I understand, I understand. Hundreds of times, you may have scrolled your way through Instagram to admire those fabulous bedrooms that are filled with luxurious greenery, thinking how on earth can they make it all so nonchalant! Well, no spoiler here, it is not magic and you are not required to take a course on botany to achieve this 🙂
I have been turning bedrooms green with plants over the years and I must say I have gone through killing my share of houseplants. However, the thing is that when you master the secret of bedroom plant design, your room will turn into an utterly amazing oasis which will actually make you sleep better. Have you got a green thumb and a passion to convert your bedroom into a plant wonderland? Okay, let us begin.
Why Your Bedroom Needs Plants (Beyond Just Looking Pretty)
But before we get into the details of how to go about incorporating the use of plants in your bedroom, we need to first discuss why plants would be ideal in your bedroom. Yeah, they are great on your nightstand, but these green cuties do more than just posing for your selfies.
Plants actively clean your air when you are sleeping. NASA even did this whole study (actual rocket scientists), and some plants bring the smells of inorganic cleaning products out of the air by the internal machinery if air, stated by NASA results. Snake plants are just one example, they are capable of producing oxygen in the night because most plants produce oxygen during the day.
Ever felt that hotel rooms are stuffy? It is because they are not humid. Plants add moisture to the air and so you will not wake up with that desert-mouth feeling. And, the research indicates that due to the presence of greenery in your bedroom, stress levels may also decrease and sleep quality will be better.
| Benefit | Impact |
|---|---|
| Air purification | Removes toxins, adds oxygen |
| Humidity boost | Prevents dry skin, better breathing |
Choosing the Right Plants for Your Bedroom
This is where the majority of people go wrong, they select plants, considering looks only. I know, I have gone through that. What may seem like the most beautiful fiddle leaf fig on Pinterest may be a disaster waiting to happen in real life especially when placed in a room with absolutely no sunlight.
Low-Light Champions
Snake plants are sort of superheroes of the bedroom decor. These sinners are nearly pest proof and will literally not say anything even when you forget to watering them during weeks. I have one which has done well in my north facing bedroom now in the third year.
Another foolproof choice would be the ZZ plants. They have this smooth shiny thing about them, like they were sculpted, the kind of stuff you might find expensive-looking interior decoration, and they are exceptionally forgiving. Excellent to fill that dark corner that you have not known what to put in.
Pothos comes in about a million varieties, and they’re all gorgeous trailing options. Hang one from your ceiling or let it cascade from a tall dresser – instant jungle vibes.
Medium-Light Options
Got a bedroom that is fairly well-illuminated by nature? Lucky you! This exposes much more opportunities.
Monstera deliciosa (it has cool split leaves) is serious business. Put it in a corner and watch it blossom and shine to be the highlight of a room.
These are thick glossy leaves which reflect light very well on the rubber trees. They are quite tall and thus they make great fillers to the conspicuous space between your window and dresser.
Strategic Plant Placement That Actually Works
Well, this is where the magic takes place. You can not simply plant in any place and think that it would be planned. It turns out there is method to this madness.
The Nightstand Strategy
Your bedside table is some of the best estate you can have but make good decisions. It should not be too big to occupy space but at the same time, it should make a mark. A tiny peace lily or a snake plant is ideal in this case. Pro tip: Make it on the side where you do not charge a phone and you will not have the desire to scroll through any of the networks instead of sleeping.
Floor Plants for Drama
There should be floor plant in each bedroom as that sense of I have my life together factor. Put it in one corner where children can not kick it but it receives some light. An indoor fiddle leaf fig (with the necessary light) is a good idea, or a tall snake plant.
Hanging Plants for Vertical Interest
This is when thing get interesting. Hanging plants take your eye up the wall, and make your ceiling seem higher. Corner is dully? Loose a trailing pothos there. Just ensure it is tall enough so you do not walk into it – rude that one the hard way…
Size Matters: Getting Your Plant Proportions Right
One thing no one ever says: plant size is either making or breaking your bedroom vibe. Too small – they fade away into the background. Too large and all of a sudden youre sleeping in a jungle (which sounds fantastical but I assure you when you actually get there you, wont find it very magical).
