Bedrooms should be peaceful retreats where you can relax and unwind. Adding plants to your bedroom can create a calming ambiance, reduce stress, and improve indoor air quality.
However, not every bedroom gets plenty of natural light, which can make plant care a bit challenging. Fortunately, many plants are well-suited to low-light environments.
In this article, we’ll explore the best low-light bedroom plants, focusing on their care requirements, benefits, and the best ways to incorporate them into your space. Whether you’re looking for something compact for a windowsill or a larger statement plant, this list has you covered.
Benefits of Low-Light Bedroom Plants
Before diving into the list of plants, let’s first look at why you should add low-light plants to your bedroom.
Air Purification
Many indoor plants are natural air purifiers. They remove toxins like formaldehyde, benzene, and xylene from the air, making it healthier to breathe.
In a bedroom, where you spend a significant portion of your time sleeping, clean air is essential for restful sleep and overall well-being. Plants like the Snake Plant, Peace Lily, and Spider Plant are especially effective at cleaning the air.
Improved Sleep Quality
Plants not only purify the air but can also help you sleep better by increasing humidity and releasing oxygen. Higher humidity levels prevent dryness that can irritate your skin, throat, and sinuses while you sleep.
Additionally, the calming presence of plants can reduce stress and anxiety, promoting a sense of peace before bedtime.
Mental Health Boost
Indoor plants can reduce feelings of anxiety and depression. Being around nature, even in the form of indoor greenery, helps lower cortisol levels and improves mood. For those struggling with stress or anxiety, adding plants to your bedroom can create a tranquil environment, which is ideal for mental health.
Aesthetic Appeal
Plants add a natural element of beauty to your decor. Whether it’s the sculptural shape of a ZZ Plant or the cascading leaves of a Pothos, indoor plants can enhance the style of your room. Bedrooms that lack natural light may feel dull or lifeless, and plants are an easy way to breathe life back into these spaces.
The 18 Best Plants for Bedroom Low Light
Now, let’s dive into the main event — the best low-light plants for your bedroom! Each plant on this list is well-suited to bedrooms with minimal light and requires relatively easy care.
1. Snake Plant (Sansevieria)
- Light Requirements: Low to medium indirect light.
- Watering Needs: Water only when the soil is completely dry.
- Growth Habit: Stiff, upright leaves with a striking yellow or white edge.
- Key Benefits: Excellent air purifier; releases oxygen at night.
- Care Tips: Snake plants are incredibly low maintenance and tolerate neglect well. Avoid overwatering, as this plant is susceptible to root rot.
The Snake Plant is one of the best low-light bedroom plants due to its hardy nature and ability to thrive in neglect. It also releases oxygen at night, making it perfect for improving sleep quality.
2. ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas Zamiifolia)
- Light Requirements: Thrives in low to medium light.
- Watering Needs: Water only when the soil is dry.
- Growth Habit: Bushy with glossy, dark green leaves.
- Key Benefits: Highly resilient and drought-tolerant.
- Care Tips: Ideal for low-light environments and requires very little watering. It’s nearly impossible to kill, making it perfect for beginners.
The ZZ Plant is known for its glossy, deep green leaves, which make it a beautiful addition to any bedroom. It can tolerate extremely low light and doesn’t mind being ignored for weeks at a time.
3. Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)
- Light Requirements: Low to medium indirect light.
- Watering Needs: Water when the top inch of soil is dry.
- Growth Habit: Dark green leaves with elegant white blooms.
- Key Benefits: Great for air purification.
- Care Tips: Peace Lilies prefer slightly moist soil, but they can tolerate low light. Misting the leaves will help maintain humidity.
The Peace Lily is a striking plant with white flowers that bloom even in low light. It’s also known for removing toxins from the air, making it an ideal bedroom plant.
4. Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
- Light Requirements: Low to bright indirect light.
- Watering Needs: Water when the top inch of soil is dry.
- Growth Habit: Vining plant with heart-shaped green leaves.
- Key Benefits: Grows well in low light and is easy to propagate.
