Tag Archives: indoor

Breathing Fresh: NASA’s Top 12 Air-Purifying Plants for Cleaner Indoor Spaces

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In 1989, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) partnered with the Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA) to conduct a Clean Air Study. Led by Dr. B. C. Wolverton, the study provided a comprehensive list of plants that are highly effective at purifying indoor air. The research demonstrated that plants have the ability to filter pollutants such as benzene, ammonia, and formaldehyde, which helps mitigate the effects of Sick Building Syndrome. Certain tropical houseplants were found to be particularly efficient in removing formaldehyde, trichloroethane, benzene, and other harmful substances from the air, replacing them with oxygen. According to the report, it is recommended to have at least one plant for every hundred square feet of indoor space, be it at home or in the office.

Designer: Ugly Duckling ID

Common Indoor Pollutants

Trichloroethylene, formaldehyde, benzene, xylene, ammonia, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and suspended particulate matter (SPM) are harmful substances found in various products and environments.

• Trichloroethylene, present in inks and pa2ints, can lead to symptoms such as dizziness and coma.
• Benzene, used in plastics and tobacco smoke, may result in drowsiness and unconsciousness.
• Formaldehyde, commonly found in paper products and fabrics, can cause irritation and swelling in the respiratory system.
• Ammonia, found in cleaning products, can cause eye irritation and sore throat.
• Xylene, present in rubber and vehicle exhaust, can lead to liver and kidney damage.
• NO2 and SO2, emitted by vehicles and factories, can harm the cardiovascular and respiratory systems.
• SPM, small particles in the air, can irritate the eyes and respiratory tract and contribute to long-term health issues like asthma and cardiovascular problems.

Top 12 Air-Purifying Plants

1. Areca Palm (Dypsis lutescens)

Image courtesy of: Spaces

The Areca palm, native to Madagascar, is a popular foliage houseplant known for its ability to purify the air by removing formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene. As a houseplant, it thrives indoors and can tolerate both shade and bright light. It requires less frequent watering and prefers temperatures ranging from 15 to 35 degrees Celsius and it adds beauty and charm to any indoor space.

2. Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata)

Image courtesy of: Rawpixel

Sansevieria, commonly known as Mother-in-law’s tongue or Snake plant, is an incredibly resilient indoor plant that thrives even in low light conditions. It is a perfect choice for those seeking a low-maintenance plant as it requires infrequent watering. Moreover, Sansevieria has been recognized as one of the most effective air-purifying plants, capable of eliminating benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, xylene, and toluene from the surrounding air. It can adapt to various temperature ranges, from 5 to 45 degrees Celsius, making it suitable for different climates.

3. Money Plant (Epipremnum aureum)

Image courtesy of: eddows_arunothai

The money plant, belonging to the Araceae plant family, is a popular houseplant found in French Polynesia. It is highly adaptable and can thrive in various indoor environments. It has the ability to effectively purify the air by removing benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, xylene, and toluene. As a houseplant, its growing habits and characteristics are as follows: it prefers indoor locations, tolerates shade and artificial light, requires less frequent watering, and can withstand temperatures ranging from 15 to 45 degrees Celsius.

4. English ivy (Hedera helix)

Image courtesy of: kolomietsolena

English Ivy, a flowering plant from the Araliaceous family, is a highly popular vine plant in Europe. It is native to most of Europe and Western Asia. Notably, English Ivy has been identified as one of the most efficient plants in removing benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, xylene, and toluene from the air. As a houseplant, its growing habits and characteristics include indoor location preference, tolerance to shade and artificial light, less frequent watering requirements, and a temperature range of 5 to 30 degrees Celsius.

5. Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)

Image courtesy of: Elisall

The peace lily, belonging to the Araceae plant family, is a well-known indoor plant. It has been identified as one of the most efficient plants in eliminating benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, ammonia, xylene, toluene, and other pollutants from the air. As a houseplant, it thrives indoors and can tolerate both shade and artificial light. It requires less frequent watering and prefers temperatures ranging from 16 to 32 degrees Celsius.

6. Barberton Daisy (Gerbera jamesonii)

Image courtesy of: natanavo

Gerbera, a genus of flowering plants in the Asteraceae family, is renowned for its vibrant and lustrous flowers. It is a popular choice due to its ability to withstand adverse weather conditions and thrive in bright light. Notably, Gerbera is effective in purifying the air by eliminating benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene. As a houseplant, it flourishes indoors, tolerating both shade and bright light. It requires less frequent watering and prefers temperatures ranging from 15 to 25 degrees Celsius.

7. Chinese Evergreens (Aglaonema Modestum)

Image courtesy of: Jsttanrak

Aglaonema, a member of the Araceae family, is a popular indoor plant originating from tropical and subtropical regions of South Asia. With over 100 popular varieties, it is both visually appealing and low-maintenance. Notably, Aglaonema is known for its ability to cleanse the air by removing benzene and formaldehyde. As a houseplant, it thrives in indoor locations, tolerates shade and artificial light, requires less frequent watering, and prefers temperatures ranging from 15 to 30 degrees Celsius.

8. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

Image courtesy of: araleboy

Chlorophytum comosum, a member of the Asparagaceae plant family, originates from southern Africa. This popular houseplant, known as the spider plant, is not only elegant and fast-growing but also easy to care for. A report by the university’s Cooperative Extension Service highlighted the spider plant as one of the top varieties for effectively removing VOCs. It has been found to cleanse the air by eliminating formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene. As a houseplant, the spider plant thrives indoors, tolerating shade and artificial light, requiring less frequent watering, and favoring temperatures ranging from 15 to 30 degrees Celsius.

9. Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis mill)

Image courtesy of: Olivier_Le_Moal

Aloe vera, a succulent plant belonging to the Asphodelaceae family, is a remarkable plant known for its numerous benefits and medicinal uses since ancient times. It can withstand adverse weather conditions and thrives in bright light, making it suitable for deserts. Aloe vera is also effective in purifying the air by eliminating benzene and formaldehyde. As a houseplant, it prefers indoor locations, tolerates both shade and bright light, requires less frequent watering, and can thrive in temperatures ranging from 15 to 45 degrees Celsius.

10. Rubber plant (Ficus elastica)

Image courtesy of: andriymedvediuk

The Rubber Plant, classified under the genus Ficus in the Moraceae plant family, is native to South Asia. This houseplant has been discovered to effectively eliminate formaldehyde from the air. As a houseplant, it thrives indoors, tolerating both shade and artificial light. It requires less frequent watering and prefers temperatures ranging from 15 to 30 degrees Celsius.

11. Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)

Image courtesy of: MargJohnsonVA

The Boston fern, belonging to the Nephrolepidaceae family and the Nephrolepis genus, is native to humid forests and swamps. It is known for its ability to effectively eliminate formaldehyde, xylene, toluene, airborne germs, molds, and bacteria from indoor air. As a houseplant, it thrives in indoor locations, tolerating both shade and artificial light. It requires frequent watering and prefers temperatures ranging from 15 to 35 degrees Celsius.

12. Bamboo Palm (Chamaedorea seifrizi)

Image courtesy of: Natabuena

The Bamboo palm, part of the Chamaedorea genus in the Aceraceae plant family, is one of the 107 species within its genus. This plant thrives in shady and humid conditions, often found growing under trees in rainforests. It is known for its ability to effectively remove benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, xylene, and toluene from the air. As a houseplant, it prefers indoor locations and can tolerate shade and artificial light. It requires frequent watering and thrives in temperatures ranging from 10 to 35 degrees Celsius.

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Portable smart farm concept lets you plant veggies anywhere inside your home

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Indoor gardening became quite a fad in recent years as people tried to cope with being stuck indoors for days at a time. But while the majority of this trend revolved around succulents and decorative plants that are easy to grow, it also presented an opportunity to start a trend of growing consumable greens indoors as well. Indoor planters try to offer this kind of convenience, but most of them tend to be large appliances no smaller than cabinets or shelves. Smaller households that want to grow a small number of verbs and vegetables might feel left out, but this concept tries to offer those same conveniences and smart features in a more portable design that you can literally put anywhere in your house, apartment, or room.

Designers: Deokhee Jeong, Yubin Choi, Youngnam Lee, Sewoom Hahn

Smart planters may sound simple but the amount of calculations they have to make can be quite complicated. They have to make sure that the plants are not just getting the right amount of LED light each day, they also have to distribute the right amount of water that the plants need, not less and definitely not more either. It’s no surprise, then, that many indoor planter appliances can be quite big, taking into account not only the water container and soil pots but also the electronics and mechanisms needed to make it work.

The POT version of the BalconyFarm planter condenses all those those into a farm that can fit on a small table or even a wide window sill. The box-like device has eight circular containers that can hold the potted plants, but in reality only six of these can be used at the same time, at least if gardening indoors. One spot is where you’ll set up the lamp, while the other circle is reserved for the water container. These two can be placed in any of the eight holes, making the proper arrangement of herbs and vegetables even easier.

Despite the petite size, the BalconyFarm POT has the same smart features as its bigger sibling. That means it knows exactly how to to distribute the water to plants, no matter which spot you place the water container on. Admittedly, there are a few disadvantages, though, like the uneven distribution of light from a single lamp and the lack of ventilation around the plants. On the flip side, you place this planter anywhere, so you can use the growing plants as a decorative centerpiece for your table or desk as well.

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20 Indoor Water Features for Home Decor

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Indoor water fountains and water features are becoming a popular design element within the indoors. The soothing sound of water brings an element of tranquility and serenity into the interiors. Some of the indoor design elements include water fountains, waterfalls, or a simple water feature. Note that fountains are decorative water features that use pumps to propel water into the air while waterfalls are man-made formations where water cascades over an edge into another body of water or the ground. Take a look at the different types of waterfalls that can be integrated into the décor of traditional and modern spaces.

1. Wall-Mounted Indoor Waterfall

Designer: WaterfallNow

A huge water fountain serves as the focal point in the atrium, creating a serene ambiance within the indoor space and forming a dominating visual feature in the indoors. The best part of this waterfall is that it can be viewed from various levels of the building, allowing people to enjoy it while ascending or descending the stairs.

2. A Tabletop Water Fountain

Designer: crapelles

Don’t be afraid to have some fun with your water fountain! These fountains are best suited for compact homes and can be placed on the tabletop or on the console. Observe how the presence of live fish infuses vitality into the fountain, with water gently cascading from the leaves. The downward flow of water generates a calming and tranquil sound. This water fountain is not restricted to the living room, but can also be placed in the bedroom, entrance foyer, or home office.

3. Indoor Waterfall in Glass or Acrylic

Designer: Water Fountains Canada

Take a look at this waterfall, its transparent surface allows one to enjoy the view of the flowing water from either side of the waterfall. Another plus is that this waterfall acts as a visual divider that segregates the space into two sections and also allows light to filter through the transparent surface and it is best suited for the common areas of the home.

4. Indoor Koi Pond

The koi pond forms a visual delight as one climbs up and down the stairs. Additionally, koi fish are a popular symbol in feng shui and are believed to bring good luck and prosperity within the home.

5. Staircase with Fountain

Designer: Mascord Design Associates

This staircase integrates a water fountain with a water trough below the staircase. The stone wall cladding forms the perfect backdrop for the staircase as well as the water fountain and infuses a biophilic vibe within the interiors.

6. Zen Water Fountain

This zen water fountain comprises a stone bowl with pebbles and water falling from a bamboo spout via an interior pump that keeps the water flowing. This minimalist water fountain creates healing sounds and is ideal for relaxation and meditation.