Small Spaces, Smart Choices
With a small bedroom, use larger plants that have small dimensions. One big statement plant usually performs better than a lot of small ones dotted about. An experience I realized that bedrooms are not plant shops is when my bedroom resembled a bomb hit plant shop.
Consider size in terms of your furniture. A small succulent on an enormous nightstand will look lost and a medium-sized plant will form the ideal balance.
Large Bedrooms Need Bold Moves
Got room to breathe in? Use it! Bigger plants and quantity of other plants could be accommodated in large bedrooms. Form groups of plants in the corners, use tall plants to establish spaces and be brave to be loud.
The Art of Plant Styling (It’s Easier Than You Think)
That is where the fun is coming in. A lot of styling of plants is just similar to accessorizing clothes- you don t want everything to happen at once, but still you want the style of all the plants to agree with each other.
Mixing Heights and Textures
Diversity is not your enemy. Mix tall with trailing, smooth leaves with the textured ones. I prefer working with rule of three, that is I group the plants together in odd numbers, and I also mix up the heights of the different plants to give them an appearance of interest.
This amazing triangular design happens when you combine a tall snake plant, a pothos plant that grows down the walls, and a ZZ plant of medium size, which will be placed in the middle of the tri.
Container Coordination
You do not have to have exactly matching planters, but they should play off of each other. Use an unchanging colour scheme – possibly a complete terracotta, all white or all black. The use of materials (ceramic and woven baskets) are mixed but do not appear haphazard.
Creating Plant Vignettes
It is here that you get to unleash the stylist in you. Clutter plants together with other bedroom items such as books, candles or minor items of decor. The trick is to look deliberate and not cluttered.
Common Mistakes That Scream “Amateur”
I want to spare you the same plant styling pitfalls I constantly spot (and, indeed, I made most of them too).
The Plastic Pot Problem
It is always inadvisable to leave plants in their plastic nursery pots. I do not even care how pretty the plant is, when it lives in those black plastic pots everything becomes cheap. Buy the right planters or at least scoot the plastic pot into an ornamental jacket.
Overwatering Drama
Most more plants have died from being overwatered then underwatered. Most houseplants for the bedroom don’t require to be consistently moist – they rather like to dry out a bit between waterings. Experiment with sticking your finger into the soil – if it is wet bed, try to wait for a few more days.
Ignoring Your Room’s Personality
Your plants ought to reflect the vibe of your bedroom. Simple, sleek rooms need simple clean-lined plants in basic containers. A boho bedroom can take more variety and textured planters.
Seasonal Plant Care in the Bedroom
This is one thing most people do not consider, your plants needs vary with seasons and so will your care routine.
Winter Adjustments
In winter, your bedroom might receive less light and low humidity. Bring plants near windows, water less frequently and possibly consider a little humidifier in case your air is very dry.
Summer Considerations
A summer implies additional light and heat. You may have to water more often and be on the lookout of overexposure to direct sunlight (such as brown crispy browning of leaves).
Budget-Friendly Plant Styling Tips
You do not have to empty your paycheck to make your bedroom look expensive with lots of plants. Here are some money saving hacks of mine:
Propagate like crazy.Plants (such as, pothos) root readily in water. With some patience one plant can turn into ten.
Go to local plant swaps or Facebook marketplace. I have been able to get some amazing plants at a fraction of the cost it is in shops.
DIY your planters.Thrift stores are full of one of a kind containers. Just drill a drain hole, and you are good to go.
Making It All Come Together
What is the key to a professional styled plant? Begin with a small idea, and develop little by little. Do not attempt to overhaul all your bedroom in a single night. Choose a single plant or two and learn how to care about it, and only then add others.
Focus on the manner in which the plants transform your finding a place. Do they make you happy on the morning? Do they make you sleep well at night? That is so the test of effective bedroom plant styling.
Keep in mind that there is no golden rule in this case. The bedroom is to indicate who you are and how you lead your life. It could be that your style is maximalist and you think that chaos of plants is most beautiful, or your style could be minimalist and one beautiful statement plant is more than enough. The two ideas can appear utterly stunning.
What matters the most?: Buy plants you are willing to take care about. And of course, at the end of the day, the best bedroom plants are alive and thriving, not those that appeared good in Instagram picture of another person.
Now go on and grow your plant utopia. Your bedroom (and snapchat story) will thank you for it.