Salt Lake City Design Expert Wants You to Know This

There's a really pretty way to improve your indoor air quality.

Britnee Tanner, a local Salt Lake City, Utah resident and professional organizer with a meaningful social media following, wants her fellow Rocky Mountain neighbors to know that all that fresh air outdoors doesn't necessaily translate to great indoor air quality, which is obviously more important than ever. "Cleaner air has never been more important as so many of us are working from home and continuing to spend a lot of time indoors," she says, adding that houseplants can be incredibly cleaning for the air and downright trendy for the eyes.

Britnee Tanner

"It was after living in a few different cities where square footage was scarce that I made the conscious shift to intentionally create my own home," she says, "One where I valued quality over quantity, and one where stuff wasn't dominating every square inch. This mindset shift, paired with a lifelong passion for organizing led to the creation of my home organization company in 2019." The company has since grown to a successful in-person organizing and consulting business for those in the greater Salt Lake City, Utah area, but Britnee also offers virtual consulting for those in more remote locations.

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Now she's on a mission to have SLC-area residents add more houseplants to all their favorite rooms. "Adding real houseplants to any room spruces up the space visually and can help improve air quality," something the scientists at NASA seem to back up with real research, compounded by a later study indicating that microorganisms in plant soil actually do the heavy lifting. Either way -- the message is clear, adding houseplants to your indoor spaces can offer significant benefits. Heck, they just look nice, too.

Britnee's top houseplants for better air quality:

Snake plant. "The snake plant is resilient and easy to keep alive," she says of this Instagram-worthy greenery. "It needs little water and can thrive in low light. Green and yellow color variations are lovely to look at, and its ability to remove toxic pollutants in the air is nothing shy of amazing. It's capable of helping to rid the air of pollutants like benzene, formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene." These chemicals may sound like a mouthful, but they're popular finishing agents in commercially produced upholstery, paints, rugs, and furniture that can seep into the air.

Britnee Tanner's indoor garden wall

Pothos plant. "The pothos plant might just be one of the easiest plant to maintain. You'll notice droopy leaves if it's in need of water, and as soon as you give it a refill you'll see it perk up within a matter of hours. Aside from its hardiness, the pothos plant also helps to purify the air and remove harmful chemicals." It's also quickly become a favorite of plant influencers and interior designers (and yes. plant influencers are a thing).

Rubber tree. "I love the rubber tree plant and have a few in my own Salt Lake home. You can find it at your local nursery or online, and the gorgeous dark, shiny leaves are stunning."

Rubber tree, $42 at Amazon via Lively Root

"The bonus is that it doesn't take a lot of plant experience to keep green, and it's known for its ability to clean the air by absorbing carbon dioxide at particularly high rates."

Spider plant. "The spider plant is a lovely choice if you're new to the indoor plant game," she says of this classic green-and-white plant that makes a top notch gift. "It's easy to keep alive and is a pet-friendly option. Similar to the other plants on this list, it absorbs formaldehyge and xylene with ease."

The most exciting part is how versatile they are. "These all do well indoors during all seasons in the Utah climate with the right amount of water and sunlight," Britnee says, but the snake plant will enjoy some mini vacations to the porch from time to time. "It's a great one to move to your porch or patio during late spring and summer when the temperatures are warm. Because it's in the succulent family, it doesn't require much water and is no stranger to dry air, it can survive outside in a pot that allows for drainage."

Do you already have any of these plants in your own home? We'd love to hear your feedback in the comments section below.