for its medicinal uses. But did you know it is awesome at purifying the air too?

It is also a very tolerant plant that is pretty hard to kill. So it is great for beginners.

Just make sure it has enough light and water it regularly. It can handle some drought but try not to neglect it too much or the leaves will start to die. And don’t overwater. Let the soil dry out between watering.

You can grow one in a large coffee cup on a window sill or put it in a pot on a stand. The choice is yours. It is a versatile plant that will look great anywhere.

Size – 2 feet X 2 feet but smaller if grown in a pot

Benefits – Filters out benzene and formaldehyde

Good For Pets? – No, toxic to cats, dogs and horses

Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata)

Difficulty: Easy

The snake plant. If I had to pick the easiest plant to take care of, this would be it. I’m pretty sure anyone can handle this plant. I would say it even thrives on neglect.

Now, that doesn’t mean completely ignore it forever, or of course, it will die. But if you forget to water it for a while, it won’t mind. Just make sure when you do remember, give it a little love.

If you are looking for a plant to add to your décor, but are afraid of killing one, go for this one. It is almost impossible to kill.

And of course, NASA chose this as one of the air purifying plants in their study to combat “sick building syndrome”.

So it is beautiful, and functional.

They can grow pretty tall, so they look great in a larger pot on the floor, maybe next to your desk or bed. If you don’t want a large plant, no worries. You can grow a smaller one in whatever size pot you like. Pick something that goes with your décor and you have an awesome looking air purifier.

Size – 6 inches to 12 feet

Benefits – Filters out benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, xylene, and toluene

Good For Pets? – No, toxic to cats and dogs

Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)

Difficulty: Easy

Pothos is another super easy plant to care for. It is apparently known as Devil’s Ivy because you can’t kill it. Cool right?

They are very versatile when it comes to light, so you can grow it pretty much anywhere as long as it is getting some form of light. Bright/indirect or even low light or florescent lighting will work for this plant.

Make sure you let the soil dry out in between watering so the roots don’t get soggy.

And this vining plant will look great either hanging down or let them trail up objects in the room. Or you can keep it trimmed if you don’t want your room to have that Jumanji feel. Totally up to you.

Size – 6 feet to 10 feet

Benefits – Filters out benzene, formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene

Good For Pets? – No, toxic to cats, dogs and horses

Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

Difficulty: Easy

The spider plant is another hardy plant that will survive even if you aren’t an expert gardener.

This plant needs a little more attention when it comes to watering, especially in the summer. Plus, it likes to have a mist of water on its leaves every once in a while.

This plant is popular among interior designers for a reason. It is not only really cool looking, but it is one of the better air purifying plants. So it is great for offices, workspaces, or common living areas.

The spider plant is usually hung from a ceiling so the plant can fall over the edges, but you can also plant it in a regular pot and set it on a tabletop or desk. It will look great either way.

Size – 2-3 feet wide and 2-3 feet long when grown in a hanging pot

Benefits – Filters out formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene

Good For Pets? – Yes

Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata v. Bostoniesis)

Difficulty: Easy

This fern has some really great interior design potential. There are so many different ways that you can display it. You can hang it, stick it on a table, or a pedestal. Group it with other plants, or leave it alone to be a main focal point. The choice is yours.

This one is still hardy, but it has a little more work that should go into it to keep it looking top-notch.

Where the other plants on this list like to dry out in between watering, this one likes to stay a little moist. So a little more attention has to be paid to this plant, but nothing too crazy if you can stay on top of the water.

It also likes a bit more light than the others before it on this list, but as long as you can give it some bright, indirect light, it will be happy.

Ferns always remind me of dinosaurs whenever I see them, which is probably why I like them. To decorate indoors with one, I would put it in a nice sized pot and put it on a stand. Something simple since the plant itself is so full. Maybe a white pot with a wood or bamboo stand? That would look really great against the green leaves of the fern.

Size – 2 feet to 3 feet

Benefits – Filters out formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene

Good For Pets? – Yes

Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea elegans)

Difficulty: Easy

I have no idea why, but for some reason, this plant reminds me of the 80s. Don’t ask me why, it just does.

That aside, the parlor palm is super popular when it comes to home décor.