7. Water Curtain

Designer: Safe-Rain

Nothing beats the beauty of water flowing continuously from floor to ceiling. Note that the water effect of droplets of water falling from different levels lowing droplets falling from different heights is achieved by mylar clear laces. Additionally, it allows partial visibility on both sides of the water fountain.

8. Gas Fire and Water Bowl

Designer: Woodland Direct

The water-filled fire pits are excellent for the balcony, courtyards or the indoor-outdoor areas of the home. These compact fire units combine the contrasting flames of fire with the calm sounds and visuals of water.

9. Rain Curtain

Designer: Midwest Tropical

Recreate the visual beauty and sound of rain with the rain curtain wall. It is a line of falling water that can be used within the atrium or a stairwell. Special effects can be created by using colored lights to shine on the water and highlight each droplet of water.

10. Miniature Water Garden

This miniature water garden comprises of small plants, a fountain, some nature-inspired aesthetics, and a tree to bring a forest vibe into the décor. The nature-inspired aesthetics transform this fountain into an art piece that adds a biophilic vibe to the decor.

11. Indoor Hot Tub

Designer: Russell Pools

Enjoy a spa like experience from the luxury of your home with an indoor tub integrated with a gas fire and water bowl. Surrounded by an abundance of plants and greenery, the space exudes a meditative ambiance with a soothing vibe. This takes your sensory experience to a whole new level.

12. Beautify with Floating Water Lilies

Designer: Ankit Bhargava

Add an elegant touch to the interiors with the presence of floating water lilies within a bowl as it is a great way of adding understated elegance to the interiors along with a tranquil vibe. The best part of this bowl is that floating flowers gently move in the water.

13. Create an Indoor Water Sculpture

Designer: BIM Arch Studio

Enhance the interior decor with a floor-to-ceiling water sculpture featuring an array of water spouts flowing one into the other, ultimately cascading onto the goddess in an Indian theme. Just see how a wall of spouts adds so much drama to this double-height space. The abundant use of wood combines with green plants to add warmth to the décor and enhance your sensory experience.

14. Bubble Water Walls

Bring in a playful movement of rising water bubbles within a transparent wall. A water bubble wall is a clear panel that display a beautiful water environment and it is made with acrylic and a LED lighted bubble water stream. This water fountain in hues of blue and pink can function as a transparent room divider.

15. Hydrophonic Aquarium

Designer: François Hurtaud

The Eva planter establishes a self-sustaining ecosystem, with fish and plants sharing a symbiotic relationship with each other. Fish produce ammonia, which, when broken down by plant roots, serves as nutrition for the fish. In addition, Eva includes light fixtures that simulate natural sunlight, making it ideal for indoor environments that may not be conducive to plant growth.

16. Aquarium and Terrarium

Designer: James Beardmore

Duo operates on an ingenious principle of symbiosis, wherein two organisms or species mutually support each other. It’s an aquarium cum planter that not only ensures the well-being of the fish but also utilizes the waste produced by the fish to nourish the plants. Subsequently, the oxygen released by the plants oxygenates the water in which the fish reside. This elegant cycle ensures the health of both the fish and the plants. It’s a truly remarkable design for a harmonious coexistence habitat within the home!

17. Multifunctional Water Sculpture

Designer: Midwest Tropical

Seeking inspiration from the grandfather’s clock, this tall and multifunctional water sculpture doubly functions as an aquarium as well as shows the time.

18. Aquatic Terrarium

Designer: Nature Design

How about beautifying the interiors with an aquatic terrarium? An aqua-terrarium, also known as a paludarium, is essentially a fusion of a rainforest terrarium and an aquarium. This terrarium combines with a vertical garden to form an interesting design feature within eh common areas of the home.

19. Water Feature Under Glass

Designer: Mirvac Group

Beneath the glass floor, there is a water feature with a glass panel above it, housing fish within. This arrangement forms a distinctive and innovative setup within this expansive space.

20. Wall Aquarium

The wall aquarium serves as both wall art and a captivating display that captures one’s attention as they ascend. It also helps in illuminating the staircase.

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Channel Your Farmer Instincts and Grow 3 Meals in just 4 Days with this Microwave Look-Alike Farmland

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The field of agriculture has been experiencing remarkable technological advancements, transforming the way we produce and consume food. Innovations like Hydroponic farming technology have already shown the potential to enhance crop growth and quality. Building upon this trend, Square Greens presents a groundbreaking solution that reimagines food production and consumption, combining cutting-edge technology and minimalist design to offer fresh, nutritious meals in just four days.

Designers: Eugenio Costa, Edoardo Graci, Valeria Cattoni, and Simone Centonze

In a world where convenience and health-consciousness go hand in hand, Square Greens emerges as a game-changer. Square Greens introduces a novel approach to cultivating food that is both technologically advanced and environmentally friendly. Unlike traditional farming methods that require ample land and time, Square Greens thrives within a minimalistic, compact greenhouse resembling a microwave.

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The driving force behind Square Greens was to create a tool that marries simplicity and efficiency. At its core, Square Greens is a compact, A5 paper-sized pod that houses an entire ecosystem for rapid plant growth. The green pod design is ingeniously crafted to facilitate optimal water absorption, ensuring the plants receive the nutrients they need to flourish. The incorporation of a needle-like mechanism acts as a water stopper, releasing water into the pod’s cotton medium once inserted.

One of the standout features of Square Greens is its user-friendly design. The green pods are designed to accommodate seeds and can be easily removed, simplifying the process of planting and harvesting. Notably, the creators have taken innovation a step further by incorporating a status bar that changes color as the plants receive water. This intuitive feature acts as a visual indicator of the pod’s hydration status, ensuring optimal growth conditions.

