These 8 Plants Are Not Only Pretty, but They'll Also Help Keep Your House Cool

Bloomscape
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Want a simple trick for beating the heat at home this summer? Introduce a few special indoor plants. Consider this: certain houseplants are natural coolants, absorbing heat and emitting oxygen to lower the ambient air temperature. Snake plants are popular choices in that category because they are easy to take care of, grow quickly, and look visually striking. But we also have plenty of other great recs if you'd like to cultivate a variety of leafy babies.

These greens not only enliven your home decor, but they're also useful! Keep reading to discover eight houseplants that are also stellar natural coolants.

Additional reporting by Haley Lyndes and Maggie Winterfeldt

01
Aloe Vera
Flickr user Paul Sturgess

Aloe Vera

Start cooling down your room by adding this powerful plant. Aloe vera not only helps soothe your skin when you have a burn, but it will also purify the air and emit oxygen, helping to cool the indoor air temperature.

Costa Farms Aloe Vera Plant
homedepot.com

Costa Farms Aloe Vera Plant

This Costa Farms Aloe Vera Plant ($14) requires very little maintenance.

02
Snake Plant
POPSUGAR Photography | Emily Faulstitch

Snake Plant

Put this distinctive plant in your bedroom. It emits oxygen at night, helping to cool the space while you sleep.

Pure Beauty Farms Sansevieria Laurentii Snake Plant
homedepot.com

Pure Beauty Farms Sansevieria Laurentii Snake Plant

This visually striking Pure Beauty Farms Sansevieria Laurentii Snake Plant ($35) will elevate any surface you place it on, with its long textured leaves and air-purifying qualities. It's a popular choice that works in any space, partly because it requires little light and little water to thrive.

03
Ficus
Sarah Hearts

Ficus

More than a focal point in your living room, ficus' are also great at increasing oxygen levels in the air.

The Sill Audrey Ficus
thesill.com

The Sill Audrey Ficus

The Audrey Ficus ($40) by The Sill enjoys filtered bright light and watering every one to two weeks. Ficus are easy-going and don't require a whole lot of care, plus, they're good-looking plants to have in a home — a win-win!

04
Spider Plant
A Beautiful Mess

Spider Plant

Great at purifying the air and easy to grow, it's hard to go wrong with a spider plant.

Plants.com Spider Plant
plants.com

Plants.com Spider Plant

This Plants.com Spider Plant ($45-$65) will make a noteworthy addition to any room. Place it right by a window for optimal light.

05
Rubber Plant
Hello Lidy

Rubber Plant

A rubber plant makes a big difference in air quality — even if you only have room in your home for the smaller baby rubber plant. It releases high levels of oxygen, helping to cool the ambient air temperature, and excels at purifying toxins such as formaldehyde from the air.

Bloomscape Burgundy Rubber Tree
bloomscape.com

Bloomscape Burgundy Rubber Tree

This air-purifying Bloomscape Burgundy Rubber Tree ($169) is one of the easiest plants to take care of.

06
Areca Palm
Unsplash | Behnam Norouzi

Areca Palm

This tree is serious business — it's one of the best air-purifying plants! You can expect it to keep your home's air cool, clean, and pleasantly humid.

Bloomscape Areca Palm
bloomscape.com

Bloomscape Areca Palm

Create your perfect indoor oasis this summer with this Bloomscape Areca Palm ($199), which will add a tropical vibe with its wispy green leaves. It is non-toxic and pet-friendly and enjoys bright indirect light.

07
Boston Fern
Love Grows Wild

Boston Fern

Sure, it looks great, but it's also great for air quality. Boston ferns are natural air humidifiers and purifiers.

United Nursery Boston Fern Plant
homedepot.com

United Nursery Boston Fern Plant

Pot this United Nursery Boston Fern Plant ($22) on your porch or anywhere indoors. It requires indirect sunlight and will make a classic addition to your home.

08
Pothos (aka Devil's Ivy or Money Plant)
Flickr user Quinn Dombrowski

Pothos (aka Devil's Ivy or Money Plant)

In addition to excelling at removing formaldehyde from the air, this low-maintenance plant is hard to kill and great for novice gardeners.

National Plant Network Devil's Ivy Silver Satin Pothos Plant
homedepot.com

National Plant Network Devil's Ivy Silver Satin Pothos Plant

This National Plant Network Devil's Ivy Silver Satin Pothos Plant ($28) thrives in partial to full light. It's super-efficient in cleaning indoor air, and it does so by producing oxygen, improving air humidity, and neutralizing harmful gasses that are common in cleaning products, tissues, and personal care products.