16 Plants That Will Transform Your Bedroom Into a Relaxing Oasis
From fragrant varieties to statement pieces, these are the best plants for your bedroom.
Sara Tramp-Ligorria; Design: Emily Henderson Design
Your bedroom is likely where you spend most of your time—be it sleeping, working, or relaxing with your latest read—so it's common to want the space to feel like a calming respite that's specifically designed for you. While you may accomplish this with artwork and bedding choices, another way to add personality to your room is through houseplants.
The living greenery can do everything from help you sleep to elevate a drab corner of your room. Whether you have a green thumb or you're new to gardening, experts say these are the best plants for your bedroom. Each one offers something different, from a soothing fragrance to beautiful blooms that double as décor.
Meet the Expert
Jeanne Ha, floral design expert and owner of Park Florist
Kelly Funk, president of Park Seed, one of the United States's oldest and largest mail-order seed and plant companies.
Related: 10 Plants That Will Help You Sleep Better
Fiddle-Leaf Fig
Houseplants are a great way to add natural beauty to your bedroom and certain ficus varieties are an excellent choice if aesthetics are your main focus. "If you have a good corner, try Ficus lyrata tree as a statement," says Jeanne Ha, floral design expert and owner of Park Florist. "Its large and sculptural leaves give a tropical and relaxed vibe to your bedroom." Commonly known as fiddle-leaf fig, Ficus lyrata can be difficult to keep, so it may be a better option for gardeners with a proven green thumb.
Size: 2 to 10 feet tall x 2 to 3 feet wide
Care requirements: Bright light; well-drained soil
Wax Plant
If you're new to caring for houseplants and want a beginner-friendly option for your bedroom, consider wax plant (Hoya). This plant also works with a handful of design styles. "Hoya offers so many varieties for their leaf shapes and flowers," says Ha. "They have the hanging vine growth but you can use the small ones as small corner potted plants, too. It's very hard to kill them."
Size: 2 to 4 feet tall x 2 feet wide
Care requirements: Low to bright light; well-drained soil
Lavender
Sleep soundly by keeping a vase of lavender (Lavandula) near your bed. "The refreshing, clean fragrance of lavender has been known as a calming and relaxing scent for centuries," says Kelly Funk, president of Park Seed. "The wonderfully fragrant plant is a popular choice for bedrooms since the fragrance helps to calm the nerves and create a relaxing environment." During the day, its calming scent will make you feel more at ease.
Size: 2 to 3 feet tall x 2 to 4 feet wide
Care requirements: Bright light; well-drained soil
Related: How to Harvest Lavender to Retain Its Fragrance, Flavor, and Color
English Ivy
Add a bit of whimsy to your bedroom with English ivy (Hedera helix), a trailing evergreen perennial. "English ivy works well in a bedroom because it is easy to grow and is very low-maintenance, making it ideal for amateur plant growers or anyone who is too busy to be caring for plants," says Funk. "I love it for the bedroom because it grows quickly and looks great when draped over a plant, placed on a high shelf, or trailing from a hanging pot."
Size: Depends on variety
Care requirements: Low to bright light; well-drained soil
Money Tree
One of Martha's favorite plants, money trees (Pachira aquatica) are known to symbolize good fortune, and their long, coin-like leaves will add stately beauty to your bedroom. "In addition to helping attract wealth and prosperous energy, they help lower anxiety and promote healthier sleep," says Funk. The plant variety is easy to care for and thrives in indirect, bright light.
Size: 6 feet tall x 2 to 3 feet wide
Care requirements: Medium, indirect light; well-drained soil
ZZ Plant
Plants that thrive in low-light conditions are ideal for bedrooms, especially if you have few windows or keep your curtains closed for privacy. If that's the case, consider a ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia), which thrives in low- to moderate-light environments. The tropical perennial grows quickly and requires little maintenance, making it a win-win as a decorative piece in your room.
Size: 3 to 5 feet tall x 2 to 3 feet wide
Care requirements: Low to bright, indirect light; well-drained soil
Chinese Evergreen
The stunning, oval-shaped leaves on Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema modestum) are reason enough to keep it in your bedroom. Available in a range of color varieties—from silver to pinkish red—the houseplant will add interest to any room of your home. However, it's especially ideal for the bedroom because of its tolerance for low-light conditions.
