• Grow your own herbs to cook with.Creatas Images/Creatas/Getty Images
  
  Both house plants and herbs serve several purposes within a home, such as creating more greenery, cleaning the air and providing savory flavors for your favorite recipes. Choose house plants that complement the decor in your home, or simply select a large potted plant to consume a lonely corner. House plants are excellent decor pieces all by themselves. Herbs also grow well indoors on a windowsill or other area where the plants can get adequate light.
  
  

Basil

• Fresh basil leaves a cool, crisp smell.Basil image by Sirena Designs from Fotolia.com
  
  Basil (Ocimum basilicum), recommended by Clemson University in South Carolina, grows well both indoors and outdoors. You can grow basil from seed or buy transplants at your local plant nursery. Basil needs full sun, so place this herb on a table or window sill. It also grows best in fertile well-drained soils. Buy rich potting mix when growing basil indoors. You can add humus, moss or compost to improve the quality of the soil. There are several different varieties such as "lettuce leaf" and "sweet leaf." Add basil to homemade soups, pizza and salads. Basil has a crisp parsley-like taste and bright green foliage.
  
  

Lavender

• Make lovely lavender bouquets to give to your friends.Lavender image by Borzwear from Fotolia.com
  
  Lavender (Lavandula species) is an herb that serves all sorts of purposes in the home. Place fresh lavender in a vase in your bedroom to add fragrance, make sachets, or even cook with it. Some species can grow large so place this herb in a larger pot than some of your herbs that go on the window sill. Most types of lavender produce deep purple or blue flowers, but some species produce light pink blooms.
  
  

English Ivy

• English ivy is a plant that grows well both indoors and outdoors. This plant has adapted to having both full sun and partial shade so it's not necessary to always place English Ivy near a window. This plant serves as an attractive piece for a mantle or above your kitchen cabinets. The care for this plant is simple. English ivy thrives in moist, nutrient-rich soils. Water your plants with pure water every other day. Check for spider mites before bringing the plant indoors. You can find English ivy and other related ivy cousins at your local plant nursery.
  
  

Jade Plant

• Jade plants are succulents with thick sponge-like oval-shaped leaves. This plant starts out small at first, but in time jade plants become quite busy. Re-pot your jade once every year as it grows. The plant starts out as an excellent table centerpiece, but as it grows into large pots, you can place jade in a larger corner of your home. It will resemble a small busy tree as it grows. Place Jade plants near a sunny window and be careful not to over-saturate the soil. Jade plants need watering three times per week, but they retain water, so adding too much water can kill this plant.