Plants are an often overlooked part of the home decor puzzle, which is a shame, because there’s much more to them than simple decoration. Whether you’ve never considering owning a houseplant, or even if you think you’re missing a green thumb, being a plant owner isn’t very difficult (though it can take some finesse). Here’s what you need to know about plants, from their benefits to how you go about picking one and caring for it.

Why We Love Plants

For many, the first thing that springs to mind when they think “houseplant” is how it works as a decorative piece for the home. Fair enough, as they do make good decorations. Well-placed plants about the home provide a natural ambiance that you can’t quite get with a throw pillow or matching drapes. Plus, with so much versatility in how they look and how much attention they need, they can fit no matter your home’s decor or your experience as a plant carer.

But the especially wonderful thing about plants is how they affect your home’s environment – and we’re not talking about the decor. As living things, plants pump oxygen into the air, refreshing it. As they take in the air, they also clean it, removing harmful toxins like formaldehyde. That’s much more than a framed picture can do!

Picking the Right Plant

Picking the right plant for your home isn’t as easily as heading down to the garden store and choosing at random. Again, there are a great variety of plants that require varying degrees of living conditions. You might want to think about where in your home you’d like to keep your plant, as some need a lot of sunlight to live while others don’t. Also consider how much attention you’ll be willing to give your plant. Do you want a plant you need to check on every day, or would you rather keep one that is lower maintenance?

The plant’s needs aren’t the only thing you’ll have to consider. You must also make sure that the plant you pick gets along well with you and your family, pets included. Some house plants look nice, but are in fact poisonous to eat. Chances are, you aren’t going to turn your beloved houseplant into a lunch salad, but do bear in mind if you have children or pets who aren’t as cautious.

Fake It ‘til You Make It

Perhaps you want the positive aesthetics of a plant, but you don’t want to put in the work. If you’re willing to miss out on the air-cleansing benefits of owning a real plant, you can always spring for a fake one. Artificial plants might not be the real deal, but they sure can look like it. Plus, they have a benefit of their own: they’ll never die on you, no matter how negligent you are.

If you’re not completely sold on the idea of owning a plant, picking out an artificial one may just be your best bet. You could even consider your fake plant ownership as preparation for buying a real one. After some time, the idea of switching it out for a real, living, air-cleansing plant might just grow on you!