Key takeaways
- Choose bedroom plants by the light, how cool the room gets and how often you'll water
- Snake plant, ZZ plant and aspidistra cope with dim bedrooms
- Plants are lovely to have, but they won't replace an open window or fix poor sleep
- Move plants closer to the window on dull winter days
- Check a plant is safe before putting it where pets can reach it
- Keep tropical plants away from cold glass and draughts in winter
The best plants for bedrooms are snake plant, ZZ plant, aspidistra, spider plant and parlour palm. Choose by how much light the room gets, how cold it is in winter, how much space you have and whether you have pets. A plant that loves a bright east-facing room may sulk a few metres from a north-facing window.
The RHS houseplant guidance puts light, humidity and warmth first, ahead of what’s on trend. This guide sticks to practical picks for bedrooms. For the rest of the house, see our indoor-plant guide.
Do plants really improve bedroom air quality?
Only a little. You’ll often hear that houseplants clean the air, but those claims come from tests in small sealed boxes, not real bedrooms with open doors and lots of air.
In a real room, a few plants just can’t clean the air fast enough to make much difference. The RHS page on houseplants and health looks at the feel-good side of plants separately from air-cleaning claims.
That doesn’t make bedroom plants pointless. Greenery makes a room feel calmer and nicer to be in. So choose plants for the light and care they need, open the window now and then, and enjoy them.
For more ideas for every room, see our guide to the best indoor plants for UK homes.
Which plants release oxygen at night?
Most plants make oxygen in daylight and use a little at night. A few, like snake plant and aloe, work the other way round and take in air at night to save water in the day.
The ones you’ll see mentioned for bedrooms are:
- Snake plant (Sansevieria trifasciata), which copes with very low light. Good for almost any bedroom.
- Aloe vera, which needs lots of light, so it only suits a sunny south or west-facing bedroom.
- Moth orchids (Phalaenopsis), which are happy at normal room warmth. Our orchid care guide has watering and reflowering tips.
Honestly, the amount of oxygen one plant makes is tiny compared with what you breathe. Grow them because they’re lovely and easy, not to change the air.
Scented plants for the bedroom
A gentle scent can make a bedroom feel relaxing. Just keep it subtle, as strong scents can bother some people.
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
English lavender has the sweetest scent of all the lavenders. It needs lots of light, so a sunny south-facing windowsill is a must. In a darker room it’ll go leggy. Water sparingly, as lavender hates wet roots and likes dry, gritty compost. It isn’t safe for cats, so keep it out of their reach.
Jasmine (Jasminum polyanthum)
Pink-tinged buds open to clouds of white, scented flowers in late winter and spring. It needs a bright spot and cool nights in winter to set its flower buds, so a cool bedroom suits it well. Water when the top of the compost starts to dry. The scent is strong, so one pot is plenty in a bedroom.
Cool winter nights help jasmine set its flower buds, so a chilly bedroom suits it. One pot is plenty, as the scent is strong.
The best plants for low-light UK bedrooms
Lots of UK bedrooms face north or east. North-facing rooms are dim, especially in winter, and east-facing rooms get morning sun and then softer light. These plants cope with less light.
Snake plant (Sansevieria trifasciata)
Stiff, upright dark green leaves with paler bands. It grows in any bedroom, from a dark north-facing room to a sunny south-facing one. Water every 2-3 weeks. It copes with a cool room too. Almost impossible to kill. For more plants that handle dim rooms, see our low-light houseplants guide.
Peace lily (Spathiphyllum)
Glossy dark leaves and elegant white flowers. It’s one of the few plants that flowers in a fairly dim room. It flops dramatically when thirsty, then perks up within an hour of a drink. Keep the soil moist but not soggy. Not safe for cats and dogs.
Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
Heart-shaped leaves on long trailing stems. It copes with low light, though the variegated types fade in deep shade. Trail it from a high shelf or along a curtain pole. Water when the top 3cm of soil is dry. Not safe for pets.
Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema)
Patterned leaves in silver, green and pink. It’s happy in fairly low light, grows slowly and stays compact. It doesn’t like the cold, so keep it away from single-glazed windows in winter. Water when the top 3cm of soil is dry. A great plant for a north-facing bedroom. Not safe for cats and dogs.
Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
Arching green and white leaves with baby plants dangling on long stems. It grows in almost any light, from shade to bright. It’s safe with cats and dogs, so it’s the best pick for pet owners. Pot up the babies for other rooms. Water weekly in summer and fortnightly in winter.
Spider plant is safe with cats and dogs and copes with a dim north-facing room. Pot up the babies for other rooms.
English ivy (Hedera helix)
A trailing evergreen with lobed leaves. It’s happy in a cool bedroom and copes with medium light. Trail it from a hanging pot or high shelf. Not safe for cats and dogs, and the sap can irritate sensitive skin.
Plants for warm, bright bedrooms
Sunny south and west-facing bedrooms open up more choices.
Aloe vera
Thick, fleshy leaves in a rosette. It needs a sunny windowsill. Water every 2-3 weeks and let the compost dry out in between. It’s easy to look after but isn’t safe for cats and dogs.
Rubber plant (Ficus elastica)
Big, glossy leaves in dark green, burgundy or variegated. It slowly grows into a small indoor tree. Give it medium to bright light. Wipe the leaves monthly to keep the dust off. Water when the top 3cm of soil is dry. It looks great in a bedroom corner. Not safe for pets.
