Photo: Jackson Mccluskey
Looking for a way to transform your home without spending a ton of money? Have you thought about house plants? Well, you should!
House plants are one of the best things anyone can add to their home. They look great in the living room, the bedroom, a kitchen, or even (especially!) the bathroom. As a bonus, house plants make you healthier, too.
They can be a little bit difficult to take care of (we’ve all killed a few plants in our day). But, once you get the hang of it, you’ll find that plant decor is a great way to add some new life to your living space.
Research / Frequent Questions
Best Indoor Plants
Water Diamond Vases by Forest Homes
Many people avoid houseplants because they’re afraid of caring for them. But, plants aren’t actually that difficult to keep alive. As long as they get the sunlight and water they need, they’ll be more than happy to sit on your desk, table or shelf.
Certain plants tend to thrive indoors. These are great for new plant owners who are afraid of killing their plants.
Here are three great plant breeds that live perfectly happy indoors.
Chinese Evergreens don’t really like light. So, if you have some extra space but not a lot of windows, this plant could be great for you.
It helps if you can put it in direct sunlight from time to time. But, we see these plants in office waiting rooms a lot because they can survive entirely on artificial light. So don’t let it stress you out.
Florida Foliage Fiddle Leaf Fig
The Fiddle Leaf Fig is a tall, skinny plant that’s great for people who don’t have a lot of extra space. It grows tall, so you’ll need to have some ceiling room, but it doesn’t grow much more than 8″ in diameter.
You can buy small, baby Figs for pretty cheap. But, if you want to purchase a full-grown one (like the one pictured), it’ll cost you more than $100.
It’s be remiss to write about indoor plants without mentioning the cactus. These spiky desert plans have become more and more popular over the past few years, particularly among people who live in apartments.
While they do need sun, cacti don’t require much water. So, you can leave town for a week and not have to worry about having to feed them.
They also hibernate during winter, which is pretty nice because it gives you a break from having to hang out with them all the time ; )
Best Artifical Plants
Faux Eucalyptus from Cox & Cox
You don’t have to buy real plants to enjoy all of the joy they can add to your home. There are a ton of great looking artificial plants available online.
And, if you’re skeptical about buying fake plants, we’ve compiled a few of our favorites to show you how great they look.
MyGift Artificial Grass in Black Rectangular Planter
It’s important for your planters to look as good as the plant itself. This artificial grass comes in a sleek, minimalist black planter that recalls a midcentury design.
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If you’re looking for some nice looking objects to decorate your desk, something along these lines might do the trick.
Nearly Natural Artificial Succulents in a Terra Cotta Pot
If a cactus is too difficult to care for (perhaps you want some plants for your vacation house), they make artificial ones.
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This artificial cactus from Nearly Natural comes in a nice terra cotta pot that gives off the Southwestern vibe we all love. And, it’s 3′ tall, so you don’t have to wait for it to grow!
Vickerman Artificial Sakaki Bush in a Wicker Planter
Looking for something with a bit more foliage? This artificial Sakaki Bush could be a great plant to add to your collection.
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With its brown wicker pot and dark green hue, it will fit right in with whatever type of decor you have.
Best Plants for Your Bedroom
photo: Urban Jungle Bloggers
Having plants in your bedroom is a great way to liven up your life. They improve the air quality by filtering out toxic chemicals and, of course, the add a lot to the aesthetic. There’s nothing better than waking up in a room filled with lively, green houseplants.
But which ones thrive the best in that type of environment?
Here are a few plants that might be perfect for your bedside table:
Philodendrons popular bedroom plants because their versatile and flexible. They’ll survive on an end-table or hanging in a basket from the ceiling.
These plants definitely require light, so you can’t keep them cooped up in a windowless room. But, they’re relatively easy to care for, making them one of the best plants for your bedroom.
Parlor palm plants are one of the most common plants to see in shopping malls and office buildings. That’s because they grow naturally in the shade. So, they don’t need a lot of light to live a long, healthy life.
Therefore, if your bedroom has very few windows and very little light, a parlor plant might be the best thing for you. If you love this plant but have a lot of light, try to keep it away from the sun to avoid too much exposure.
