You might already have houseplants adding color and life to the rest of your home, but indoor plants for bedroom decor work, too. Scientific studies have shown that plants can reduce stress and increase productivity, making your space the perfect environment to unwind after a long day. There's a wide selection of terrific low-maintenance plants for bedrooms—the 14 below are particularly beautiful and easy to care for.
More plants die from too much moisture than the other way around, so it's essential to avoid overwatering your plants. Keep a plastic or ceramic plant saucer below the plant. This will keep moisture from damaging carpet or wood surfaces. Above all, never let your houseplant sit in standing water.
Parlor Palm
The parlor palm is an ideal bedroom companion because it prefers indirect light and can grow with average home humidity (though it grows best with high humidity). Keep the soil evenly moist but never soggy or soaked. When watering, let the soil get barely dry to the touch, then water thoroughly.
Light: Bright, indirect light to low light
Soil: Peaty potting mix; evenly moist
Size: Up to 8 feet tall, though tends to reach closer to 3 feet indoors
Snake Plant
The snake plant might have a creepy common name, but it's a winner in terms of maintenance. Silvery striations cover the green swordlike leaves, making it a perfect indoor plant for a bedroom. A little-known fact: The snake plant is technically a succulent, so it can thrive in low-moisture environments.
Light: Partial to low light
Soil: Sandy, well-drained
Size: Up to 4 feet tall
Moth Orchid
A blooming orchid exudes serenity, making it the perfect indoor plant for bedrooms that are relaxing and stylish. The moth orchid, which is named for its petals' resemblance to a moth's rounded wings, is the easiest orchid to grow. Because they originate in tropical regions, moth orchids prefer high humidity and will do best in an east- or west-facing window.
Moth orchids bloom once a year, but you can expect them to stay in bloom for weeks or even months before the blossoms fall off the flower spike. Place the orchid in a saucer or cachepot to keep any excess moisture from damaging furniture or flooring.
Light: Medium to low light
Soil: Moss or bark; well-drained
Size: Up to 3 feet tall
Pothos
Pothos is one of the easiest indoor plants to grow. The thick leaves store water, and its vining nature makes it easy to clip to keep at the size you like. Grow it in almost any light condition, and keep the soil on the dry side. Pothos grows with light yellow or white variegation, but if you prefer solid-color leaves, you can select its cousin, the heartleaf philodendron, as an equally low-maintenance indoor plant for bedrooms.
Light: Bright, indirect light
Soil: Potting soil; moist but well-drained
Size: Up to 15 feet long
Dracaena
Easy to care for and easy on the eyes, dracaena grows long, slender, strappy leaves that curve attractively from a central stem. The leaves can be variegated in a variety of different colors, including pink, red, yellow, and cream. Dracaenas grow best in bright, indirect light, but will hold their color even in low-light situations, making it a perfect indoor plant for bedrooms.
Light: Bright, indirect light to medium light
Soil: Potting soil; moist but well-drained
Size: Up to 10 feet tall
ZZ Plant
If you want a plant that performs like (and even resembles) an artificial one, check out the ZZ plant. Dark green, shiny leaves grow across each stalk, forming a tight yet eye-catching funnel of greenery. It gets its common name from the initials of its botanical name, Zamioculcas zamiifolia. Because it grows with an underground storage unit, the ZZ plant can store water for long periods, making it a great option if you travel frequently (or forget to water).
Light: Bright to low light
Soil: Potting soil; well-drained
Size: Up to 3 feet tall
Scented Geranium
Who needs dresser drawer sachets when you have a houseplant with a beautiful aroma? Relatives of the ordinary household geranium, scented geranium flowers less frequently but makes up for its lack of petals with its leaf fragrance, which comes in an astounding variety of scents, including apricot, rose, nutmeg, cinnamon, lemon, mint, pineapple, ginger, lime, coconut, chocolate, and more. This varietal requires a bit more upkeep than some others on this list—you should remove any faded flowers or leaves as you notice them to create a bushier plant.