Valerian (Valeriana officinalis)
Valerian is a tall, hardy garden plant with scented pink or white flowers from June to August. It needs bright light and moist soil and can grow up to 1.5m, so it really belongs outside. If you want it indoors, treat it as a summer guest in a big floor pot by a sunny window, then move it back to the garden.
Bedroom plants at a glance
A quick look at eleven bedroom plants side by side.
| Plant | Light | Scent | Safe with pets | How easy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snake plant | Low to bright | None | No | Very easy |
| Peace lily | Low to medium | Faint | No | Easy |
| Lavender | Bright, sunny | Strong | No for cats | Medium |
| Jasmine | Bright | Strong | Yes | Medium |
| Aloe vera | Bright, sunny | None | No | Easy |
| Spider plant | Low to bright | None | Yes | Very easy |
| Pothos | Low to bright | None | No | Very easy |
| English ivy | Medium | None | No | Easy |
| Rubber plant | Medium to bright | None | No | Easy |
| Chinese evergreen | Low to medium | None | No | Easy |
| Valerian | Bright | Gentle | Check with your vet | Medium |
Allergy considerations
A few bedroom plants can bother allergy sufferers. Peace lily pollen may set off hay fever in some people. English ivy sap can irritate sensitive skin, so wear gloves when you trim it.
If mould sets off your allergies, don’t overwater. Soggy compost can grow mould on the surface. Let the top few centimetres dry out between waterings. Terracotta pots help too, as they dry out faster than plastic.
Where to place plants in your bedroom
Where you put a plant depends on light, warmth and what’s practical.
Windowsill
The brightest spot in most bedrooms. A south-facing sill is bright and sunny, while a north-facing one is soft and dim. Save sunny sills for lavender, aloe vera and jasmine. Don’t put plants right above a radiator, as the rising heat dries the leaves out.
Bedside table
Light here depends on how far it is from the window. Snake plant and pothos cope well. Put a saucer under every pot to protect the table.
Shelf or dresser
Good for trailing plants like pothos and English ivy, and high enough to keep risky plants away from pets and children. Make sure it gets some daylight. A shelf on an inside wall far from the window is too dark for almost anything.
Hanging planter
Perfect for trailing plants and keeps them right out of reach. English ivy, spider plant and pothos all look great hanging. A big plant in wet compost is heavy, so screw brackets into a joist, not just plasterboard.
Floor pot
Big rubber plants suit a floor pot near a bright window. Keep them about 30cm back from the glass to avoid winter draughts. A pot stand helps the pot drain and lets air around the roots.
New to houseplants? Our beginner houseplant guide covers the basics of light, watering and compost.
Why snake plant suits many bedrooms: it grows slowly, forgives missed waterings and doesn’t take up much room. It still needs some light, and keep it away from pets that chew.
Now you’ve picked your bedroom plants, read our guide on the best indoor plants for UK homes for the next step.
Bedroom temperature and humidity
A cool bedroom, around 16-18C, is often suggested for good sleep. Most tropical houseplants prefer it a bit warmer, which is why calathea and fittonia struggle in a cold bedroom in winter.
The plants in this guide all cope with a cool bedroom. Snake plant is especially tough. Lavender likes it cool, and jasmine needs cool winter nights to flower.
Central heating dries the air in winter. Group plants together on a tray of wet pebbles to keep the air around them a bit damper. Don’t mist lavender or aloe vera, as they like it dry.
Common mistakes with bedroom plants
Overwatering in low light. Plants in dim rooms grow slowly and drink less. Watering on a fixed schedule leads to soggy soil and rotten roots. Feel the soil before you water, every time.
Leaving tropical plants on cold windowsills. Single-glazed windows in older homes get very cold on winter nights. Move tropical plants about 30cm back from the glass.
Putting sun-lovers in dark rooms. Lavender, aloe vera and jasmine all fail in a north-facing bedroom. Check the light column in the table before you buy.
Forgetting about pets. Lots of popular bedroom plants aren’t safe for cats and dogs. Spider plant, Boston fern and areca palm are the safest picks for pet owners.
Too many plants in a stuffy room. Lots of plants in a small, closed-up bedroom make the air damp, which can lead to mould on walls. Open a window for 10 minutes each morning, even in winter.
Frequently asked questions
Do bedroom plants improve air quality?
Only a tiny bit, so they won’t replace fresh air. A few pots can’t clean the air in a whole room. Open a window or vent when you can, and enjoy plants for how they look and feel.
Which plants release oxygen at night?
Snake plants and aloes take in air differently from most houseplants at night. But one pot makes no real difference to the oxygen in a bedroom. Choose them because they’re easy to care for, not for the oxygen.
Are bedroom plants safe for cats?
Some are and some aren’t. Spider plant, Boston fern and areca palm are safe choices for cats. Peace lily, English ivy, pothos and Chinese evergreen can cause a sore mouth and sickness if chewed. Lavender isn’t good for cats either, so keep risky plants on high shelves.
Can plants help you sleep?
No plant is a proven cure for poor sleep. Some people find greenery or a gentle scent relaxing, but strong scents bother others. Keep the room aired, and see your GP if poor sleep carries on.
What is the best low-maintenance bedroom plant?
Snake plant is a great low-maintenance choice. It grows slowly and forgives missed waterings. Give it some light, let the compost dry out between drinks and keep it away from pets that chew.
Our team produces practical UK gardening guidance from source research, contributor records and established horticultural practice. Editorial standards are overseen by Matt W.