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The meticulous attention to detail is evident in every aspect of Square Greens’ design. The rear of the greenhouse showcases a harmonious arrangement of the logo, legal information, and energy plug, all encapsulated within a single square. This blend of aesthetics and practicality is a testament to the creators’ commitment to offering a seamless user experience.

The journey from concept to reality was a series of careful iterations and innovative problem-solving. The initial prototype consisted of nylon components, including two frames split in half, a water pump, and a water-resistant LED strip. Through rigorous testing, the Square Greens team fine-tuned the system to achieve optimal growth conditions. The result was a “secret” system that dramatically accelerated growth, enabling a complete meal’s worth of greens to flourish in just four days.

The initiative to enhance user convenience in agricultural processes is truly commendable. Establishing a continual connection between users and their crops fosters a sense of engagement, thereby contributing to the potential success of the device among producers. However, the realm of food production is a delicate domain to experiment with. The apparent artificiality of the process may raise apprehensions among users regarding the adoption and consumption of the resultant produce.

Nonetheless, it is crucial not to disregard the significant market acceptance that hydroponic technology has experienced. It is a technique of growing plants using a water-based nutrient solution rather than soil. This innovative technology found graceful approval among both consumers and the market at large. Notably, even a prominent grocery chain, Carrefour, has embraced this method, incorporating it into the production of its own range of fresh food items. This instance underscores the feasibility of integrating advanced techniques into the food industry.

The key to success lies in skillful marketing. Presenting the technology in a strategic and appealing manner holds the potential to overcome initial hesitations and pave the way for widespread adoption. While challenges exist, the precedent set by hydroponic farming exemplifies the transformative power of innovation, providing optimism for the long-term prospects of this novel product.

Square Greens represents a quantum leap in the agricultural industry, ushering in an era of rapid growth and efficient food production. By combining advanced technology with elegant design, Square Greens has created a solution that not only addresses the demands of modern consumers but also promotes sustainable practices. As we continue to witness the fusion of innovation and agriculture, Square Greens stands as a testament to the endless possibilities that await us in the realm of food production and consumption.

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A weather-based indoor farming system to help your plant parenting dreams

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We all have heard the importance of farming, planting trees, and going green. But we also are in the race to have the best urban lives. Finding a balance between urban living and incorporating green elements into our daily lives is essential for a holistic and sustainable lifestyle. While urban environments cater to our aspirations and societal needs, the importance of nature and its benefits cannot be overlooked. Weatheseed offers a unique solution to bridge the gap between these contrasting lifestyles, allowing us to enjoy the tranquility of rural living within the city through water and plants.

Designer: Naeun Kim and Nakyung Kang of W ID

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In our fast-paced urban lives, there is a growing desire to reconnect with nature and embrace the comfort and serenity of the countryside. Many individuals opt for a lifestyle that combines urban living during the workweek with rural getaways on weekends. Additionally, cultivating plants in the city has become a popular way to experience the indirect benefits of rural living. However, keeping track of weather conditions and dedicating time to plant management can be challenging amidst busy city schedules.

Weatheseed addresses the challenges faced by urban dwellers by providing a system that enables individuals to predict and cope with the conditions of their farmland, making plant cultivation easier and more efficient. With Weatheseed, the visual representation of weather conditions in the countryside becomes accessible in the city, facilitating informed decisions regarding plant care and providing comfort to those living in modern society.

“Weatheseed” is derived from the fusion of three words: weather, supersede, and seed. The product incorporates a weather forecasting feature, allowing users to gauge and display weather conditions. Weatheseed provides the necessary resources for plant growth by utilizing water and LED lights. Water, after providing moisture, is collected back into the water bottle through a pipe, ensuring efficient use.

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A visual representation of weather and humidity in the countryside is made possible through the movement of water on the “weather notification board” and heating caused by the water pipe. By installing a unit with a hook-shaped crown in the field, the humidity can be monitored, and weather information can be shared. This feature aids in effectively managing crops effectively.

The flowerpot design includes a tray that can be adjusted in three sizes to accommodate plant growth rates. A multipurpose tray stores supplies such as nutritional supplements and pruning shears. The product also incorporates a charging socket at the bottom for aesthetics and convenience, offering a clean cable management solution. Wheels are provided for easy movement, and a pedal controls the wheels, allowing for stability when lifted.

The unit head can be separated from the main body and installed on cultivated land. This feature enables the measurement of soil moisture, providing valuable insights for both city and rural farming. The higher the number, the more humid the soil, ensuring that crops receive appropriate water for healthy growth.

Weatheseed comes in two earthy colors: Monstera Khaki and Kalonji Blue. These color choices have been thoughtfully selected to blend seamlessly with various interior design styles, enhancing the overall aesthetics of any space.

Weatheseed presents an innovative solution that harmonizes urban living with green elements, enabling individuals to experience the benefits of rural living within the city. By providing weather information, efficient plant growth systems, and soil moisture measurement, Weatheseed simplifies the process of plant cultivation and encourages a balanced and sustainable lifestyle. With its functionality, aesthetics, and customization options, Weatheseed offers a valuable tool for embracing nature in our modern urban lives.

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Modern indoor gardening solutions to help cultivate the perfect personal green space at home

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Gardening is an extremely therapeutic activity, and though I may not engage in it all the time, the few times that I have, I found it really delightful and soothing. Growing, tending to, and being surrounded by plants is intensely satisfying, all your worries slowly fade away, and you are simply enthralled by nature. However, not everyone has access to outdoor gardens, especially with the pandemic locking up most of us in our homes. Indoor gardening is a modern solution that works perfectly in our modern homes. From LG’s latest indoor gardening appliance that is 3 feet tall to an indoor vertical garden with a bio-filter, we have a myriad range of options when it comes to growing plants within the comfort of your home! These unique, innovative, and thoughtful designs promise to take care of all your indoor gardening needs. And I don’t know about you, but I’m really considering trying one of them out, I wouldn’t mind adding indoor gardening to my daily routine!