Light: Bright light to medium light
Soil: Potting soil; moist but well-drained
Size: Up to 3 feet tall
Rubber Tree
A rubber tree makes an attractive statement in a bright- to medium-light nook or corner of the bedroom, growing larger and fuller with the years. The only thing you need to do to keep this plant's eye-catching leaves shiny is to carefully dust them every now and then. Keep it in check with occasional pruning.
Light: Bright light to medium light
Soil: Potting soil; moist but well-drained
Size: Up to 8 feet tall
Test Garden Tip
Avoid contact with the milky sap that gives this plant its common name—it can irritate the skin.
Peace Lily
For a serene indoor plant for a bedroom setting, choose a tranquil peace lily. This easy-to-grow gem lends a tropical feel to the room and is a good choice for gardeners inclined to overwater plants as it can take wetter soil than most. Its glossy green pointed leaves will grow with little care and can be groomed by removing any browned leaves or leaf tips; the white flowers will bloom in the spring. Depending on the size of your plant, you can grow it as a floor plant or on a tabletop.
Light: Bright light to low light
Soil: Potting soil; moist but well-drained
Size: Up to 4 feet tall
Arrowhead Vine
Almost as easy to grow as a pothos—and twice as exciting in its leaf variegation—the arrowhead vine flourishes in various light conditions. Its dark green leaves are marked with white along the veins; some varieties show more white coloration. You can use it in a hanging basket for a boho vibe or let the soft-looking leaves trail down the side of a shelf, dresser, or armoire.
Light: Medium light to low light
Soil: Potting soil; moist but well-drained
Size: Up to 3 feet tall
Cast-Iron Plant
The cast-iron plant almost thrives on neglect, so if you want a pop of greenery without thinking much about it, this is the plant for you. The cast iron plant lives up to its name by being tough and drought-tolerant, with broad, deep green leaves that tend to droop when they need water. Plus, the manageable size means you can set it on top of a dresser or place it on a pedestal for more prominence. It's an ideal plant for a bedroom decorated in any style.
Light: Low light
Soil: Potting soil; moist but well-drained in the spring and summer, drier in fall and winter
Size: Up to 2 feet tall
Fiddle Leaf Fig
One of the most popular indoor trees thanks to its shiny, organically shaped leaves, the fiddle leaf fig provides great height and a substantial presence in a large room. Luckily, pruning is as easy as clipping branches and fertilizing. Dusting the glossy leaves is the only other care this low-maintenance plant needs (other than watering, of course).
Light: Bright light to low light
Soil: Potting soil; well-drained
Size: Up to 12 feet tall
Lavender
Lavender is a popular stress-relieving scent and will help lull you into deeper, more restorative sleep. This makes it the perfect indoor plant for a bedroom, as long as you have a spot that gets plenty of sunlight. Make sure it's planted in a large enough pot, too—the roots should have plenty of space and shouldn't be circling the inside of the pot.
Light: Bright light
Soil: Potting soil; well-drained
Size: Up to 2 feet tall, depending on variety
Jasmine
Jasmine is often found scenting beauty products and fragrance diffusers, and it's a lovely and relaxing note to add to your bedroom if you're looking for a plant that brings a little something extra to your space. The blooms of this plant open at night, timing itself perfectly with your nighttime routine. In addition, Jasmine plants are known to be long-lasting in the home and add a dot of crisp white to decor.
Light: Medium light
Soil: Potting soil; well-drained
Size: Up to 2 feet tall
More Ways to Add Greenery to Your Home
You may not want to stop once you've started introducing greenery to your indoor spaces. Instead of just setting out potted plants, get creative with your displays. Add vining plants to bring a touch of the jungle to your home, or climbing ivy for a rambling look. You can include dried flowers for long-lasting and no-maintenance care (other than dusting now and then). Use your DIY skills to create hanging planters that are unique and fun. To expand your collection, learn how to propagate your indoor plants for a low-cost way to add more greenery—or share with friends.
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