I would say it is still relatively easy to take care of, just always remember… you can easily over water this guy.

It likes some bright filtered light, but can handle a bit less light if need be.

Don’t stress too much about it though. It will look great and give your home décor a tropical vibe. And who doesn’t love that? It’s like going on a vacation… but you don’t have to go anywhere!

Size – 2-6 feet tall, 2-3 foot spread

Benefits – Filters out benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, xylene, toluene, and ammonia

Good For Pets? – Yes

Rubber Plant (Ficus elastic)

Difficulty: Medium

Now we get to the plants that need a little more care.

It may not be for beginners, but if you have some experience, this would be a great air purifying plant to add to your home.

This rubber plant needs moist soil, but not so soggy that it rots the roots.

For light, it likes bright filtered light, so keep that in mind when looking for the perfect spot for this plant.

This tree is just that… a tree. It can grow to be quite large, so if you want to keep it as a house plant. Don’t repot it once it gets to the size you want it. The larger the pot you put your tree in, the larger it will get.

Depending on how large you let this tree get, it will make an amazing and eye-catching décor piece in your home. You won’t only be the envy of everyone on Instagram, but your neighbors also.

Size – Can grow up to 100 feet

Benefits – Filters out formaldehyde

Good For Pets? – No, toxic to cats, dogs, and horses. Sap can cause skin irritation in humans.

Dracaena (Dracaena deremensis / Dracaena marginata / Dracaena massangeana)

Difficulty: Medium

The light this dracaena plant needs depends on the type you get, but it can go from partial shade to bright light.

This is another plant that needs you to pay attention to the water. It doesn’t like to dry out, so if you forget to water your plants, maybe opt for one of the plants earlier on this list.

They may require a little bit of mist on their leaves from time to time. Just make sure not to overwater your plants, especially in winter.

If you want this one as a tree, it would look great in the corner of a room. You can also keep it smaller but keeping it in a small pot. Place it on your desk or dresser for an awesome look.

Size – Varies, Usually under 10 feet

Benefits – Filters out benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, xylene, and toluene

Good For Pets? – No, toxic to cats and dogs

Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema modestum)

Difficulty: Medium

Another popular home décor houseplant with air purifying benefits! And its great for beginners.

This Chinese evergreen has some really great aesthetic appeal. It has a few different colors to choose from, and it is slow-growing, so you won’t have to repot it as much as some other plants.

For light, there is a rule for this plant, the darker the leaves, the less light it needs. Simple right?

The Chinese evergreen needs to stay moist, but not soggy. It also likes to have its leaves spritzed every once in a while. It like humidity. So keep it around other plants with the same needs to make things easier on yourself.

You can stick this one either on a coffee table or counter. Keep it on your desk or next to your bed. It can go almost anywhere since it doesn’t like full sun. Let your imagination fly!

Size – 1-2 feet tall and wide

Benefits – Filters out benzene and formaldehyde

Good For Pets? – No, toxic to cats, dogs, and horses

Split Leaf Philodendron (Monstera deliciosa)

Difficulty: Medium

This delicious monster is another plant that not only looks amazing, but it has some serious air-purifying powers due to the large leaves it has.

This guy likes humidity also, so it will need to have its leaves sprayed every once in a while. Also, it likes soil that dries out just a little between watering. So just pay attention to the water, and you will have an awesome looking plant that will be the envy of Instagram!

For light, try bright but indirect light. It doesn’t like to get burned.

The split-leaf philodendron is one of my favorite houseplants. I just love the way it looks. The large leaves make everything look so tropical. It really is a showstopper. Get lots of likes on Instagram with this beauty.

Size – 3 feet tall, 2-3 feet wide

Benefits – Filters out formaldehyde

Good For Pets? – No, toxic to cats and dogs

So what do you think about this list? I have to say, I have to be careful to not buy too many of these houseplants or my house is going to end up looking like I just stepped out of Jumanji. Although, it may not be too bad considering my air quality would be amazing!

Which one of these is your favorite? And how do you decorate with it?

Do you like smaller houseplants or bigger ones?

If you get one of these plants, make sure you take a picture and tag me @ragtagjourney. I would love to get some inspiration for my own home décor!!

Until next time,