- Care Tips: Pothos are incredibly easy to grow and can adapt to various lighting conditions, making them great for low-light bedrooms. Regular pruning will encourage fuller growth.
Pothos are versatile plants that thrive in almost any environment. They can be placed on a shelf, in a hanging basket, or trained to grow along a trellis, making them a flexible option for any bedroom.
5. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
- Light Requirements: Low to medium indirect light.
- Watering Needs: Water when the soil is dry to the touch.
- Growth Habit: Long, arching leaves with white stripes.
- Key Benefits: One of the best air-purifying plants.
- Care Tips: Spider plants are easy to care for and propagate readily, making them a great choice for beginners.
Spider Plants are known for their air-purifying abilities and can produce “babies,” or offshoots, which can be easily propagated into new plants. They thrive in indirect light and require very little care.
6. Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior)
- Light Requirements: Tolerates low to very low light.
- Watering Needs: Water when the soil is dry.
- Growth Habit: Broad, dark green leaves that grow upright.
- Key Benefits: Very resilient and low-maintenance.
- Care Tips: Cast Iron Plants are highly tolerant of neglect and can withstand a variety of conditions, making them ideal for darker bedrooms.
The Cast Iron Plant is as tough as its name suggests. It can handle low light, irregular watering, and fluctuating temperatures, making it perfect for low-maintenance plant lovers.
7. Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema)
- Light Requirements: Low to medium indirect light.
- Watering Needs: Water when the top inch of soil dries out.
- Growth Habit: Large, colorful leaves with a variety of patterns.
- Key Benefits: One of the easiest plants to grow in low-light conditions.
- Care Tips: The Chinese Evergreen thrives in humid environments, making it ideal for a bedroom. Regular misting can help keep the leaves looking fresh.
Chinese Evergreen plants are popular because they come in a variety of colors and patterns, from green and silver to red. They’re easy to care for and can handle low-light conditions, making them perfect for dimly lit bedrooms.
8. Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)
- Light Requirements: Prefers indirect light but can tolerate low light.
- Watering Needs: Keep soil consistently moist but not soggy.
- Growth Habit: Dense, arching fronds with feathery leaves.
- Key Benefits: Known for improving air quality by removing toxins.
- Care Tips: Boston Ferns love humidity, so mist them regularly or place them in a bathroom with good airflow.
Boston Ferns add a soft, airy texture to any room with their feathery fronds. They’re relatively low maintenance, but they thrive best when the humidity is kept high, making them a great choice for a bedroom that might need a humidifier.
9. Dracaena (Dracaena spp.)
- Light Requirements: Low to medium indirect light.
- Watering Needs: Water when the top 2 inches of soil are dry.
- Growth Habit: Tall, narrow leaves with colorful stripes.
- Key Benefits: Helps remove toxins like formaldehyde from the air.
- Care Tips: Dracaenas do best in well-draining soil and require minimal care. Avoid overwatering.
Dracaenas come in a variety of forms, from tree-like to bushy. Their striking, striped leaves can add an interesting visual element to your bedroom, and they’re very forgiving plants when it comes to lighting.
10. Heartleaf Philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum)
- Light Requirements: Low to medium indirect light.
- Watering Needs: Water when the top inch of soil is dry.
- Growth Habit: Trailing vines with heart-shaped leaves.
- Key Benefits: Great for beginners; thrives in low light.
- Care Tips: Philodendrons are low-maintenance and can be trained to climb a trellis or allowed to trail from a shelf or hanging basket.
Heartleaf Philodendron is one of the best low-light plants for adding a cascading effect in a bedroom. It can be placed on a high shelf or in a hanging planter, and it will grow long vines of heart-shaped leaves.
11. Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica)
- Light Requirements: Low to medium indirect light.
- Watering Needs: Water when the soil dries out completely.
- Growth Habit: Upright, with large, shiny leaves.
- Key Benefits: Low maintenance and great for air purification.
- Care Tips: Rubber Plants can grow tall, so they work well as a floor plant in low-light corners.
The Rubber Plant is a bold, upright plant with large, glossy leaves. It does well in low light and can grow into a small tree if given the right conditions. It’s a great choice if you’re looking for a statement piece for a bedroom.
12. Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea elegans)
- Light Requirements: Low to medium indirect light.
- Watering Needs: Water when the soil feels dry.
- Growth Habit: Upright, with feathery fronds that spread out.
- Key Benefits: Thrives in low light and adds a tropical feel.
- Care Tips: Parlor Palms prefer a bit of humidity, so misting the leaves occasionally can help.
Parlor Palms are ideal for low-light areas and can add a lush, tropical look to your bedroom. They don’t need a lot of light or water, making them easy to care for.
13. Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum)
- Light Requirements: Prefers indirect low light.
- Watering Needs: Keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy.
- Growth Habit: Delicate, lace-like leaves on thin, wiry stems.
- Key Benefits: Adds a soft, delicate look to any room.
- Care Tips: Maidenhair Ferns love humidity, so mist them frequently or keep them near a humidifier.
The Maidenhair Fern is a beautiful, delicate fern that thrives in low-light, humid environments. It’s perfect for bedrooms but requires a bit more attention to keep the moisture levels just right.
14. Areca Palm (Dypsis lutescens)
- Light Requirements: Low to medium indirect light.
- Watering Needs: Water when the top inch of soil is dry.
- Growth Habit: Tall, bushy, with feathery fronds.
- Key Benefits: Helps humidify the air and adds a tropical flair.
- Care Tips: Areca Palms need consistent moisture but don’t like sitting in water, so ensure good drainage.
The Areca Palm can add a tropical touch to your bedroom. It’s great for low-light rooms and helps increase humidity, making it an ideal plant for a dry bedroom environment.
15. Calathea (Calathea spp.)
- Light Requirements: Low to medium indirect light.
- Watering Needs: Keep soil consistently moist but avoid soggy conditions.
- Growth Habit: Large, colorful leaves with intricate patterns.
- Key Benefits: Non-toxic to pets and striking in appearance.
- Care Tips: Calatheas prefer high humidity and can benefit from occasional misting or a nearby humidifier.
Calatheas are known for their striking, colorful leaves, which can feature intricate patterns and deep colors like purple and green. They thrive in low light and are pet-safe, making them perfect for bedrooms.
16. English Ivy (Hedera helix)
- Light Requirements: Low to bright indirect light.
- Watering Needs: Water when the top inch of soil is dry.
- Growth Habit: Trailing vines with small, delicate leaves.
- Key Benefits: Helps filter toxins from the air.
- Care Tips: English Ivy does well in hanging baskets or as a trailing plant on shelves. It prefers cooler rooms with consistent watering.
English Ivy adds a classic look to any room, especially when allowed to trail down from shelves or hanging planters. It’s great for bedrooms with low light and can add vertical interest to your space.
17. Monstera Deliciosa (Swiss Cheese Plant)
- Light Requirements: Low to medium indirect light.
- Watering Needs: Water when the top two inches of soil are dry.
- Growth Habit: Large, split leaves that can grow quite large.
- Key Benefits: Adds a dramatic, tropical feel to any room.
- Care Tips: Monsteras prefer well-draining soil and do best when the leaves are wiped down regularly to remove dust.
Monstera Deliciosa is a showstopper with its large, perforated leaves. Even though it’s often associated with brighter spaces, it can thrive in low-light conditions and makes a bold statement in any room.
18. Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis miller)
- Light Requirements: Low to bright indirect light.
- Watering Needs: Water sparingly; let the soil dry completely between waterings.
- Growth Habit: Succulent with thick, fleshy leaves that grow in a rosette.
- Key Benefits: Aloe Vera is easy to care for and provides healing gel from its leaves.
- Care Tips: Aloe is drought-tolerant and thrives in low-light bedrooms with minimal watering.
Aloe Vera is a low-maintenance plant that can double as a medicinal plant. It’s perfect for a windowsill in a low-light bedroom and requires very little attention.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Low-Light Bedroom Plants
Not every plant will thrive in a low-light environment, so it’s essential to consider a few key factors when selecting plants for your bedroom.
