Had a similar issue with a client's apartment last year. They'd tried everything—plants, air purifiers, even essential oils—but nothing really solved the underlying stuffiness. Turned out their furniture arrangement was partially blocking the vents, and the HVAC system itself was outdated and undersized for the space.
We rearranged the furniture to allow better airflow and recommended upgrading the HVAC unit. Even just repositioning larger pieces away from vents and windows made an immediate difference in how fresh the room felt. Also, if your apartment has heavy curtains or thick rugs, those can sometimes trap dust and moisture, contributing to that stuffy feeling. Switching to lighter fabrics or regularly airing them out can help quite a bit.
Plants are great aesthetically and do offer some minor air quality benefits, but they're rarely enough on their own if there's a deeper ventilation issue. I'd suggest taking a closer look at your furniture layout and checking if your HVAC system is properly sized and maintained. It might seem like a hassle initially, but addressing these practical elements usually provides lasting improvement.
I get what you're saying about furniture and HVAC, but honestly, sometimes apartments just have weird airflow issues no matter how perfectly you arrange things. I had a place once where the vents were clear, HVAC was brand new, and still felt stuffy. Turned out the windows themselves were the problem—they were old and sealed way too tight, trapping humidity inside.
If rearranging furniture doesn't help much, I'd suggest checking your windows and doors. Sometimes just cracking a window slightly or installing a small window fan can make a huge difference. Also, running exhaust fans in the kitchen or bathroom more regularly helps pull stale air out. Plants and lighter fabrics are nice touches, sure, but if your apartment's sealed up like a submarine, you're gonna need something stronger than a fern to fix it...
