You may think that picking the right houseplant for each room depends just on how much light there is available. Yet each room has its particularities, and a shaded corner of your bedroom won’t offer the same growing conditions as your bathroom. Here is a breakdown of the main areas of your home, and which houseplants to pick for them.
Living Room
Most living rooms are designed to be the centerpiece of the house, so the plants that accompany the decor should add to its wow factor. Some of the best choices for living rooms are large plants, such as Bird of Paradise, Fiddle Leaf Fig, Monstera, and even the Banana Tree. If the space does not allow for leafy giants, there are many options to consider, depending on how much light your living room gets.
Southern or west facing rooms are best suited for plants that love a lot of light exposure, such as Hibiscus, Croton, or the colorful Polkadot Plant. Bright rooms are also perfect for flowering houseplants like Begonias, Jasmine, and Orchids. North facing living rooms can also be made greener with shade loving plants, such as ZZ Plant, Sansevieria (Snake Plant), African Spear, or Spider Plants.
Tip: many houseplants are sensitive to drafts and sudden changes in temperature, so avoid placing them underneath air vents or next to heaters.
Bedroom
Houseplants are a great way to improve humidity in your bedroom, which will result in a better night’s sleep, especially if you have asthma or sleep apnea. And with studies also showing that you need around ten plants per square foot to see an improvement in air quality, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t turn your bedroom into a veritable greenhouse.
Our top picks are Boston Fern, English Ivy, and any variety of Hoya, Pothos and Philodendron you can think of, which will look truly spectacular once they start trailing along the walls and shelves. You can also consider the Peace Lily, Bamboo Palm or Rubber Tree, however, if the space doesn’t allow it, try to avoid large plants, so that you don’t accidentally trip over them in the night.
Kitchen
From breakfast until dinner, or even a cheeky late night snack, kitchens are always buzzing with activity. And with most surface spaces taken up by cooking appliances, utensils and ingredients, it may be difficult to find a spot for a houseplant, so it’s better to mix beauty with functionality. Some of the best picks are herbs, such as basil, parsley, chives, oregano and rosemary, which require little maintenance.
If you do wish to go for non-edibles, go for plants that thrive in a humid environment, and with large, easy to clean leaves. Chinese evergreens, Aluminium Plant and Cast Iron Plant are some great choices, as well as Aloe Vera, which you can use in case you cut or burn yourself when cooking.
Tip: try to place houseplants at least three feet from your oven and cooker. Airborne oil particles in the steam can cover the leaves in an oily, sticky layer, which will cause the plants to wilt.
Bathroom
With its low light and high humidity, the bathroom is a homemade paradise for jungle plants. There are many options to consider, and while it’s tempting to populate your bathroom with an assortment of shade-loving plants, try going for plants that will also require constant humidity. The best plants for the bathroom are ferns and Calatheas of any shape, size and color: Boston Ferns, the ever-thirsty Birds’ Nest Fern, Maidenhair Fern, as well as Maranta (Prayer Plant), Calathea Pinstripe, Peacock Plant, or the stunning Calathea orbifolia.
Tip: All plants need light, so you should only consider putting plants in your bathroom if it has a window, or if you’re prepared to invest in LED grow lights.
Kids’ Room
Adding plants to your kids’ room is a great way to liven it up, as well as teach your kids responsibility. However, these plants need to be carefully picked, so that they are not just low maintenance, but also safe. Some of the best picks are African Violets, Christmas Cactus, Lucky Bamboo, or even ferns. Other examples include Mimosa pudica, an exciting plant that folds its leaves when touched, and it also requires very little care.
Air Plants are another great pick, as they don’t need soil to grow, so there’s no danger of your young ones making a mess if they accidentally knock them over. It’s best to avoid hanging plants, as most of them tend to be toxic, and can easily be pulled off the shelves by accident.
Tip: some houseplants are toxic, and should never be placed in children’s rooms. Here’s what to watch out for: Dieffenbachia, Philodendron, Caladium, Arrowhead, Pothos, Oleander, and flowers such as Daffodil, Oleander, Tulip, Hyacinth, and all types of lilies.
