It’s hard to overestimate the valuable work houseplants are doing in the background. They make the best natural air purifiers, making air more breathable, releasing oxygen and filtering out everyday pollutants from man-made substances such as formaldehyde. Our bodies will thank us for this!

Plants also release phytochemicals, which suppress mould spores and bacteria in the air. According to one study, having plants in interior spaces decreases the chances of colds, dry skin, sore throats and dry coughs.

They add humidity, too, helping to counter the dry air of centrally-heated houses. Other research reveals that higher absolute humidity is conducive to decreased survival and transmission of the flu virus.

Plants are an inexpensive way to jazz up even the most boring of rooms. Adorn your windowsills with succulents, drape vibrant macramé hangers from curtain rails or try something big and bold like the gorgeous fiddle-leaf fig.

Have fun with the pots: display your plants in beautiful copper or ceramic containers. Owning plants doesn’t have to be expensive. Take a cutting from a friend’s plant or from your local plant shop, and get your plant going from scratch. Need some inspiration about where to start? Follow some indoor plant gurus on Instagram or have a listen to some podcasts on interior design.

Maybe you are thinking, “I would love to have plants but there’s no way I can keep them alive longer than a few weeks.” Good news: there’s no need for green fingers!

Most indoor plants require very little attention. They don’t need much watering, trimming or fertilising unlike your garden plants. The trick is to keep them healthy, which means observing them closely and being consistent.

Taking care of plants can be a chore but think about the kick you might get out of making an indoor jungle thrive. Caring for a living thing gives us a purpose and is rewarding. Houseplants are not merely decorative: they respond, they bloom, they let the seasons of the outdoors into your house.

The benefits of plants in your living quarters don’t stop at preventing respiratory disorders and reducing stress. Having plants in the house can also help you get a better night's sleep! This is because plants purify the air in your bedroom and provide a scent that promotes relaxation. The amount and quality of sleep we get has a huge impact on our health.

Plants such as snake plants, orchids and aloe vera give out oxygen at night to help you breathe better. They also absorb toxins from the air. For a sweet smell to help you sleep, choose jasmine or lavender. With stress and anxiety causing half of all insomnia issues, these plants can have a gentle soothing effect on your body and mind. This can help to lower your heart rate, blood pressure and stress levels at the end of a long day.

Plants have long been used to reduce noise from busy roads. More recently, research has shown another benefit: interior plants can help to reduce background noise levels inside buildings, too. Plants and their leaves absorb, diffract, and reflect background noise, which makes the environment more comfortable for the occupants. Good news for anyone who has noisy neighbours.

This applies to busy office spaces too. Noise created by such things as phone chatter, footsteps on hard floors, conversations in adjacent cubicles, and printer use travels through large spaces. This noise is distracting, making employees less productive and reducing privacy. One way to create a welcoming, stress-free environment is by using screen plants instead of partitions. This will not only absorb more noise in a busy office but will provide an attractive addition to the space.

The fact that workplace aesthetics can improve employee well-being is well-known. But did you know that plants can boost productivity? A recent study from the University of Exeter has shown that a splash of greenery can rapidly improve performance at work.

This might sound like a bit of a stretch when you are struggling through that 3 o’clock slump, but employees who participated in this study were 15% more productive when there were just a few plants in the workplace.

Interestingly, being able to see plants didn’t just increase overall productivity – it also increased memory retention and attention span.