Most people think of houseplants as a way to beautify an indoor space. But beyond aesthetics, having a few plants scattered around your home may also provide important benefits to your emotional wellbeing.

A research conducted by The Cavell Centre in Peterborough, UK discovered that 83 percent of study participants reported that tending to their indoor plants made them feel less restless, less anxious, and has physical, mental and emotional benefits. 

Another study, published in the journal Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, which surveyed more than 4,000 people from around the world, found that having vegetation at home boosted emotional wellbeing for about 74% of participants amid COVID-19 lockdowns.

Nature-derived health benefits may have something to do with the “biophilia concept, which proposes that human comfort from naturalistic elements is rooted in psychological adaptions from our evolutionary history. Having an indoor plant may serve as a reminder of such positive memories, as well as the physical effects you might have experienced during those relaxing trips with nature.