1. The LG tiiun

Designed as a unique home appliance that lets you grow your own herbs and veggies the LG tiiun was announced in the run-up to CES 2022. The indoor gardening appliance is roughly the size of a dorm refrigerator, standing at approximately 3 feet tall, and features two shelves that can accommodate up to 6 all-in-one seed packages and various seed kits. The term tiiun comes from the Korean word meaning ‘to sprout’ and is LG’s way of indicating that this appliance is an all-in-one self-sufficient garden. The appliance creates a perfect microclimate and all the right conditions for the plants to grow, even mimicking light cycles so you could potentially keep your tiiun anywhere in a room without worrying about access to proper sunlight.

2. Vertex Zero

Requiring no water for maintenance, Vertex Zero is a terrarium that encases real, biologically inactive moss, cultivated in TerraLiving’s own greenhouse and preserved in labs, inside museum-grade geometric glass containers. Live mosses are grown and cultivated in TerraLiving’s greenhouse dubbed the “Moss Lab,” before reaching the peak of their health and preserved for encasement. Using proprietary advanced preservation technology, each patch of live moss is stripped of any water content in low-pressure zones and subzero temperatures to freeze their proteins and biological components, rendering them inactive, but frozen in time.

3. Planterior

A LEGO-inspired indoor garden called Planterior by designer Dasol Jeong merges LEGO’s building blocks with the frame of a bulletin board to create a unique, modular garden system for any WFH space. Planterior keeps the shape and size of a traditional bulletin board and integrates a gardening system into its structure to bring greenery to any workspace. Describing Planterior’s inspiration in their own words, Dasol notes, “Due to the influence of fine dust and COVID-19, people, who do not have the opportunity to access plants outdoors, are increasingly putting plants into their homes…Home gardening and plant territories are gaining vitality [as a result].”

4. Vista

Too many of the smart gardens on the market today prioritize function over aesthetics, amounting to cold, vertical farms that would look more at home in a research center’s greenhouse than a living room. That’s why designer Juhyuck Han created Vista, a smart garden appliance that mimics a landscape’s natural terrain and scales it down to fit in our homes. Designed to either stand-alone or be mounted on an interior wall, Vista takes up around the same space as a large fish tank. Featuring a hydroponic gardening system, Vista’s grow tray mimics the terrain of a natural landscape to bring users closer to nature. Through an immersive structure and smart technology, Vista combines functionality with aesthetics to create a gardening experience.

5. Elpo

Inspired to provide an air filter for collaborative spaces, designers Kārlis Vītols, Lolita Epnere, Buka Bērziņa ushered Elpo into the office, a smart biofilter that doubles as a teeming, indoor garden. By absorbing airborne toxins and gases into their leaves and sending them down to their roots, some plants are able to help purify the air we breathe. Equipped with a smart biofilter, it’s not only the plants that Elpo uses to improve indoor air quality. Like many modern indoor gardens, Elpo comes stocked with automated, smart technology that lights, fans, and irrigates the potted greenery. In creating a smart biofilter that doubles as an indoor garden, Elpo improves indoor air quality while also functioning as a room divider in office settings.

6. The BloomingTables

Designed to be the world’s first ‘living furniture series’, the patent-pending BloomingTables allow you to grow herbs and vegetables, cultivate microgreens, or enjoy the beauty of succulents and vining plants in the comfort of your home. With homes and apartments growing smaller and balconies becoming more of a luxury, the BloomingTables provide a uniquely aesthetic compromise – giving you a table along with the added benefit of a tiny terrarium for your house plants. The BloomingTables come in 4 sizes – a desk, coffee table, entryway table, and a side table – all featuring a waterproof acrylic trough-shaped base and a flat glass panel on top. Each table is equipped with a drain valve at the bottom (just in case you want to drain out any excess water from your planter’s soil), and the glass panel on top is removable too, allowing you to easily water, prune, and tend to your plants!

7. The Bridge

The Bridge builds on the increasingly popular idea of an open office and a collaborative workspace (as opposed to compartmentalized cabin spaces). It’s entirely made from plywood and can be flat-packed to a location and assembled on spot. It uses wooden joineries instead of metal/glue fixtures, and can be assembled and propped onto any open desk, uplifting your current workspace with a neat touch of greenery. The channels are big enough to hold potted plants and they give you the freedom to add plants of your own choice. Since the plants sit in their own planters (instead of directly in the wooden channel), they can easily be watered too without worrying about wood-rot or exposing the plywood to excess water/moisture. Just be slightly wary against dropping water on the expensive computers/equipment below!

8. The Smart Landscape Growframe

Designed by Modern Sprout, the Smart Landscape Growframe is a minimal frame that can be mounted on any wall on your home, and whose functionality is more complex than its simple looks! It nourishes all kinds of plants – from ones that seek low light, to ones that seek bright light. Once mounted on a wall, you can slide your favorite plants into the Growframe, and connect to the Modern Sprout app. The app is a complete godsend! The app features an on/off switch and can be used for customizable programming and pairing recommendations for partial shade, partial sun, and full sun plants. You can easily select and switch between light settings.

9. WALTY

Designed to take the absolute hassle out of watering and taking care of your plants, WALTY gives them the water they need by simply pulling it out of the atmosphere. Because a singular plant can’t generate and capture enough atmospheric humidity as an entire forest, WALTY basically does that part for your plant. Now it might sound borderline magical, but the way WALTY works is similar to a dehumidifier. A dehumidifier pulls moisture from the air using cold plates that force water droplets to condense on them. The droplets then drip down into a reservoir tank, and when it fills up, you simply empty it out. WALTY’s approach is similar, except it uses that very water to keep your plant hydrated… sort of like a win-win.