Light Availability
“Low light” doesn’t mean “no light.” Low-light plants can survive in dim or indirect light, but they still need some exposure to natural or artificial light to carry out photosynthesis.
Rooms with north-facing windows, small windows, or rooms that only get indirect light are ideal for these types of plants. If your bedroom is particularly dark, consider supplementing with grow lights.
Maintenance Level
Some plants require frequent watering, pruning, or repotting, while others are much lower maintenance. It’s important to consider how much time and effort you’re willing to put into plant care. Low-maintenance plants like the ZZ Plant and Snake Plant are perfect for busy people or those new to plant care.
Humidity Needs
Many low-light plants originate from tropical environments, where humidity levels are high. Bedrooms are often more humid than other parts of the house because we release moisture while we sleep.
However, during the winter months, central heating can lower humidity levels, so you may need to mist your plants or use a humidifier to keep them healthy.
Pet-Friendly Options
If you have pets, make sure to choose plants that are safe for them. Some plants, such as the Peace Lily or Snake Plant, are toxic to pets, so be mindful of your plant choices if you have furry friends at home.
Care Practices for Best Indoor Plants for Low Light Bedroom
Proper Placement
Even though these plants can tolerate low light, proper placement can still make a difference in their health. Keep plants near a window that gets indirect sunlight or place them in areas that receive ambient light from the rest of the house. Rotate plants every few weeks to ensure they receive even light exposure on all sides.
Rotating Plants
If you notice your plants leaning towards the light, it’s a good idea to rotate them. This ensures that all sides of the plant get an equal amount of light and prevents them from growing lopsided.
Avoiding Overwatering
Overwatering is one of the most common causes of plant death. Many low-light plants are drought-tolerant and prefer their soil to dry out between waterings. Always check the soil moisture before watering and ensure that your pots have drainage holes to prevent water from pooling at the roots.
Using the Right Soil
Most indoor plants do best in well-draining potting soil. If you’re using pots without drainage holes, place pebbles or gravel at the bottom to prevent water from sitting around the roots.
Dusting the Leaves
Plants in low-light environments often struggle to photosynthesize efficiently. To help them out, make sure to dust their leaves regularly. A buildup of dust can block light from reaching the leaves, making it harder for the plant to produce energy.
Bonus: Styling Tips for Bedroom Plants
Plants can do more than just purify the air — they can also elevate your decor. Here are some tips on how to style plants in your bedroom.
- Plant Stands and Shelves: Use stands or shelves to display plants at different heights. This adds visual interest and allows you to showcase a variety of plants in one corner.
- Hanging Plants: Plants like Pothos and Spider Plants look great in hanging baskets, which also save valuable floor space.
- Grouping Plants: Grouping plants together not only looks aesthetically pleasing but also helps increase humidity levels, which can be beneficial for tropical plants.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Can low-light plants survive in a completely dark room?
No, even low-light plants need some form of light to survive. However, they can do well in rooms with minimal natural light, or you can supplement with artificial light like grow lights.
Q: How often should I water my low-light bedroom plants?
This depends on the plant, but as a general rule, water your plants when the top inch of soil is dry. Overwatering is a common issue, so make sure to let the soil dry out between waterings.
Q: Are low-light plants good for air purification?
Yes, many low-light plants like the Snake Plant, Peace Lily, and Spider Plant are excellent at removing toxins from the air, making them ideal for bedrooms.
Q: What are the best low-light plants that are pet-friendly?
Pet-friendly low-light plants include the Spider Plant, Boston Fern, and Areca Palm. Always check if a plant is toxic to pets before bringing it into your home.
Conclusion
Low-light bedroom plants are the perfect way to bring nature into your space, even if your room doesn’t get much sunlight.
From the hardy Snake Plant to the elegant Peace Lily, there’s a plant for every style and preference. These plants will not only purify the air but also create a peaceful, serene environment to help you unwind and sleep better.
So, why not start with one or two plants from this list and transform your bedroom into a green sanctuary? And if you’re already a plant lover, share this guide with fellow plant enthusiasts and spread the joy of indoor gardening.
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