Size: 4 feet tall x 4 feet wide
Care requirements: Low to bright, indirect light; well-drained soil
Gardenia
If you want your room to smell fragrant at all times, gardenias are the plant for you. "Its perfume scent transforms your bedroom into a luxury resort bedroom," says Ha. "Also, because gardenia requires evenly warm temperatures and moisture in its soil, the bedroom—where you can give a little more attention—is quite ideal."
Size: 4 feet tall x 3 to 4 feet wide
Care requirements: Medium to bright light; acidic soil
Swiss-Cheese Plant
Want to fill in a boring corner of your room or add intrique to a desk or dresser? Swiss-cheese plant (Monstera), with its large, showy leaves is the plant to choose. It can grow up to 15 feet tall, making it a true decorative piece when grown indoors. This popular houseplant prefers bright, indirect sunlight—perfect if you have a window with a sheer curtain that gently filters in the sun.
Size: 10 to 15 feet tall x 6 feet wide
Care s: Bright, indirect light; well-drained soil
Snake Plant
Snake plants (Dracaena trifasciata) are one of the most notoriously easy-to-care-for houseplants. "Snake plant actually has many varieties that look interesting," says Ha. Some snake plants can grow up to 12 feet tall and have long, structural leaves that can successfully block out the bright afternoon sun.
Size: 12 to 36 inches tall x 6 to 36 inches wide
Care requirements: Low to bright light; well-drained soil
Pothos
Pothos (Epipremnum spp.) is an ideal plant if you're looking for variety—it can be grown as a potted plant or in a hanging basket as a trailing vine. "The ultimate easy-care houseplant, pothos features leaves that can range anywhere from solid green to variegated with cream stripes, depending on the light conditions," says Funk.
Size: Up to 20 feet long x 3 to 6 feet wide
Care requirements: Low to bright, indirect light; well-drained soil
Aloe Vera
Just the thought of keeping healing aloe vera in your bedroom will make you feel more at peace. "Not only is aloe vera beneficial for your skin, but it is a great plant for promoting sleep," Funk says. Its leaves are best kept in bedrooms that receive bright light, but luckily it has minimal watering requirements to scale back maintenance. "Forget to water it for a month, no worries," says Funk.
Size: 6 to 12 inches tall x 6 to 12 inches wide
Care requirements: Bright light; succulent or cacti potting mix
Peace Lily
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True to its name, peace lily will add a peaceful atmosphere to your bedroom. "The plant boasts broad, dark green leaves and charming white flowers on tall stems above the foliage," says Funk. "Peace lilies fit well in most home décor and are great for table tops or floor plants."
Size: 1 to 4 feet tall x 1 to 4 feet wide
Care requirements: Low to bright light; well-drained soil
Dracaena Limelight
You'll love watching this slow-growing houseplant thrive in your bedroom. Dracaena Limelight (Dracaena fragrans 'Limelight') features eye-catching yellow-and-green leaves that transform into a lime-green color over time, giving you something to look forward to as the plant matures. Dracaena limelight is ideal for those who prefer a hands-off approach to gardening, as it's quite easy to care for.
Size: 5 feet tall x 3 feet wide
Care requirements: Indirect sunlight; well-drained soil
Boston Fern
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Another plant that flourishes in low-light conditions is Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata), one of the easier-to-care-for varieties of the fern family. "Not only do they enjoy low-light conditions, but they also prefer cooler temperatures," says Funk. "Just make sure to mist it daily to keep the fronds from turning brown."
Size: 1 to 3 feet tall x 2 to 3 feet wide
Care requirements: Bright, indirect light; well-drained soil
Jasmine
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Known for its sweet, pleasant smell, jasmine plants (Jasminum) can be a great comfort when trying to fall asleep at night. "Jasmine can sit on a high shelf in your bedroom and cast a lovely wine over your headboard," says Ha.
Size: 4 to 15 feet tall x 7 feet wide
Care requirements: Bright light; moist, well-drained soil
Read the original article on Martha Stewart.
