https://www.quora.com/Do-indoor-plants-typi...ise-harbor-bugs

Looks like having plants in the house would also mean I might have to deal with insects 🐜

🤔🤔🤔

I guess I will get artificial plants instead..

Good plan on artificial plants. A much better choice than real plants as you figured out. Plants will not only attract insects but will require some maintenance as well in terms of getting minimum sunlight and water. Otherwise the leaves will turn yellow and finally to brown (rot). Sometimes the soil will also have worms as well and the small wiggly thing may creep and crawl right to the floor.

In my opinion, real potted plants with soil in pots are best left outside and not inside the house unless there is an air-well or mini garden inside the house (usually semi-D or bungalow) whereby the area where the plants are located is enclosed with sliding glass panels.

If it feels a little congested in the apartment, don't buy too many furnitures and go for simplistic furnishing ie. one piece of 2 seater sofa instead of a combination of 2+3 seaters etc. Make the living room as open as possible with an uncluttered look.