Last Updated: Jun 29, 2021
Plants inside the home do much more than adding color and a bit of texture to an otherwise dull and lifeless room. They provide oxygen and help filter the air. The Biophilia Hypothesis, first put forward by Edward O. Wilson, states that human beings have an innate tendency to seek connections with nature.
Finding ways to allow the natural world into our built environment is a great way to reconnect with our ancestral and perhaps even biological needs to be surrounded by nature. BloomingTables is one unique company that will soon begin to manufacturer "living tables" that offer a practical, innovative, and beautiful way to bring plants into the home.
BloomingTables is a company that has taken the concept of multifunctional furniture to a new level. They have created a practical and serviceable table that also allows homeowners to bring plants into their homes.
The glass-topped table and plant stand are 30 inches tall by 33 inches long by 10.5 inches wide, allowing homeowners the flexibility to use the table for several practical uses. Because plants are seeded underneath the glass tabletop, placing the table near a window sill provides natural light to nourish the plants. The BloomingTable can also be placed in darker areas of the home and lit with fluorescent bulbs to allow plants to photosynthesize.
According to Blooming Tables' founder Dustin Anthony, "BloomingTables is essentially a terrarium box integrated seamlessly into a table. While the idea spurred from our love of succulents and cacti—we recently incorporated a twist to open a drain valve that widens the scope of plant species capable of thriving inside the table. Where succulents may only need to be watered about every ten days, our amazing BloomingTables community expressed interest in growing things such as herbs and microgreens—species that generally require more consistent watering. Essentially adding this drain valve protects against over-watering regardless of your plant's watering needs."
While traditional pots and planting containers often lead to messes when plants are mistakenly over-watered, the BloomingTable is specifically designed to prevent overflowing. The table's legs are fabricated out of white steel and support the white planting tub with a heavy-duty waterproof liner to protect both the planter and the floor below. Besides the liner on the inside of the planting tub, gravel and activated charcoal are placed inside the container to improve drainage, offer a source of slow-release fertilizer, and suck up excess moisture.
There are four small but sturdy pillars with suction cups emerging from the planting tub to support a 6mm tempered glass sheet. This shelf acts as a functional tabletop while allowing for a see-through design that reveals unique collections of flowers, succulents, or other appropriately sized, air-purifying plants. The suction cups secure the glass tabletop while also allowing for easy removal when you want to water the plants, add fertilizer, or replant your collection.
The rationale for creating this unique addition to the biophilic home was to diversify ways that homeowners can incorporate plants into home interiors. The company's website explains numerous species of stunning plants and limitless ways to arrange them. But the founders think there are reduced options for creating spaces for indoor plants. "BloomingTables was born out of the idea that beautiful plants deserve beautiful homes"—a hypothesis with which we agree. BloomingTables recently completed a successful Kickstarter campaign, which will allow them to begin manufacturing these tables shortly.
Not everyone has the necessary space to fill every corner of their home with beautiful plants. We have witnessed the growth in tiny houses' popularity, shipping container homes, and other sustainable housing alternatives. As homeowners seek to limit square footage as a strategy to reduce the embodied energy footprint of their homes, space is at a premium. There are dozens of unique and creative ways to incorporate creative storage space in smaller homes, and multifunctional furniture is often a staple in households looking to maximize the livability of reduced areas.
The BloomingTable is an excellent option for people who want to add flowers and plants to their homes but have constraints. Some homeowners may not have the space for traditional pots and planters. Others may have space but want to incorporate more plants into their day-to-day living. Possibly others might not want to deal with the disorderliness that often accompanies traditional planters.
If Edward Wilson's hypothesis is correct, we human beings are genetically wired to be at our best when surrounded by the natural world. The problem is that more than eight out of every ten people in the United States live in urban areas where concrete is more prevalent than living soil. Buildings outnumber trees, and the starry night sky is overshadowed and outshone by the city's bright lights.
Many observable and quantifiable mental and physical health benefits come with being exposed to the natural world. The recent "Nature Challenge" study conducted in the U.K. found that "there was a scientifically significant increase in people's health (and) happiness" when being around the natural world.
The New York Department of Environmental Conservation explains that plants emit airborne chemicals, called phytoncides, to protect themselves from insects. These airborne chemicals are called phytoncides, which have antibacterial and antifungal qualities. They are helpful to plants in fighting disease. When we breathe in phytoncides, "our bodies respond by increasing the number and activity of a type of white blood cell called natural killer cells or NK. These cells kill tumor- and virus-infected cells in our bodies."
Even in our homes, air-purifying plants or natural air purifying systems can improve our moods and allow us to breathe cleaner, healthier air. Green facades, native vegetation landscaping, and green roofs are ways to turn backyards into thriving, bio-diverse ecosystems that are simultaneously good for nature and even better for our health and wellbeing.
BloomingTables are an especially great fit for planting succulents, which have limited water requirements. In many cases, you can substitute soil substrates for gravel or small rocks, which are tidier and often more aesthetically pleasing.
Succulents can grow in a wide variety of climates and remove harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other contaminants from the air within the home. Because succulents (like all plants) transpire water, they can also help regulate the humidity within your home. Controlling moisture is essential for people who suffer from allergies.
Besides making the most use out of limited space, you can furnish your home with a one-of-a-kind piece of furniture. Where else have you ever seen a combination of plants and a table? The Blooming Table has an established retail price of $249, and delivery is set to begin in mid-November of 2019. You can currently donate $164 to their Kickstarter campaign to get a special early bird VIP discount.
As living roofs and living walls continue to grow in popularity, this functional and elegant living table is an excellent addition to the home that all plant lovers will adore.
Tobias runs an agroecology farm and a natural building collective in the mountains of El Salvador. He specializes in earthen construction methods and uses permaculture design methods to integrate structures into the sustainability of the landscape.