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Bedroom Design
We take a look at the best plants to have in the bedroom and their amazing qualities.
6 Min Read | By Gemma Curtis
Last Modified 25 September 2024 First Added 7 April 2017
Known as the biophilic trend, bringing the outside into your bedroom is best done by adding plants to your bedroom. Not only do indoor plants look great, but they also have amazing health benefits. Some can even aid your sleep. Here we look at eleven of the best bedroom plants that will improve your sleep environment and help you sleep better.
From Jasmine to Aloe Vera, Snake Plants to Lavender, join us as we explore the best indoor plants to improve your bedroom decor and help improve your sleep:
Best plant for relaxation
Jasmine plants have small, pretty white flowers. They give off a sweet scent that is often used in its essential oil form for relaxation.
A study shows that this scent is linked to reduced anxiety levels and also improved sleep quality. Jasmine plants are quite easy to keep in a pot and look great in bedrooms. Place yours on the windowsill and water it regularly during flowering periods. You can let the top of the soil dry out slightly during non-flowering periods to avoid overwatering.
Best plant for air purification
The snake plant (also known as ‘mother-in-law’s tongue’) is a natural air purifier. It emits oxygen at night that helps you sleep better. It’s also known to remove some harmful chemicals from the air such as xylene, trichloroethylene, toluene, benzene and formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is often found in hairspray and can cause respiratory problems, so this is a great plant to have in the bedroom!
Best plant for inducing sleep
A valerian plant will look beautiful in your bedroom thanks to its small pink and white flowers. Aside from the sweet scent, valerian plants have been used for centuries to help with sleep problems including insomnia. Inhaling the scent of valerian root has been shown to induce sleep and improve the quality of sleep. Add a few petals to your bath or ensure to take a sniff before you get into bed. These plants need around six hours of sun a day, so keep them on a sunny window sill.
Best plant for deep sleep
The smell of lavender is recognised everywhere as a great aid for relaxation. Lavender has been proven to lower our heart rate, blood pressure and stress levels, which is why it’s perfect for the bedroom. A study by the Miami Miller School of Medicine showed that the scent of lavender in bath oil calmed babies and sent them off into a deeper sleep, while also reducing stress in the mother. Lavender plants like warmth and sunlight, so place yours on a sunny windowsill and water sparingly.
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Best plant for increasing humidity
Like the snake plant, peace lilies are also amazing air cleaners, as studied by NASA. The added benefit of a peace lily is that it can increase room humidity by up to 5% which is great for breathing while asleep. Apartment Therapy says: ‘Low humidity causes static electricity, dry skin and hair, increased susceptibility to colds and respiratory illnesses, and can allow viruses and germs to thrive’. They have beautiful white flowers and need little light and watering just once a week.
Best plant for indoor hanging baskets
Also known as ‘Devil’s Ivy’, this plant has marbled, heart-shaped leaves. This plant is also a superb air purifier. Because of the way it grows, this plant looks best when put into a hanging basket – a stunning design feature in your bedroom that’s great to keep out the way of small children or pets. These plants are extremely easy to look after, needing only a little sunlight and watering once a week.
Best plant for air quality
This medicinal plant is a great addition to any home. It produces oxygen at night, so like the other plants listed, it will improve the air in your bedroom. This plant is known as a ‘succulent’ – it needs very little watering as it maintains moisture within its leaves. The gel from these leaves can be used to treat minor cuts and burns, insect bites and dry skin. Keep your Aloe Vera plant in a sunny place to ensure it stays healthy.
Best easy to care for plant
These are a very popular choice for a reason; they’re super easy to care for and are great at producing new plants! Spider plants need moderate, indirect sunlight and occasional watering, so they are easy to keep alive. A study showed that caring for indoor plants can reduce blood pressure and help you feel soothed, making it the perfect activity to improve your mental health and encourage good sleep.
Spider plants can also make great gifts. When your adult plant sprouts babies, it’s easy to take a cutting and root these in a small pot with some water, once the roots are established you can move your plant to soil. Hanging pots are a great choice for these as they have long, hanging leaves.
Best plant for bedroom feng shui
Implementing Feng Shui in your bedroom can help improve the Chi (energy) of the room and make it a better environment for sleep and relaxation. Plants are an important part of Feng Shui as they bring life and attract good fortune. The Jade plant is an excellent bedroom plant as it represents wealth, prosperity, and friendship. Overall, Jade plants are still a great addition to your bedroom as they help reduce carbon dioxide at night and increase humidity for a better night’s sleep
Best large bedroom plant
Rubber plants are great if you want a large plant, they are very hardy and grow big, striking leaves. They’re very low maintenance, so this is another good plant for someone who is worried about the amount of effort that goes into caring for a plant – a rubber plant makes a hard-to-kill companion.
Although rubber plants have been found to purify the air, making them great for improving sleep, the sap of the plant is toxic to humans, dogs, and cats. So, if you have pets or children, make sure that your rubber plant is kept out of reach.
Best colourful bedroom plant
Orchids are some of the most beautiful houseplants and add a touch of elegance to a space. They have a reputation for being difficult to look after, but many do well in a house environment and don’t need specialised knowledge or care. A happy orchid will bloom for months at a time, making it the perfect choice for anyone looking for a colourful plant for their bedroom.
Plants have also been found to improve creativity and the unique appearance of many varieties of orchids is bound to inspire you. Keeping orchids in your bedroom or workspace introduces natural beauty into your home, which can help improve your mood, reduce nightmares, and generally make you feel more content. If you would like to learn about the meaning behind your dreams and nightmares visit our Dream Encyclopaedia.
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