If you’re struggling to get to sleep, there could be a solution that helps you nod off, while adding that Insta-worthing aesthetic at the same time – plants.
Houseplants in the bedroom are a great idea but you need to choose some that will survive somewhere that’s often dark.
And once you’ve made the right choices, remember to look after them properly. Leaving them in the bedroom, away from the kitchen sink can mean they get forgotten about.
Freddie Blackett, co-founder of plant delivery website Patch, has some tips for plants that work in the bedroom
He says: ‘The bedroom can be a tricky place for plants. Often they’re not the brightest room in the home and unless you’re very lucky to have an enormous sleeping space, they’re not always blessed with a lot of room for a plant to stretch out.
‘Thankfully, there are a lot of plants that will be more than happy hanging out in your bedroom and some have added benefits to help you sleep better.’
These are Freddie’s favourite bedroom plants:
Snake Plant
There are two major advantages to the snake plant or sansevieria. The first is that it’s incredibly easy to look after. It is close to unkillable, able to cope with just about any light conditions and very forgiving of a lax watering schedule.
The reason it’s great for bedrooms is that it sucks toxins out of the air during the day (things like benzene and formaldehyde) and then releases oxygen at night, so it will be purifying the air as you sleep.
Peace lily
Don’t be fooled by its exotic looks, with its big dramatic white flowers and glossy green leaves. This is a very unfussy plant that will still flower in fairly low light. It’s excellent for air-purification, so ideal for a bedroom, and can also boost the humidity in your room, which can help with breathing at night.
Devil’s Ivy
If you don’t have a lot of spare floor space, put this hanging plant up on a high shelf. It will deal with low light conditions, although it would prefer brighter, indirect light, and its very efficient at sucking impurities from the air.
Parlour palm
If you want a statement plant that will live happily in a bedroom, consider a parlour palm. Mature plants are large and look dramatic, but require very little attention.
It’s perfectly happy in most light conditions, so even a north-facing bedroom won’t phase it. It has the added benefit of being great for air-purification – NASA has it listed as one of the fifty best.
Aloe Vera
Like the snake plant, aloe vera release oxygen at night, improving the air quality as you sleep. It’s another easy one to take care of, only requiring occasional watering.
One thing to be aware of is that it needs a lot of light, so only choose it if you have a bright bedroom, otherwise it will look floppy and miserable.
Aspidistra
Also known as the cast iron plant because it will take a lot of neglect and soldier on. Nobody is suggesting you deliberately neglect a plant, but if your bedroom gets very little light and you’re a bit forgetful with your watering, this guy won’t care. It’s a failsafe plant for even the most inexperienced plant parent.
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