Which plants are ideal for the bedroom?
Bedroom plants don't just improve the air quality; they can genuinely contribute to better sleep.
Plants with large, green leaves are especially good at gently purifying the air, and some varieties also release soothing scents, creating a more peaceful bedroom environment for the night.
Here’s our overview of the best plants for the bedroom UK homes can benefit from.
Plants with air-purifying benefits
These best plants for bedroom oxygen subtly yet effectively filter out pollutants from the air.
Plus, they effortlessly bring more freshness and calm into your sleeping space.
1. Peace lily (Spathiphyllum)
The peace lily [1] filters out harmful substances like benzene and formaldehyde. It's incredibly low-maintenance, forgiving small mistakes, and even blooms in low light.
- ☀️ Light: Bright, indirect light
- 💦 Water: Twice a week - keep the soil moist
- 🌡️ Temperature: 10 - 22 °C
2. Fiddle-leaf fig (Ficus lyrata)
Known for filtering air, the fiddle-leaf fig [2] is also very decorative with its large, glossy leaves. It's ideal for bright bedrooms.
- ☀️ Light: Plenty of indirect light
- 💦 Water: Sparingly – best to keep it on the drier side
- 🌡️ Temperature: 15 - 22 °C
3. Monstera (Monstera deliciosa)
Also known as the Swiss cheese plant [3], its characteristic leaf holes allow light to reach all parts. It's a favourite for its tropical look.
- ☀️ Light: Bright, but no direct sun
- 💦 Water: Moderate; mist occasionally
- 🌡️ Temperature: 20 - 30 °C
4. Zebra plant (Calathea zebrina)
The zebra plant [4] boasts striking leaves with unique patterns and "sleeps" at night by folding its leaves up. It also subtly purifies the air.
- ☀️ Light: Partial shade, no direct sunlight
- 💦 Water: Twice a week, water thoroughly
- 🌡️ Temperature: 15 - 23 °C
5. Pothos (Scindapsus pictus)
Perfect for hanging or trailing, the pothos [5] removes pollutants from the air, grows quickly, and looks fantastic.
- ☀️ Light: Partial shade, no direct sun
- 💦 Water: Regularly in small amounts
- 🌡️ Temperature: 18 - 24 °C
6. Snake plant (Sansevieria)
Often hailed as one of the best plants for bedroom oxygen, the snake plant [6] continues to release oxygen at night. It's extremely robust, making it perfect for beginners, and reliably filters pollutants.
- ☀️ Light: Undemanding - thrives even in low light
- 💦 Water: Very little - water only rarely
- 🌡️ Temperature: 15 - 22 °C
While these aren't miracle cures, these oxygen-best indoor plants for bedroom environments can certainly help to gently improve air quality and create a more pleasant atmosphere.
Fragrant plants
These best bedroom plants for better sleep not only add character to your home but also delight you with natural scents, like what you'd generally access with aromatherapy for sleep.
Depending on the plant, these can be either calming or invigorating.
1. Lavender
With its delicate violet blooms and pleasant scent, lavender can reduce stress and lift your mood. It's truly one of the most popular fragrant plants for a bedroom for good reason.
- ☀️ Light: Plenty of sunlight
- 💦 Water: Water when the topsoil feels dry
- 🌡️ Temperature: Around 21 °C during the day
2. Jasmine (Indoor varieties)
The delightful scent of indoor jasmine can act like a natural sleep aid and is thought to ease anxiety [7] and improve mood. This plant needs extra nutrients during spring and summer.
- ☀️ Light: Bright spot without direct sun
- 💦 Water: Keep soil evenly moist, but avoid waterlogging
- 🌡️ Temperature: Room temperature
3. Mint
Mint gives off an intense, fresh aroma that can be calming in the bedroom and help reduce stress. Its scent is often found comforting, even for nausea.
- ☀️ Light: Bright location
- 💦 Water: Keep soil consistently moist, mist leaves regularly
- 🌡️ Temperature: Room temperature
4. Gardenia
The beautiful, fragrant blooms of the gardenia can alleviate anxiety and promote restful sleep, making it perfect for your bedroom.
- ☀️ Light: Bright spot without direct sunlight
- 💦 Water: Water regularly
- 🌡️ Temperature: 12 to 25 °C
A good mix of fragrant and oxygen-producing plants can turn your bedroom into a true oasis.
Why you should have plants in your bedroom
Bedroom plants offer many benefits for your health, well-being, and the overall feel of your space.
Here are five great reasons why bedroom plants are a real asset:
1. Reduce stress & boost concentration
Scientific studies [8] show that plants can reduce stress, simply through contact with them.
At the same time, they can help improve concentration and boost productivity.
2. Dampen noise
Plants - especially larger specimens with many broad leaves - can absorb sound.
The Ficus or Pothos, for example, are particularly good for this.
For best results, group several house plants together, placing them as close to a wall as possible, rather than in the middle of the room.
If you live in a noisy area, though, we'd recommend sleeping with earplugs.
3. Create atmosphere & decorate
Plants are true mood boosters. ☀️
They bring structure and life to otherwise stark rooms and can be combined in many ways.
