There are many benefits of keeping houseplants in your bedroom. Improved sleep, cleaner air and aesthetic appeal are just a few reasons many swear by bedroom greenery. However, if your bedroom doesn’t get a lot of sunlight during the day, you might feel like this option won’t work for you. Luckily there are many indoor plants that thrive in the shade, allowing you to keep your space as dark and restful as you want, no matter where your windows are.
Here are some of the best houseplant options for low-light bedrooms:
Spider plants frequently top the lists of “hard to kill” houseplants and one reason why is that they require little light. Spider plants are great for hanging baskets or pedestals because of their long curly leaves. They also produce “babies” from long stems that hang off of the main plant, which adds even more volume and visual interest for your bedroom aesthetic. As a bonus, it’s non-toxic to pets, but should still be kept away from curious cats who might want to play with or chew on the dangling leaves.
A colorful and low-maintenance option for a dark bedroom is the bushy calathea. These plants have large multi-colored leaves and can grow up to 3 feet tall even with very little light. They grow slowly, but you can often find mature plants available for purchase if you want to start big. They look great on tables or shelves and are totally pet-safe.
ZZ plants are favorite choices for office buildings and commercial spaces because they can live happily under fluorescent lights. ZZs are also great if you want something easy to care for, as they tolerate sporadic watering with ease. The ZZ plant’s leaves are a deep, glossy green and would make a great addition to a low-light bedroom. However, they are unfortunately toxic to both animals and humans, so be careful if you have pets or small children.
Money trees are an excellent choice if you want a larger tree-like plant for your bedroom. They thrive in medium indirect light, but also do well under fluorescents if your room is lacking in sunshine. They have slender, braided trunks and bright green leaves. Money trees are considered good luck by many, but will look beautiful in your bedroom no matter what. Money trees are pet-safe, but require some pruning if you want to keep them a certain size.
Bromeliads are tropical plants which might make them an unexpected recommendation for a low-light bedroom. However, these plants thrive in the shade and can even live happily under fluorescent light alone. The key to a healthy bromeliad is humidity, however, so misting regularly is key. If you’d rather not keep a humidifier in the bedroom, this plant might do better in a bathroom where it can enjoy the ambient moisture and steam regardless of light. No matter where you put it, you can rest easy knowing bromeliads are completely pet-safe.
These are just a few houseplant options you can keep in bedrooms without a lot of light. Research the different water and humidity requirements and toxicity to insure it’s the best choice for your living space.
