Some people consider their bedroom a sanctuary. It’s where you wish to be at the end of a long and tiring day. Here, you can bond with your favorite people or pets. Or you can sneak in some quiet time amid a chaotic schedule.
But what if your bedroom isn’t as livable as you think? VOCs (volatile organic chemicals) may be present in your sleeping space in the form of SVOCs, usually found in carpets, floors, and even mattresses. The things you use to clean the area, like laundry detergents and window cleaners, can also release volatiles.
Getting rid of these items is a good place to start. But if you want to detoxify your room daily and boost your sleep, throwing in a few bedroom plants sounds like a plan. Not only do they help make the room more breathable, but they also aid in rest. For a start, here’s a list of plants that help you sleep better.
Table of Contents
Benefits of Having Plants in Your Bedroom
Add Life to Any Space
Placing a potted houseplant on your desk can instantly make it more alive, such is the effect of green things. In a row of inanimate objects, they can bring a striking, breathing contrast. Households are creating indoor gardens with these beauties nowadays. If anything, these leafy displays are decorative objects in themselves.
Purify the Air
Plants absorb the carbon dioxide we exhale and release oxygen during the day because of photosynthesis. But those with air-purifying qualities can catch more than CO2. They also trap toxins coming from some of your bedroom staples. Without those harmful chemicals, such as benzene and formaldehyde, you breathe fresher, cleaner air in your room.
Reduce Stress
Plant parenting has become a trend nowadays. There’s a good reason for that. People take care of plants as if it’s their offspring, carving some time to water the plants or put them out under sunlight. In turn, this habit helps lower their stress levels. Maybe it’s because the activity shifts their focus from a stressor onto their green babies.
Plants that Help You Sleep
1. Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera is a multi-functional plant. It’s been grown and used for treating minor burns, sunburns, and cuts. Did you know that it’s also a constipation buster? Maybe you’re familiar with its gel version, which is a common moisturizer choice. Having this houseplant means you can DIY skincare products if you’re into that kind of stuff.
On top of these, aloe vera is an air purifier. Put it in a terracotta plant, water it once every two weeks (or when the soil looks parched), and expose it to sunlight often. If you have cats or dogs, make sure to keep this plant away from them.
2. Bamboo Palm
It’s “go big or go home” with the bamboo palm. It’s not your typical desktop plant as it is a relatively tall plant. It can reach two height ranges: 3 to 8 feet and 8 to 20 feet. The first kind is ideal for indoor use. Highly tolerant of shade, it only needs a spot near the window where it can catch some sunlight.
Bamboo palm is a low-maintenance, air-purifying plant with a tropical vibe. It loves moist soil and will love you back by giving you clean air and removing bad odors in your bedroom.
3. Chamomile
Isn’t chamomile the one you drink at night? If you’re referring to the tea, yes, you’re partly right. But this plant is not only meant for making teas and drinking. You may also have encountered it in the form of essential oils. This herb can help you relax and release stress. When you ingest or smell its aroma, you’ll be able to fall asleep fast.
If you want to make your own oil, you can grow this plant in your bedroom. When it blooms, it can give off that sleep-inducing scent it’s famous for.
4. Chinese Evergreen
Wake up to a fresh environment each morning with Chinese Evergreen by your bedside. This plant purifies indoor air by absorbing harmful chemicals. It may be functional, but it’s also a sight to see with its gorgeous foliage. Aside from its health benefits, you can keep this in your sleeping area to match the theme.
If you’re a busybody, you can rest assured that this plant will bloom with minimal care. It’s not a needy plant, making it a perfect beginner plant. You can usually find this in the tropical and subtropical regions.
5. English Ivy
Have you ever imagined yourself inhaling airborne fecal matter and airborne mold? It may sound gross, but this scenario is likely when your bathroom is attached to your bedroom. And bacteria can travel through the air, so it’s basically a likely scenario if you live in a house. Don’t worry because English Ivy can eliminate most of these particles and pollutants.
English Ivy is also reported to reduce asthma or allergy symptoms. You may know that asthma and allergies can prevent sufferers from getting a good night’s sleep. Thus, sleeping near a pot of English Ivy can aid in improving sleep quality.
This plant looks the coolest when its leaves are trailing from a hanging basket or the like. But keep it out of reach of children and pets.