10. Vega’s modular planter

Vega’s modular planter was designed to be a solution for vertical farming in small living spaces. Starting with a single modular cube, seeds can be planted and harvested using traditional planting methods, then another module can be positioned on top of the first cube, forming a link for additional planters to be added. Each modular planter comes as a dish with an accompanying cubic case that grants room for the crops and plants to grow and reach their full height. Inspired by the look and durability of Japanese metabolism and Social modernism architecture, Lorenzo Vega conceptualized his vertical farm to be stripped-down and clean by design. The sleek, simple finish of Vega’s modular planter echoes its intuitive usability and modular customization.

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This smart self-watering indoor planter is a futuristic appliance that is almost sculptural in nature

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Indoor gardening became all the craze during this pandemic! Since we spent most of our time indoors, gardening became a therapeutic activity that we could engage in. Growing, tending to, and being surrounded by plants is intensely satisfying, all your worries slowly fade away, and you are simply enthralled by nature. Indoor planters are a great option, to nurture plants within the comfort of your own home. They are simple, modern, and almost wholly self-sufficient. The Klaustrafloria planter is one such example! The tall cage-like planter has a sleek futuristic appeal. Available in a stark white color, the planter has been amped with phytolamps, a backlight, and an automatic watering system.

A decorative cage, within which the plants grow, makes up the main body of the planter, followed by a base that consists of a removable inner pot, a water chute, a LED water level indicator, an auto watering system, and a 12-liter water tank. The removable inner pot includes containers that are filled with drainage rocks. Once planted, the plants sprout their roots through the slots in the containers, within 2-3 months. Water is supplied to the plant via the water chute which is connected to the reservoir of water below. Once the plants have grown for more than 2-3 months, they are able to supply themselves with the amount of water they need, owing to the self-watering system. After the 4th month, you only need to fill up the water reservoir once it’s dry. An intuitive indicator lets you know when to fill it, and how much water to fill it with.

The planter is equipped with built-in phytolamps. These lights are extremely useful in the case of young plants, or when it’s winter season, and there isn’t enough light. The LED lights emit light from the exact spectrum that the plants need for photosynthesis. Also, the automatic watering system doesn’t require any power! The phytolamps, backlight, and the indicator that displays the water level, are powered by a power plug, which is inserted at the back of the planter.

The Klaustrafloria is a smart self-watering planter that takes the best care of our plants, as we manage our modern lifestyles. Planters like these make indoor gardening a true pleasure and also super easy to practice.

Designer: Vladimir Popov

The post This smart self-watering indoor planter is a futuristic appliance that is almost sculptural in nature first appeared on Yanko Design.

Stay warm and cozy product designs are the perfect Christmas gifts for those homebodies who love staying indoors!

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We all have those friends or family members who simply love staying at home, chilling in their own space, and having the time of their lives! These homebodies are content with a good book, a snug blanket, and a mug of hot chocolate on these chilly winter days and nights. Finding the perfect Christmas present for them can often be a task, but honestly, all you need to get them is something that’ll help them feel super comfy and cozy at home! And, we’ve curated a collection of product designs that are perfect for your loved ones who thoroughly enjoy staying indoors! From a weighted blanket that’s cozy, breathable, and stylish (perfect for them to snuggle up with) to a minimalist hanging leather chair that’s ideal for lounging indoors – these super cool product designs are all anyone could need to have the best time at home!

1. Nuzzie Knit Weighted Blanket

Think of Nuzzie as an oversized sweater, rather than a traditional weighted blanket. Designed to be warm, weighted, yet breathable, Nuzzie uses a loosely knitted technique to ensure you get the effects of a weighted blanket, without the problems of one. With its thick, crocheted design, Nuzzie comes with enough open spaces to ensure breathability, so you never work up a sweat at night, and the thick tubular fabric offers a more balanced alternative to having a blanket filled with beads that shift around. Moreover, that textured pattern on Nuzzie gives it a stylish edge over traditional blankets. Designed to work as a throw, the Nuzzie can be used in bed, on the couch, or anywhere in the house as a decorative element… and on the off chance that it gets dirty, Nuzzie can easily be washed and dried in the machine, thanks to its proprietary patent-pending DuraFill fabric.

Click Here to Buy Now: $250

2. Sling Hanging Chair

Perfect for that break between attending Zoom meetings and responding to work emails, Studio Stirling’s Sling Hanging Chair gives you that stress-melting effect you get from a hammock, but indoors. The hanging chair comprises a metal hoop suspended from the ceiling, on which lies draped a piece of thick leather that you sit on. Quite like how a hammock adjusts to your shape and posture when you sit on it, Studio Stirling’s Sling adjusts to your frame too, letting you hang out for a bit… quite literally!

Click Here to Buy Now: Price Available on Request

3. The Alpha Pillow

Realizing that there’s more to a pillow than just being a soft bag with cotton inside, Ivana Lowchareonkul designed the Alpha Pillow. In its second iteration (after a pretty popular 1st version on Kickstarter), the Alpha Pillow 2 tackles the various parameters a pillow must maintain to give you ‘healthy sleep’ – this includes support, softness, breathability, cooling, and the ability to self-sanitize. The Alpha Pillow 2’s design starts with a bamboo-charcoal-infused foam mass, which apart from providing the benefits of memory foam, also uses activated carbon to neutralize microorganisms and toxins. The foam pillow comes with ergonomically placed air cells that promote breathability, and an aqua-gel membrane on one side of the pillow allows it to function as the ‘perpetually cool side’, keeping your face cool as you sleep.

