Nature Therapy

The Flor Planter by Plyroom welcomes indoor plants into your home

Inspired by the form of tree trunks and plant stems, our new Flor planter is a manifestation of outstanding craftsmanship, clean form and natural materiality. Innately versatile, the Flor planter has hidden castors for movability and an understated aesthetic allowing simple transition and integration of nature into any space.

Tangible features aside, we are enamoured with the notion of welcoming greenery into our personal spaces and have decided to further explore the virtues of integrating nature into our everyday lives.

Biophilia hypothesis, popularised by naturalist E. O. Wilson, suggests that human life possesses an intrinsic connection with nature and other forms of life. It is this most fundamental kinship between man and nature that has become disconnected in the haste of modern life.

The importance of such a relationship is widely documented across cultures and disciplines. The Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku (nature therapy) has been proven to lower blood pressure and positively affect mental health through a mindful walk through the forest.

Natural light, indoor plants and modern furniture styled by Meghan Plowman

Research documented in The Conversation likewise suggests that physiologically plants confer positive changes in the brain’s electrical activity, muscle tension and heart activity. Psychologically, integration of greenery into the space can improve emotional state, reduce negative mood states, reduce distraction, increase creativity, and improve task-performance.

Asking ourselves the last time we ran our bare feet through grass, walked in the wilderness or dipped in the ocean we realise our moments spent in nature are infrequent and precious. Though nothing can compare to time immersed in nature itself, opportunities to escape the city are rare and therefore small measures can be taken to enhance the quality of our everyday spaces (until the day we acquire a micro cabin hidden in a forest that is!).

The Conversation has identified three plants that promote wellbeing within indoor spaces:

Peace Lily: if this plant is placed in the hallway it will reduce many toxins such as benzene, ammonia, acetone and ethyl and will prevent toxins from spreading between rooms in the apartment.

Aloe Vera and Mother-in-Law’s Tongue: these plants placed in the bedroom emit oxygen, which improves sleep quality.

Devil’s Ivy (Golden Pothos): this plant can be placed in low light and cool temperatures such as an air-conditioned office or an outdoor garage. It will remove ozone, which is found in car exhaust fumes.

Inspiration for indoor plants and architecture
Images clockwise left to right: Pinterest; Rising Canes Pavilion by Penda;Daniella White for Swedish Elle Decoration; Bowstring Truss House by Works Partnership Architects; Plyroom Flor planter; Due cappelle by Bianco + Gotti architetti; Kyomachi House by Hearth Architects; Plyroom Flor planter.

Aesthetically, we suggest the following indoor plants:

Maidenhair Ferns (Adiantum)

Rubber Fig (Ficus elastica)

Elephant ear (Colocasia)

Monstera (Monstera deliciosa)

In three sizes, our new Flor planter is a beautiful and simple way to welcome greenery into the space and rekindle our fundamental human connection with nature. Discover the collection here and explore our entire range of minimalist furniture here.

Images via Meghan Plowman.