Some of the easiest, most affordable and pleasant ways to get cleaner indoor air is by selecting the right plant or plants to do the job naturally. Indoor spaces with live plants tend to be brighter, fresher and more welcoming. They can add a certain warmth to an area that can be difficult to otherwise accomplish.

Here is a compiled list of the top 5 plants that can improve the air quality in your home:

1. **Chrysanthemums**: One of the most effective plant at cleansing the air. Eliminating common VOCs such as formaldehyde, xylene, benzene it can also absorb ammonia which is present in many household cleaners and floor sealers. Unusually it’s the flowers that extract the chemicals from the air, so you may need to replace regularly or rotate a few plants while old blooms fade, and new buds emerge.

2. **Bird’s Nest Fern**: A true stylish beauty, these crinkly leaved ferns are great air cleaning indoor plants, purifying the air of formaldehyde, often found in new flooring and wall coverings. With glossy lime green fronds growing in rosettes, they make a striking statement on a shelf or bathroom windowsill as a bathroom plants, but will need up to 2ft (60cm) to splay out as they mature.

3. **Spider Plant**: A classic air cleaning indoor plant, the spider plant's benefits are numerous so it’s hard to imagine any home not having one of these striped leaved beauties tucked away somewhere. But more than just an easy-to-grow favorite, these plants are formidable at removing formaldehyde, toluene and xylene all chemicals found in many synthetic fabrics, paints and glues. They have also been proved to lower carbon monoxide levels too.

4. **Dragon Plant**: One of the most effective plants for absorbing trichloroethylene – a major VOC – the dragon plant is also extremely handsome and perfect for making a lush and bold leafy statement. Perhaps one of the easiest indoor plants to grow, it can live for decades if well cared for. Dragon plants don’t tend to cope well with mains tap water due to the added chemicals, so use a distilled or harvested rainwater instead. Aim to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged and mist frequently with warm water.

5. **English Ivy**: Quick to grow and happy in most spots around the house, regardless of temperature or light conditions, English or European ivy is a real winner. It’s attractive, trailing stems of distinctive evergreen leaves are particularly effective at reducing airborne toxic chemicals.

According to the 1989 NASA study on Interior Landscape plants for indoor air pollution abatement, author B.C. Wolverton recommends having at least two ‘good sized’ plants per 100 sq ft (9.2 sqm) of indoor space to maintain good air quality.
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