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16 of the best plants for your bedroom to help you get a better sleep
Bedroom plants can purify the air, helping you to nod off
When it comes to improving our sleep patterns, we'll try anything. Whether it's the right bedding, a weighted blanket or even the plants for your bedroom you choose. Seriously, adding a little life to your bedroom could be the answer to improving the air quality and help you nod off, which is brilliant news for bedroom plant lovers, we were beyond excited.
A study by NASA has shown that certain plants can purify the air in our homes, while others' scents are known for their relaxing capabilities. Here's what you need to know about the best houseplants for your bedroom, according to the experts over at The Joy Of Plants, who say it could be as simple as introducing a palm or aloe vera into your sleeping space. 7
Plants for bedroom - Kimberly Queen fern
The Kimberly Queen fern is highly effective for the removal of formaldehyde and alcohols, and also has a high transpiration rate which makes it a natural humidifier. It requires a regular schedule of watering and misting, and likes to be in semi-sun.
Plants for bedroom - Dracaena palm
This plant is useful for removing xylene, trichloroethylene, and formaldehyde from the air. When caring for it, try to keep the soil moist but not wet. It can survive in low or medium light, but the leaves will look their best in bright, indirect sun.
Plants for bedroom - Rubber plant
The rubber plant is brilliant for air quality, thanks to the way it converts exhaled carbon dioxide into breathable oxygen, released through its leaves. Keep the soil moist but not drowning and in a bright, indirect spot.
Plants for bedroom - Boston fern
The Boston fern is considered one of the most efficient air purifiers, removing formaldehyde, xylene, toluene, benzene and among others from the air. They prefer indirect light or darker rooms, and they'll need to be misted every day
Plants for bedroom - Air plants (Tillandsia)
Air plants have air cleaning qualities, and are very easy to look after - a weekly water mist should do the trick. They're small and thrive in bright light, perfect for an airy bedroom.
Plants for bedroom - Mother In Law's Tongue
Not only does this glossy-leaf plant emit oxygen through the night while taking in carbon dioxide but it also filters nasty common household toxins, like formaldehyde, trichloroethylene and benzene, from the air says The Joy Of Plants.
Plants for bedroom - Aloe Vera
NASA named Aloe Vera as one of the best plants for air purification in their study, releasing oxygen throughout the night. The bonus is that these plants are also super easy to look after - which means more time for sleeping - and they look beyond cute.
Plants for bedroom - Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema)
These are easy to grow, even under indirect sunlight, meaning they oxygenise the air well at night. Beware, though: the leaves contain calcium oxalate crystals, which is toxic if ingested by humans or animals.
Plants for bedroom - Pothos
Pothos is renowned for being one of the easiest house plants to grow (yay), liking moderate to bright light and preferring to get a little dry between waterings. It's also supposedly good for clearing odours.
Plants for bedroom - Spider plant
The NASA tests showed the spider plant removed around 90% of the potentially cancer-causing chemical formaldehyde from the air, making it one of the best for air purifying. Provide them with well-drained soil and bright, indirect light.
Plants for bedroom - Areca Palm
We know, these palms don't even need to help you sleep for you to want them in your bedroom, which is why their added air purification benefits will make you rush out to the nearest garden centre almost immediately. The Areca Palm is even better if you suffer from regular colds or sinus trouble, according to The Joy Of Plants, as they release moisture into the air which should make it easier to breathe while nodding off.
Plants for bedroom - English Ivy
A study by the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology reported that English Ivy removed 94% of airborne faeces and 78% of airborne mould in just 12 hours. So, if you suffer from allergies, stocking up on some of these beautiful plants could keep your sneezing at bay overnight. Yep, we're buying 10, too.
Plants for bedroom - Gerbera
Gerberas clean up the air in your bedroom so breathing in your sleep is easy - oh and they will brighten up the place, too.
Plants for bedroom - Jasmine
Jasmine will not only make your room smell delightful, but Psychologists at Wheeling Jesuit University found that those exposed to the scent of jasmine also had a better quality of sleep than those who weren't exposed to the flower.
Plants for bedroom - Lavender
Speaking of relaxing scents, they don't come much more calming than lavender, which has been used in aromatherapy as a natural aid to sleep for years.
Plants for bedroom - Peace Lily
The peace lily is a bit of an all-in-one plant both purifying the air by removing toxins and increasing the humidity of the air which could help reduce allergies and ease dry throats or sinus problems, thus helping you to drift off trouble-free.
Dusty Baxter-Wright is an award-winning journalist and the Entertainment and Lifestyle Director at Cosmopolitan, having previously worked at Sugarscape. She was named one of PPA’s 30 Under 30 for her work covering pop culture, careers, interiors and travel, and oversees the site’s Entertainment and Lifestyle strategy across print, digital and video. As a journalist for the best part of a decade, she has interviewed everyone from Louis Theroux and Channing Tatum to Margot Robbie and Ncuti Gatwa, while she has also spoken on Times Radio and BBC Radio. You can find her on Twitter and Instagram here.
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