Do Houseplants Really Purify Indoor Air?
Houseplants possess the ability to purify indoor air through natural processes.
They have become a common design feature in Brooklyn boutique hotels, West Village cafés, and Upper East Side residential buildings. Modern interior design features greenery as a fundamental element through its use of fiddle leaf figs and pothos plants. Plants serve as natural air purifiers, according to popular belief, while providing aesthetic value. But how much of that is true, and how much is just a myth?
The Origins of the Claim
A 1980s NASA study introduced the concept that plants help purify indoor air. Scientists conducted experiments using sealed test chambers to study how spider plants, peace lilies, and additional species removed formaldehyde and benzene from the air. The research demonstrated that plants function as natural air purification systems—an idea designers and lifestyle writers began to promote widely.
But here’s the reality: in a typical New York apartment, office, or hotel room, air moves and exchanges too frequently for a few plants to make much difference. Multiple plants need to be installed throughout all rooms to achieve effective air purification.
You can read the original NASA report here.
The actual functions of plants inside buildings remain unclear to many people.
Houseplants serve as useful air cleaners, although they do not function at industrial cleaning levels.
They maintain humidity levels through transpiration, which helps to reduce dryness in winter apartments and over-conditioned office spaces.
Studies show that green spaces help people in urban areas like New York by reducing stress while enhancing concentration and mood—leading to better mental health.
The large leaves of these plants function as air filters, trapping airborne particles to create a cleaner atmosphere.
When Plants Backfire
Not all greenery is beneficial if poorly maintained. The air becomes polluted when leaves become dusty or mold develops due to overwatering. The combination of sustainability and low-maintenance needs in hydroponic green walls and automated plant systems drives their adoption for hospitality development projects. NYC hotels and offices use living walls for both aesthetic purposes and maintenance convenience.
NYC’s Biophilic Design Movement
Designers across New York are integrating plants into spaces in innovative ways:
Hotels & Restaurants – Boutique hotels and dining spaces in SoHo and Tribeca use plant installations as decorative elements to create sustainable, Instagram-worthy designs.
Workplaces – Co-working hubs have introduced moss-lined walls and plant-integrated partitions to boost productivity and well-being.
Residences – The residential sector of Brooklyn and Manhattan now includes new tower buildings that incorporate shared garden rooms and lobby green lounges to bring natural spaces into everyday life.
The architectural trend represents more than visual design choices to architects. The movement belongs to a larger trend of biophilic design, which seeks to connect city dwellers with nature to boost happiness and well-being.
The Verdict
Houseplants possess the ability to purify indoor air, according to scientific research. But the science says: not significantly.
Their actual value emerges through designing environments that establish peaceful areas for relaxation. Paired with good ventilation systems and non-toxic finishes, plants become part of a holistic approach to sustainable design.
Every area in this concrete and glass city becomes more human when green elements are added to the environment. The system exists as a valuable resource that needs protection.
Designers across New York are integrating plants into spaces in innovative ways:
Hotels & Restaurants – Boutique hotels and dining spaces in SoHo and Tribeca use plant installations as decorative elements to create sustainable, Instagram-worthy designs.