Like cacti, aloe vera plants belong to the succulent family. Therefore, also like cacti, they can survive on very little water for long amounts of time. This makes them a great plant for people who aren’t very good at taking care of plants.
But, that’s not the only nice thing about aloe vera. It also looks really nice. And, when it starts to grow, you can cut some leaves off to treat sunburns and skin wounds.
How should you arrange bedroom plants?
So, you’ve purchased a bunch of indoor plants. You plan on placing them in your bedroom to liven the place up a little bit.
But you have one looming question:
How should I arrange my bedroom plants?
Well, here are some tips:
Group the complimenting ones
If you have a lot of plants (10 or more), break them up into groups.
Figure out which colors and forms look best with each other and arrange them together. Place the tall ones on the floor, the small ones on a shelf, etc.
Utilize your windowsills
If you have a thick windowsill, you may not even need shelves. These work great as makeshift stands for plants.
It helps you give light to the plants that need it. And, plants always look great under the warm sunshine.
Arrange them by size
When you have a bunch of different sized plants, you can arrange them in order of height. Place the tallest ones in the back in the shorter ones in the front (like a class picture).
Make sure that the shorter ones still have access to light, though. Otherwise, they’ll die pretty quickly.
Avoid a cluttered look
Be careful not to cram too many plants into one spot. It’ll only make your bedroom look smaller.
If you have too many plants for your space, don’t hesitate to move some out into other rooms.
Is it ok to put plants in your bedroom?
Plants make great bedroom decorations. I mean, what could be nicer than waking up to a well-lit room filled with aloe plants and cacti?
In my opinion, there’s no better way to make your room feel more lively (literally).
Of course, you have to make sure to buy the right plants. If they’re going to live inside, they have to be indoor plants. Otherwise, it’ll be hard for you to take care of them.
Do plants help your sleep?
Plants don’t just make Instagram-worthy bedroom decorations. There are actually several health benefits to keeping plants in your bedroom.
For example, many studies show that sleeping near plants can improve your sleep.
Why?
Well, as you may know, plants improve air quality. They do so by consuming carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen.
When the air in your bedroom is “dirty”, your body works hard to process it. Your lungs have to filter out the carbon dioxide, even when you’re asleep. So, you don’t sleep as well because your body is multitasking.
By letting plants handle the work for you, you’re able to give your lungs a break. Over time, this leads to better sleep and, ultimately, better health.
Believe it or not, plants can be the best roommate. They can help relax you, cheer you up, and even help you fall asleep at night. Below is a list of plants you may want to look at if you are having insomnia.
Jasmine: While it is a favorite in some perfumes, it is great for helping promote restful sleep which decreases anxiety and helps with mental clarity.
Aloe vera is not only useful in helping soothe sunburn and cuts, it is a great plant to keep in your bedroom at night. Aloe vera releases a ton of oxygen at night which is always beneficial to rest and health.
The snake plant, also referred to as the mother-in-law’s toungue is like aloe vera. It is easy to care for. According to NASA, it also releases a lot of oxygen at night as well and will actually help you breathe easier.
Of course, the trusty lavender plant which has been a go to for decades helps you sleep as well. It is proven that lavender plants in a baby’s room and even a new mom’s room will soothe the crying baby, and allow mom to get more restful sleep in between the nightly feedings and infant care.
A peace lily definitely lives up to its name. It provides a peaceful sleep that will leave you feeling more refreshed in the morning. Just be careful, it needs to be kept away from pets and small children. If eaten it can be toxic.
An English Ivy plant in the bedroom is also beneficial to your health according to NASA. It purifies the air, helps asthma and allergy sufferers breathe easier at night. It even helps reduce mold growth.
Gerbera daisies share similar properties to the snake and aloe vera for its properties of air purifying. It helps those with sleep apnea breathe easier as well. They are not as easy to care for though.
Best Plant To Keep In Bedroom
Household plants have slowly become a new trend in terms of home decor and interior design. The key to participating in this trend is to arrange your plants in a way that works. First, take notes of your plants, and your space. This is important because placement means everything. General tips would be to use contrasting plants to your advantage. Grouping similar looking plants together makes them lose their individuality. Instead, use accent plants placed around a bigger centerpiece. Bigger plants should be spaced around bigger rooms and smaller plants can be placed around them.