Click Here to Buy Now: $179

4. The Goovis Young

The fundamental reason why VR headsets are expensive is because they’re literally head-worn computers designed not for entertainment, but for productivity. It’s the equivalent of having to buy an expensive enterprise laptop just to watch Netflix. What the GOOVIS Young changes about VR is that it embraces the technology for entertainment purposes, and does it in the best way possible… not by being a face-mounted computer, but rather a face-mounted display that’s compatible with practically any of your devices. With a 1080p display on the inside that’s designed to feel like a theater with an 800-inch screen, the GOOVIS Young is a universal VR display you can connect to your phone, laptop, tablet, set-top box, or even your console, allowing it to act as a dedicated display for everything between working, gaming, watching movies, browsing the internet, or even doing the odd stuff like tapping into your drone’s camera for incredible HD POV-ing.

Click Here to Buy Now:$1000

5. VARME Hand Heater

The VARME Hand Heater protects your hands from getting completely frozen up! The cool little device emits an additional seven degrees Celsius to keep your finger snug and warm. An outer fabric shell gives the personal heater a strikingly modern aesthetic. It also makes the product easy to handle and move around. Amped with LEDs, the hand heater employs infrared spot heating to keep your fingers cozy and comfortable as you type about on your keypad, and carry out other tasks. The VARME Hand Heater is also available in a variety of colors and is accompanied by a stand.

Click Here to Buy Now: Price Available on Request

6. The EnergyPod Napping Chair

The EnergyPod Napping Chair by MetroNaps is my new favorite product design! This comfy chair is perfect for taking a quick power nap!  You can settle into the pod for a pre-programmed 20-minute nap. You can adjust the time if you wish to. The spherical cover gives you privacy, separating you from the world, while you peacefully snooze.

Click Here to Buy Now: Price Available on Request

7. The Slow Dance

Designed to be an art installation you can hang on a wall or place on a mantelpiece and stare at for hours, the Slow Dance lets you mount a variety of things within its magical frame, from feathers to flowers, to even interesting looking leaves. Switch it on, and the object within the frame begins fluttering in slow motion, without any external stimulus (you should really check out the video above). The illusion relies on two core components – a precisely engineered system within the Slow Dance’s frame, and your eye’s ability to see in 24 frames per second. The engineering lies in an electromagnet that causes the feather/flower/leaf to flutter away, and LED lighting built into the frame’s inner edge that strobes/flickers at a precisely calculated rate to make that chaotic flutter seem like slow-motion choreography.

Click Here to Buy Now: $331.55

8. The Cat Chair

The Cat Chair is a hexagonal piece of furniture where your cat can rest and also explore. Made from pinewood and a high-density sponge, the Cat Chair features a small lower compartment with cubby holes on each side of the stool for cats to slink in and out of as they choose. The lower compartment allows room for the cat to hide away and relax in isolation, while the stool’s sponge cushion provides an open space for the cat to lounge or even sunbathe. Cats can weave in and out of the Cat Chair cubby holes or rest atop its sponge cushion. When owners want to join their cats on the floors, the sponge cushion can be removed to become a floor pad.

Click Here to Buy Now: Price Available on Request

9. The Kin Moon and Moon Grand geometric incense burners

The Kin Moon and Moon Grand geometric incense burners are here to bring an aura of tranquility and calm to your home! Consisting of a concrete holder, the geometric incense burners, represent reunion in Chinese culture. The burners have been amped with a small indentation to catch any falling ash, hence keeping the surrounding space neat and clean. The Moon can hold incense sticks up to 4 inches, whereas the Moon Grand can accommodate incense sticks up to 5-5.5 inches. A Wutong wood tray functions as a minimal and steady base.

Click Here to Buy Now: $68

10. The GoTouch Beam

The GoTouch Beam is a fairly futuristic projector that comes with a digital pen that gives you the ability to sketch and doodle right on a projected image. The pen communicates directly with a sensor mounted onboard the projector, allowing you to make virtual sketches and doodles right on your projected screen. You can draw directly on your presentation slides, circle keywords, highlight text, make convincing graphs, or even use it as a teaching tool to complement your educational slides with some crucial notes. And yes, it has Netflix and YouTube built right in!

Click Here to Buy Now: $599

The post Stay warm and cozy product designs are the perfect Christmas gifts for those homebodies who love staying indoors! first appeared on Yanko Design.

Unconventional Product Designs that help you keep calm and carry on during quarantine!

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Staying indoor is the new trend! We say trending (putting a positive spin!) while  COVID-19 has us all quarantined but there are only so many recipes we can follow before we run out of cooking supplies. To help you survive this impromptu indoor session, here is a list of product designs we know will up the ante for any quarantine situation – this one (hopefully Amazon will deliver our orders minus the 1-day rush) or just be prepared in case the next one strikes. Honestly, I’m sure we all have some survival/ emergency bags ready however our needs during quarantine and trying to stay healthy at home – mentally and physically is a whole new ball game. The curation here brings you designs that will challenge you, let you learn and help you grow with this bonus time we have been given away from distractions, trying to become the best version of ourselves we can be!

Maxwell Custom’s custom-made Infinitum guitar takes that age-old form and applies design-thinking to it the design brief. The Infinitum takes the existing design and tweaks it to create a new and improved experience. The body comes CNC machined out of native New Zealand timbers (kahikatea and black maire) and features two major upgrades. The iconic sound-hole is bid adieu for four ‘vents’ on the front and back that allow the sound to emanate outwards in a way that makes it easy for the player as well as the audience to hear the music. The second significant upgrade is the absence of the bridge or the piece of wood and metal that would be glued to the guitar’s body, holding onto the strings from one end as they wind around the turnkeys at the other end. Playing guitar is cool enough, turning up with this beautiful customer design is sure to get you some eyeballs!

