Your bedroom should be a relaxing oasis where you can lay back, kick your slippered feet up, and unwind. A big, comfy bed is a must-have, but furniture alone won't create the bedroom of your sweet dreams. No matter how you choose to decorate your sleeping space, choosing the right plants adds the perfect calming vibe.
Not sure where to get started? Allow us to suggest some of the best indoor plants for your cozy bedroom. Oh, and they're all categorized by the light conditions they prefer because some of us need a night light.
Top Plants for Low to Moderate-Light Bedrooms
If your idea of a perfect bedroom is one that stays dark or mostly dark all the time, even during daylight hours, these low-light houseplants won't fuss about there being no night light or sunlight.
Chinese Evergreen
If your bedroom gets only low or moderate light and you're in the habit of running a humidifier while you sleep, then Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema commutatum) just may be the perfect plant for your bedroom. Besides being very easy to care for, you'll only need to water it when the soil starts to dry out, as soggy soil isn't good for it. You could even grow Chinese evergreen without regular humidifier use, but you'd need to mist it with water every day or two to satisfy its need for humidity.
Jade Pothos
Jade pothos (Epipremnum Aureum 'Jade') is another great option for bedrooms that don't get much light. This type of pothos has solid green leaves, so it does better in low-light bedrooms than variegated pothos varieties that will lose their flecks of color in low-light conditions. Since this plant's leaves are all one color, low light doesn't significantly impact their appearance either. This very low-maintenance plant has a vining tendency, so it will look lovely cascading over the side of a chest of drawers or armoire.
Parlor Palm
Looking for a tall plant to fill in a corner or to soften the edge of a dresser? Parlor palm (Chamaedorea elegans) is an elegant choice. These plants/small trees can reach up to four feet tall, but they have only one stalk and don't get bushy. With that in mind, consider putting a few in the same pot for a lush look. These plants require almost no light at all. They like a bit of morning sun through a window, but no more than that — and they'll actually be fine without it.
Snake Plant
Snake plants (Sansevieria trifasciata) are terrific plants for a bedroom. These plants do great in low light conditions, though they really thrive with a bit of indirect light. Snake plants thrive on neglect.
Overwatering them is just about the only thing you could do that could hurt them. Snake plants should only be watered when their soil is very dry. If their soil stays too moist, they can develop root rot. Otherwise, they are among the most indestructible indoor plants you can get.
Not only do these beauties require little maintenance, they love to be crowded. So the more, the merrier. They'll let you know when they need repotting when their roots start climbing out.
Zebra Cactus
Want to start by adding a small plant to your bedroom? A zebra cactus (Haworthiopsis fasciata) is a great choice. This succulent is similar in appearance to aloe vera, but its green stems are covered in bumpy white spots. It does very well in low-light rooms, though — much like snake plants — zebra cacti also enjoy some (but not much) indirect light. They are very low maintenance. As long as they are not overwatered or exposed to too much sun, zebra cacti will thrive for many years.
ZZ Plants
ZZ plants (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) thrive in moderate indirect light, but they also do great with very little light. They have long been popular office plants because they grow just fine in rooms that don't even have windows. This lush and beautiful plant only needs to be watered a few times each year, when its soil is completely dry.
ZZ plants can reach up to three feet tall, so they're perfect to tuck into a corner of your bedroom — or to fill in blank wall space — and (mostly) forget.
Related: How to Arrange Houseplants for a Stylish Presentation
Best Plants for Brighter Bedrooms
Do you like to let the sun shine into your bedroom during daylight hours? Great! That opens the door and the curtain for you to incorporate some lovely light-loving plants into your bedroom decor.
Aloe Vera
If you're looking for a plant to keep on your nightstand or dresser, aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis miller) is a fantastic option to consider. Aloe vera plants need regular access to indirect sun, so it's best to put them in a spot where light filtering in through a window reaches them on a regular basis. They require only minimal care. Aloe vera plants need to dry out completely between waterings. Add water only when at least the first two inches of soil are dry.
Corn Plant
The corn plant (Dracaena fragrans) is a popular houseplant that is well-suited to grow in a bedroom. They prefer to have good access to bright, indirect light, though they'll also survive (but not thrive) in low-light conditions. So, if you open the drapes some days and leave them closed on others, this plant will be absolutely fine. Let the soil dry out before watering. Be on the lookout for dry leaves; mist the foliage when the leaves seem dry. This plant starts small but can grow to reach up to six feet tall.
Dumb Cane
Dumb cane (Dieffenbachia) is a lovely potted plant to use in bedrooms that get a good bit of filtered light. It is ideally suited to grow near a window in a bedroom where light is allowed to filter in through sheers on most days. As long as this plant gets enough filtered light, but not direct sunlight (which will scorch it), it's very easy to care for. This plant doesn't need to be watered frequently. You should water it only when the first inch or so of soil is dry.
Elephant Ears
Do you sleep with a humidifier on? If so, then elephant ears (Colocasia esculenta) just might be the perfect plant for your bedroom. These plants need humid air, so they're ideal for bedrooms where humidifiers are used regularly. Not surprisingly, these plants like to stay moist in general, so don't wait for the soil to dry out to water them. They can grow up to five feet tall and spread out a few feet wide, so these plants are perfect for floor placement near a window that lets in light.
Philodendron
If you have a spot near a sunny window in your bedroom that needs a bit of green, consider filling it with a philodendron plant. The light should be filtered, as philodendrons like indirect light. Unfiltered light can damage them, but that's usually not an issue in bedroom environments. These are easy-care plants. If they get leggy as they grow, philodendrons need more light. If they lose leaves or a lot of their leaves turn yellow, they need less light. Add water when the top inch of their soil is dry.
Pinstripe Prayer Plant
Just as you close your eyes at night to go to sleep, pinstripe prayer plants (Calathea ornata) fold their leaves in the evening. If you have one in your bedroom and you're an early riser, you may get to witness this plant dramatically open its leaves when the sun comes up. This plant needs a good bit of indirect light, so the perfect spot for it is by a sunny window with a sheer window treatment. You'll need to keep the soil moist and the air humid. This plant is ideal for people who sleep with a humidifier on.
Beautify Your Bedroom With Houseplants
Sweet dreams are made of greens! Not only will these plants beautify your zen bedroom, but they'll also help filter the air so you can breathe easy while getting your beauty rest. I guess you could say that's why houseplants and sleeping areas make great bedfellows.