Place tall plants on the floor, smaller ones on stools or tables, and mix them with hanging plants or a plant shelf on the wall.
4. Foster a sense of responsibility
Caring for plants can be a first step towards taking on more responsibility.
Start with easy-care types, such as the Sansevieria or Pothos, and gradually work your way up.
Modern plant apps can even help you remember to water and care for them.
5. Oxygen production & air purification
Plants convert CO₂ into oxygen through photosynthesis.
Some air-purifying bedroom plants also filter pollutants like formaldehyde or benzene from indoor air.
These substances can be found in furniture, carpets, or adhesives.
This is precisely where plants for a bedroom can help create a healthier indoor climate.
Are plants in the bedroom dangerous?
You might have heard that house plants for bedroom use are harmful, but that's simply not true.
While it's common knowledge that plants produce oxygen during the day through photosynthesis, some people worry about what happens at night.
Without sunlight, plants do take in a tiny bit of oxygen and release a small amount of carbon dioxide.
This has led to an old myth that you shouldn't have plants in the bedroom due to feared negative health effects.
However, we now know this concern is insignificant - the amount of oxygen a plant consumes at night is so minimal that it poses no risk to your health.
In fact, some varieties, like the snake plant, even continue to release oxygen throughout the night.
Just remember that a few indoor plants for bedroom spaces can be problematic if curious children or pets nibble on them.
Always check for any potential toxins before you buy, and make sure to place such plants out of their reach.
Final thoughts on bedroom plants
Far from being unhealthy, bedroom plants actually bring numerous benefits.
They create a calming atmosphere, produce oxygen, and can noticeably reduce stress.
Varieties like lavender, gardenia, or the peace lily are among the best plants for bedroom spaces, offering either pleasant scents or excellent air-filtering qualities.
While you'd need many plants for a major air quality improvement, even a few green additions like a Monstera or a Sansevieria can truly enhance your room's overall feel.
Frequently asked questions
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Is it good to have plants in the bedroom?
Many people hesitate to put plants in the bedroom, worrying that the CO₂ released at night could be harmful - but this is a common misconception.
While plants do release a small amount of carbon dioxide at night, they produce significantly more oxygen during the day.
So, having plants in the bedroom is completely safe, and they even come with many benefits.
They can:
- Have a calming effect
- Improve sleep quality
- Reduce stress
- Boost productivity
- Enhance the atmosphere
- And even gently dampen noise.
If you're looking for more ways to help you unwind, take a look at our articles on sleep meditation and crocheting.
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Which plants fit a Feng Shui bedroom?
Feng Shui [9] is a Chinese philosophy that aims to harmonise and improve the flow of energy in your life through conscious room design.
Houseplants play an important role in this, as each plant, according to Feng Shui, brings specific energetic qualities.
Plants with the following characteristics are particularly recommended:
- Round or oval leaves, symbolising harmony and balance.
- Tall, slender growth forms, representing growth and clarity.
- Reddish wood or reddish leaves, for vitality and activation.
- Very dark foliage, for grounding and stability.
- Yellow or earthy flower colours, for warmth and grounding.
- White or pastel-coloured flowers, for peace, lightness, and purity.
If you're looking to furnish your bedroom with Feng Shui in mind, these plants can help create a balanced and relaxing atmosphere.
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Which plants are less suitable for the bedroom?
No indoor plant is inherently dangerous for people in the bedroom.
However, there are a few types you should treat with caution, especially if children or pets are in the room.
This is because swallowing leaves, flowers, or sap from certain plant species can lead to health problems.
Therefore,
- Always check if a plant is toxic before buying it, and
- place it out of reach of pets and small children.
This way, you can safely enjoy the benefits of having the best plants for your bedroom, completely risk-free.
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Do plants really clean the air in the bedroom?
The idea that indoor plants clean the air is widely held, and there's some truth to it.
A well-known NASA study from 1989 [10] showed that certain plants can filter pollutants like formaldehyde or benzene from the air.
However, there are important limitations.
More recent studies [11], including those from 2019, suggest that the effect is barely measurable under real-life living conditions [12].
According to experts [13], you'd need between 80 and 250 plants per room to achieve truly noticeable effects.
In conclusion: A few bedroom plants will certainly make your room feel more pleasant.
But for truly fresh air, the most effective method is opening your window regularly.
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References
- 1 Spathiphyllum - Wikipedia
- 2 Ficus lyrata - Wikipedia
- 3 Monstera - Wikipedia
- 4 Aphelandra squarrosa | zebra plant Conservatory Greenhouse/RHS
- 5 Pothos (plant) - Wikipedia
- 6 Snake Plant – How to Grow and Care for Sansevieria Plants | Garden Design
- 7 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/pmc3612440/
- 8 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/pmc4419447/
- 9 https://www.thespruce.com/what-is-feng-shui-1275060
- 10 https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19930073077/downloads/19930073077.pdf
- 11 Potted plants do not improve indoor air quality: a review and analysis of reported VOC removal efficiencies | Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology
- 12 Error
- 13 Keuringsdienst van waarde | NPO Start
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