The Nintendo Flex is to the Gameboy what Daniel Craig is to Sean Connery. Same James Bond, but modern. The Flex by YJ Yoon comes with a few very welcome updates. Bigger screen on a device that’s the same handy size (albeit thinner). The screen’s also mildly curved, giving you a slightly panoramic experience and adding just a tiny couple of more display inches into the same framework. The Flex retains the same keys and controls, but gives them a makeover too, opting for flushed surfaces rather than the original GameBoy’s chunky keys that stood out from the surface. There’s even a contrast slider on the side of the Flex. The Flex’s biggest overhaul, however, is the change in Nintendo’s cartridge system. Flex ditches the large squarish cartridges for something much sleeker and thinner, looking almost like a stylus. The stylus-sized cartridge slides conveniently into a slot in the Flex’s base, locking in place and becoming impossible to remove while in the middle of gameplay.

Japanese designer Tokujin Yoshioka has created a quick and easy face shield for healthcare workers fighting COVID-19, which attaches to the wearer’s glasses. Yoshioka’s template design can be used to create a face shield in three simple steps from a clear sheet of PET or PVC plastic. Printed on an A3 piece of paper, the template can be placed over the top of a clear sheet of plastic and used as a guideline for cutting around the edge of the shape. The user can then make cuts into the plastic sheet over the two small lines indicated towards the top of the template on opposite sides. The two temple arms of the wearer’s glasses can then be slotted into these incisions, leaving the glasses protected by the shield as they sit behind it on the user’s face. Let’s face it, this DIY mask is important to survive any global pandemic!

Japanese studio Nendo has designed a mobile battery that users can charge by rotating, to power-up their smartphone in case of emergencies. The minimal, stick-like emergency portable battery, called Denqul, was designed for use in disasters, to ensure people have a reliable power supply for their smartphones to access to basic needs such as communication and lighting. Coz we sure can’t imagine being stuck without power supply and our phones dying on us.

The LaserPecker Pro’s laser module is no bigger than a coffee-cup, and the stand literally folds up into something that can slide right into your bookshelf… but when assembled together, the LaserPecker Pro is arguably the easiest-to-use professional-grade laser cutter and engraver for the masses. The LaserPecker Pro simplifies the process of laser cutting/engraving into three simple steps. 1) Add your artwork to the LaserPecker app, adjusting it to reach the desired output. 2) Plug the LaserPecker module onto its stand and add the product/material you want to etch or cut underneath. 3) Hit print! LaserPecker immediately begins working to etch or cut out the pattern you’ve fed into it. Time to put all those DIY pins to use!

LifeSaver by VanBerlo Agency can be mounted on walls at accessible and prominent locations. If someone is suffering from a cardiovascular attack, you simply grab it and press the button for calling 911 below it. So while you perform CPR, the ambulance is on its way! The first instruction provided is to remove the clothes from the chest of the victim. After that, you open the box and remove LifeSaver from it. Place the AED on the chest of the victim, and follow the instructions. OLEDs and touch sensors guide you through the entire process. LifeSaver even helps you with placing the electrodes correctly and guides you regarding the location and rhythm for the chest compressions. While being great in public places, the LifeSaver is a boon in the current situation where you know the medical system is so overloaded, the ambulance may take time to arrive, while this gives you a fighting chance to save the person in need.

On a lighter note, whoever said “less is more” was right because these minimalist Uno cards just made game night a whole lot cooler. The clean look makes you feel like the OG Uno showered and put on a sexy aftershave. Even Mattel couldn’t resist it and now this beautiful design will soon be a part of the official UNO gang! So the next time you are under quarantine, you shall play Uno with your roommates but in style.

Designers Marion Pinaffo and Raphaël Pluvinage are using paper to build simple machines and gadgets. Titled Papier Machine (a play on the word Papier Mache), the designers compiled a 13-page book where pages can be torn off and folded into various different electronic mini-machines and sensors (that can sense mass, humidity, wind, and even color… all made out of paper!), powered by simple off-the-shelf batteries. The paper electro-toys rely on special types of conductive ink that are screen-printed onto the pages, bringing much more to the table than just colorful visuals. Fun and science packed in a neat well-designed bundle! Come out of this lockdown as a smarter you.

BassMe is a wearable subwoofer that rests conveniently on your shoulder, with the audio-element sitting against your rib-cage. Designed to be worn with headphones or even with a VR kit, BassMe helps you feel the audio, rather than just listen to it. Using state-of-the-art sound-wave and vibration technology, BassMe delivers rich low-end frequencies to you, widening the range of frequencies you experience while listening to music or to any sort of audio. This party for one is sure to rock your world!

Designed as a disaster survival kit, this clock can practically save lives by allowing you to be prepared during a disaster. The Life Clock comes with a hollow internal compartment that houses its own kit of emergency products. It comes with two potent glow sticks that can each shine for 12 hours, wrapped in a metallic foil that you can fashion a reflector cone out of and use as a makeshift flashlight. A foil blanket allows you to maintain core body temperatures by trapping body heat through thermal reflection, while an emergency two-tone whistle allows you to signal for help. Finally, an emergency kit that is functional even when not in use. Always be prepared.

The idea of the Ocean Community vessel by Wojciech Morsztyn is to extend a city’s coastline. By existing not more than 800 meters from the coast of a city, the dwellers of the Ocean Community can easily make their way to the city to access facilities and enjoy a normal city life before heading back to their sea-based home. “The creation of these new structures will serve as fully functional living spaces connected with existing land infrastructure so that new ocean communities become a natural extension of coastal cities”, says Morsztyn, designer of the Ocean Community concept. The vessels will also rely on the abundance of sun, water, and wind to harness the energy, helping them live off the coast but also off the electric grid.

We know the Ocean Community is quite a futuristic concept, but we can’t help but imagine social distancing while on the sea! But coming back to the present, we maintain our distance, keep our spirits up – learn a new hobby, finish a project you always wanted to do and emerge a better version of yourself after this experience!

D-Link brings AI-powered person detection to its home security cameras

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Ahead of CES, D-Link is bringing new features to its home security cameras. Today, the company announced that its devices can now detect people and breaking glass. The added capabilities are powered by AI that runs on the edge, and D-Link says it's a...