6. Golden Pothos
Here’s another sleep-inducing plant. Golden Pothos is all leaves, no flowers. But the trailing leaves you get once it’s thriving is something of an attraction in itself. And it gives you clean air when you drift off and also when you wake up.
The Golden Pothos is not going to ask for a lot of attention. It just needs its small, daily dose of sunlight, and a once-a-week watering session. But as much as it purifies air for you, it can be toxic for pets and kids. So watch out for those low-lying leaves.
7. Lavender
Lavender is a favorite ingredient in scents, essential oils, lotions, and such stuff. But maybe, only a few people know that you can use the plant itself to enhance your sleep. So why not go for the more cost-effective and organic route? All you’ll need are some lavender seeds, a terracotta pot, and a potting mix. If you don’t want to start from scratch, you can get a grown one instead.
If you catch a whiff of this fragrant plant, you’ll be able to sleep deeply and awaken feeling refreshed the next morning. The scent can also reduce stress and anxiety.
Read: How to Sleep Well in the Age of Stress
8. Passionflower
Passiflora, another name for the passionflower, has been used to treat wounds, boils, and liver problems. When ingested, usually through pills, it can help relieve anxiety, restlessness, and insomnia. But the plant itself can provide the same results. It releases a scent that can calm the nerves, improving your mood during the day, and your ability to fall asleep at night.
Passionflower also has an interesting origin story for its name. Spanish explorers named it after the Passion of the Christ as the plant resembles a crucifix.
9. Peace Lily
Benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene are some of the toxins that some bedroom items may release. The eye-catching Peace Lily is out to remove these chemicals from the air you breathe. It even bumps up the humidity level by up to 5%. This particular flower plant is the real deal when you want to lower your airborne causes for allergies and other conditions that make you sleepless.
In return, the Peace Lily just asks for watering once a week and a spot in the shade. However, it can pose a danger to pets and children. So keep it in a child-and-pet-safe zone.
10. Snake Plant
At night, the Snake Plant absorbs CO2 while releasing oxygen. So this houseplant is basically cleaning the air you’re breathing before and as you drift off to dreamland. It’s also out to bust this trio of toxins: formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, and benzene. So your indoor air quality is taken up a notch here.
The Snake Plant is a tough, easy-to-care-for choice. Even rookies can get this plant to thrive. It’s like one of those candidates in Survivor who keeps thriving. With this beautiful houseplant, you can start decorating with one or two plants in your bedroom to spruce it up.
11. Spider Plant
Formaldehyde is a toxin that can cause cancer. So removing it from the air that you breathe is a welcome activity. The spider plant is one of the capable bedroom plants in this regard. It can also reduce carbon monoxide, benzene, xylene, and toluene. At the same time, it increases oxygen levels indoors.
There’s more to love about this plant. It’s beginner-friendly, child-friendly, and pet-friendly. It would be easy to tell a spider plant apart because of its leaves that look like spider legs. No wonder it’s named like that.
12. Valerian
Valerian flowers bloom during the summer months, boasting of their white or pink flowers. Valerian blossoms have a sweet scent. They have been used as an ingredient in perfumes since the 1500s. Meanwhile, Valerian root has been made into a tea to induce sleep. Based on recent research, this may have a positive impact on people with insomnia.
Smelling the scent of Valerian can be enough to put you to sleep. So why not add this plant to your indoor garden? To keep you cool and relaxed in the hotter months, pluck some Valerian petals and throw them into your bathwater. This technique can help you doze off immediately.
Also Read:
Does Warm Milk Help You Sleep?
Does Marijuana Help You Sleep?
Is Sleeping Naked Good for You?
Conclusion
You can combine these plants or get one type to experiment on for a few months. Start with beginner-friendly ones, as most of the plants we mentioned here.
Lastly, having plants is just one of the things you can do to achieve a green bedroom. You must also ensure your mattress, bed sheets, pillows, and other accessories are free from harmful chemicals and VOCs. Keep the space well-ventilated. And remove any distractions in the bedroom.
Read: 7 Ways to Fall Asleep Fast [Best Sleep Guide]
After reading about the 12 houseplants on our list, which one will you get, and why? Is there any plant you swear by that we missed? Please mail us!