Indoor plants have begun trending as bedroom decor in recent months, but some of them can hurt more than they help. Finding the right plants to use as bedroom decor can make a significant difference in the quality of your sleep.
Whether it’s a little succulent to put by your nightstand, or higher-maintenance plants like Ivy or Orchids, indoor houseplants can impact everything from the way you sleep to the ambiance of your bedroom.
Understandably, people are looking to bring the outdoors back inside now more than ever. Journalist Emily Anthes, author of The Great Indoors, writes "my number one go-to recommendation is nature or plants. There’s overwhelming evidence that exposure to greenery and natural landscapes has all these benefits for us from reducing stress, anxiety, pain, boosting mood".
To start practicing on a green thumb of your own, here are some of our top tips for the best indoor plants to get started with.
Best Indoor Plants For The Bedroom
Some of the benefits of the best indoor plants include air-purifying properties (that work great for allergy sufferers!), as well as a naturally calming effect that will ensure your bedroom remains a comforting retreat from the outside world.
Here are some of our favorites:
- Snake Plants: Perfect for beginners, the snake plant doesn’t require diligent watering. At nighttime, it releases oxygen that is said to help improve the quality of your sleep. They get their name from their gorgeous-looking green leaves, which are distinctive and add a cozy touch to any bedroom. A snake plant should be placed in bright light, but not direct sunlight as it can burn the leaves.
- Aloe Vera: This multi-tasker is great to use for sunburns as well as sleep. Aloe Vera releases oxygen at night, which helps to purify the air and aids in easy breathing. Aloe Vera gel also has a wide variety of applications with skincare and wellness - all you need is a spot in your room with plenty of sunlight. You should water this plant 2 to 3 times in the spring and summer and sparingly during the winter.
- Spider Plants: This tropical-looking plant is named after its long, pointed leaves, and requires only bright light to thrive in any space. Requiring only a moderate amount of water to thrive, this low maintenance plant is also a natural air-purifier, removing toxins from the air. A spider plant should be placed in medium light and needs to be watered once a week. Wait until the soil is completely dry before watering again.
Worst Indoor Plants For The Bedroom
For every indoor plant that’s low-maintenance and perfect for your bedroom, there’s also one that can be toxic to pets, and ridiculously difficult to maintain.
Here are some of the worst plants for your bedroom:
- Bonsai trees: This popular indoor plant can actually be pretty harmful to those who struggle with allergic reactions. Tree allergy sufferers should give bonsai a miss. Watering and pruning these indoor plants may result in skin irritations that can flare up when it’s time to snooze. It requires a lot of attention, you should water it 2 to 3 times a week and place it somewhere with a lot of sunlight.
- Orchids: While the delicate and exotic orchid represents beauty, it’s not the best for sleep, since a small percentage of people can be severely allergic to orchids. Orchids can cause adverse skin-related reactions to some people and are a challenge to maintain, with meticulous attention and care required for them to grow.
- African Violets: Though beautiful, these tiny little flowers come with fuzzy leaves that are popular for trapping dust and exacerbating symptoms of allergies to those who struggle with it. They’re also a challenge to grow since they require highly humid temperatures to stay healthy.
Benefits Of Indoor Plants For Better Sleep
Using indoor plants as bedroom decor in your space can be especially useful when you’re trying to bring back restorative and calm energy into your space. According to traditional Feng Shui principles, indoor plants can improve the energy within our home, and even promote good luck.
The air-purifying effect many plants have on the environment isn’t the only positive thing about them. Many Feng Shui experts suggest that good ‘oxygenation levels’ can help promote good health and a better sense of well-being.
A study by the University of Exeter revealed indoor plants can improve productivity by up to 40%, and in some cases, reduce anxiety and improve your mood.
FAQs
What is the best indoor plant?
The best indoor plants are those that are low maintenance and don’t negatively affect your energy or sleep. Some of the best indoor plants include a snake plant, aloe vera, spider plant, ZZ plant, pothos, and a bird’s nest fern.
What is the best indoor plant to clean the air?
Some plants purify the air and remove toxins like benzene, carbon monoxide, and formaldehyde. This improves the air quality in your home. The most popular of these plants are the peace lily, pot mum, spider plant, pothos, aloe vera, ficus, and rubber tree.
What are the easiest house plants?
The easiest indoor plants to care for are the ones that are low maintenance. They require low light and sparingly need watering. Some indoor plants that are easy to take care of include the snake plant, peace lily, spider plant, ZZ plant, pothos, and succulents.
What are the best tall indoor plants?
Tall indoor plants are a lovely addition to a home, they can be placed in empty corners or to make a bold decor statement. The best tall indoor plants include Norfolk pines, dragon trees or dracaenas, and fiddle leaf figs.
Bringing the outdoors back inside can help us feel more connected to nature and more balanced as a whole. Try your hand at a low-maintenance bedroom plant that you can place on your nightstand, and enjoy the benefits of better sleep as you do.
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