Incorporating houseplants and greenery around your apartment is not only a beautiful way to decorate your space but also has significant benefits on your health. Even NASA scientists have shown that houseplants can remove up to 87% of air toxins in 24 hours in addition to adding pure, filtered oxygen into the air. Don’t worry — you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to care for plants in your new apartment.
Some factors that may impact your houseplant decision include space, the amount of light you receive, and your lifestyle. Depending on your apartment, you may prefer a few small plants placed on bookshelves or your countertops instead of selecting one large statement plant. We’ll also identify plants that are considered low-maintenance and require less-frequent watering instead of a fickle Ficus.
ALL ABOUT LIGHT FOR YOUR HOUSEPLANTS
You may be asking yourself what direction your windows face and how much impact it has on what plants to select. You have East facing windows if you have early to the mid-morning sun. In Chicago’s Gold Coast, you have a natural reference point as you have Eastern exposure if you’re facing Lake Michigan. West-facing windows provide the opposite, with late afternoon and evening sun and beautiful sunset views. If the sun shines directly through your windows throughout most of the day, you have exposed southern windows, which are best for light-loving plants like succulents and cacti. On the contrary, North-facing windows or Northern exposure allows low indirect light. Not to fear, there are still plenty of attractive options to spruce up lower-light environments.
BEST HOUSEPLANTS FOR A CHICAGO APARTMENT
We recommend the following plants to blend in seamlessly with your stylish and elegant apartment home at Gild.
PILEA PEPEROMIOIDES (CHINESE MONEY PLANT) – BEST FOR EASTERN EXPOSURE
Pilea Peperomioides, also known as the Chinese Money plant, is a whimsical plant with round, coin-sized leaves. They prefer well-drained potting soil and live in smaller pots, perfect for a bookshelf or countertop. These plants enjoy the light from an east- or west-facing window to avoid direct sunlight.
Pilea Peperomioides are perfect plants for eastern exposure apartments in Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood.
CULINARY HERBS – BEST FOR WESTERN EXPOSURE
According to the Chicago Botanic Garden, all herbs except basil perform best next to a cool windowpane. These herbs include thyme, lemon thyme, sage, oregano, parsley, and chives. While herbs grown inside won’t grow to be as large as their outdoor counterparts, they bring a hint of summer and provide beautiful smells.
Culinary Herbs like basil and thyme are beautiful and fragrant plants to grow in a windowsill in your Gold Coast apartment.
ZZ PLANT – BEST FOR NORTHERN EXPOSURE AND LOW-LIGHT ENVIRONMENTS
The ZZ Plant is a type of succulent known for its hardiness and ability to grow even in windowless rooms. They grow slowly yet range in size — some in medium-sized planters and others in large planters up to three feet high. Reside Rewards partner Plants Delivered Chicago describes the ZZ plant as “perfect for a busy bee lifestyle and the first-time plant parent who wants a plant that will do best with minimal care and supervision.”
Areca Palms are peaceful plants that make a strong statement.
ARECA OR MAJESTY PALM BEST FOR SOUTHERN EXPOSURE
Palms elicit feelings of peace and relaxation due to their association with tropical environments. While you may not be on the beach with your feet in the sand, having a palm in your apartment home at Gild is a statement. The Areca and the Majesty Palm grow tall and bask in the sunlight. These palms are ideal for bringing outside on your balcony or terrace in the summer months. Get them delivered to your home directly from our partner, Plants Delivered Chicago.
Areca Palms are peaceful plants that make a strong statement.
ABOUT RESIDE REWARDS
As a resident of Gild, the Reside Living team is hard at work to find the most exclusive deals for you from local businesses around Chicago. Reside Rewards is a program that offers discounts on everything from fitness classes to 5-star hotel rooms. These rewards range from temporary, short-term deals to more extended-term partnerships with businesses. Because Reside Living offers apartment homes across many neighborhoods in Chicago, including Gild apartments in the Gold Coast, there are rewards to find throughout the city.
PLANTS DELIVERED CHICAGO, A RESIDE REWARDS PARTNER
Whether you seek to be the envy of “urban jungle” bloggers with more plants than pieces of furniture or want a few potted plants, a service like Plants Delivered Chicago can help you make your greenhouse dreams come true. Plants Delivered is owned and operated by Andy Robledo and his pup Gerald who are often seen driving around the city in their bright blue Ford pickup truck. Founded in 2019, Plants Delivered strives to be more than just another online plant shop, partnering with organizations like the Greater Chicago Food Depository and other local charities to support the “Feeding People Through Plants” initiative, which has helped more than 95,000 meals for neighbors in need. Not only do they keep their community, but they guarantee free delivery across all of Chicago. Through the Reside Rewards program, residents of the Gild apartments will receive 15% off all products purchased from Plants Delivered Chicago. Plus, your plant could be hand-delivered by Andy and Gerald themselves!
FIND YOUR NEW HOME AT GILD
We hope this guide will provide you with suggestions on finding a houseplant, big or small, to adapt to a Studio, 1 Bed, or 2 Bed at Gild. These tips and tricks will help you fill your home with beautiful greenery to boost your mood and compliment your style. After all, Gild apartment homes are designed to be elegantly timeless to elevate apartment living beyond expectation. Ready to claim your new address at Gild? Learn more about our apartments in Chicago’s Gold Coast, and contact our team with any questions.
