Le Mie Ricompense
Your bedroom atmosphere is important. Humans spend around 26 years of their life sleeping and even more in their sleep space. In the trials and tribulations of modern life, having a sanctuary where you can relax, rejuvenate and restore has never been more necessary. The way to create this haven? With the help of mother nature, of course.
Stick with us, enjoy our top tips on selecting the best plants to help sleep, and get creating a bedroom jungle that will do good as well as look good.
Why should I have plants for the bedroom?
Indoor plants breathe life, relaxation and character into your space. They also hold a bounty of benefits. Aside from looking and smelling great, bedroom plants help purify the air, speed up healing times, sharpen focus, inspire creativity and even boost your mood.
However, most importantly, bedroom plants can help sleep and reduce stress levels. Two things we all want in our safe space. While all plants hold their own power, some are particularly effective at inducing deep, dreamy sleep. That’s where we come in. Have a read below for our top 10 plants for bedrooms of all types that will help you sleep and relax.
How do bedroom plants help you sleep and relax?
Before we get into our suggestions, let's take a look at the thinking behind using plants to help sleep. Bedroom plants have long been linked to improving sleep, but why?
Firstly, plants purify the air we breathe by taking in carbon dioxide and giving off oxygen. Some plants, such as Gerbera Daisies, Snake Plants and Orchids continue to give out oxygen right through the night. It is thought this extra oxygen helps sleep. Other plants such as Jasmine, Chamomile or Lavender give off a divine sleepy scent that helps induce sleep and lasts all night long.
Moreover, research has found that working with plants can reduce both physiological and psychological stress. Repotting, caring for and spending time with plants can be a great stress-reliever. Horticultural therapy has been found effective in aiding people suffering from depression, anxiety, and other conditions.
We all know that lower stress levels tend to lead to better sleep. That’s why plants for bedrooms are often thought to give you the head start you need for a sound night’s sleep.
What are the best plants to help sleep?
Jasmine Plant
Jasmine Plants are beautiful, delicate plants with small white flowers (and one of the best plants to help sleep on the market!)
Jasmine plants have a soft sleepy scent that research suggests improves sleep and reduces stress levels. Jasmine plants also add a perfect calming visual layer to any room. They look great, smell great and do great. What more could you want?
Jasmine Plants need lots of light so are great plants for bedrooms with lots of windows.
Snake Plant
Snake Plants are striking, gorgeously green and perfect plants to help sleep..
Appearing on NASA’s top 10 air-purifying plants list, Snake plants are great natural air purifiers, making them great plants to help sleep. Unlike most plants, Snake Plants filter air both day and night, perfect for creating the right sleeping environment.
Snake Plants are easy-to-care-for and make great beginner plants for the bedroom. They can also grow in shady or low-light spaces, making them a good plant for bedrooms with little light.
Valerian Plant
Valerian plants are elegant, perfectly floral, and excellent plants to help sleep. Their soft pink and white flowers add a soothing touch to any room.
Valerian plants, like Jasmine plants, have a sweet sleepy scent that research has linked to inducing sleep and increasing sleep quality. One study even found Valerians to have positive effects on people suffering from insomnia. Their delicate pink and white flowers add a soothing touch to any room.
Valerians need around 6 hours of sun each day so are excellent plants for bedrooms that get a lot of sunlight. Think south or south-east facing bedrooms for optimal conditions.
Lavender Plant
Lavender - perhaps one of the most famous natural sleep aids out there - of course, makes our list of the best plants to help sleep.
The smell of lavender is largely recognised for its relaxation powers, with multiple studies linking Lavender to calming the body and reducing anxiety. It is this zen power that makes Lavender plants excellent plants for the bedroom.
Lavender plants like warmth, sunlight and moderate amounts of water, making Lavender a great plant for bedrooms with lots of windows.
Peace Lily
Peace Lily’s are beautiful, elegant, and add a calming presence to any room - making them wonderful plants to help sleep.
Peace Lily’s are impressive air purifiers, also bagging a spot on NASA’s top 10 air-purifying plants list. Shown in NASA’s study to remove benzene from the air and break down formaldehyde and carbon monoxide with their leaves, Peace Lily’s are excellent purifying plants to help sleep.
Peace Lily’s need moderate light and moderate water, making them a versatile plant for bedrooms of many kinds.
Spider Plant
Spider Plants - long, shapely and excellent for growing in hanging pots, make perfect hanging plants for bedrooms.
Spider Plants, just like Snake Plants and Peace Lily’s, are great air purifiers. Spider plants remove toxins and purify the air, again creating an excellent sleep environment.
Spider Plants are uber easy to care for, only need occasional watering and moderate light, making them the perfect beginner plant for the bedroom.
Gardenias
Gardenias. Another flower with a powerful sleepy scent. Perfect for experienced plant parents looking for plants to help sleep.
Gardenia flowers emit a fresh smell that can reduce stress and induce sleep, with one study even finding that Gardenias make you less likely to wake up throughout the night.
Gardenia plants like cool temperatures, moderate humidity, and lots of bright light, making them a great bedroom plant for those who consider themselves to have a green thumb.
Chamomile
The herbal scent of Chamomile is well known for helping people relax and unwind. That’s why Chamomile plants make excellent plants for bedrooms.
We’re sure you’ve heard of chamomile tea, essential oils, candles and probably more. However, fewer people tend to harness the power of Chamomile in its purest form, the Chamomile Plant! Research shows that Chamomile induces sleep and encourages uninterrupted rest.
Chamomile Plants are perfect for pairing up with a lavender plant for the ultimate sleepy duo.
Orchids
Bold, vibrant and heavenly soothing, Orchids make perfect plants to help sleep while giving your bedroom a colourful lift at the exact same time.
Orchids are known to absorb carbon dioxide during the day and release oxygen in the evening. This pattern of oxygen release makes for a perfect sleeping environment to drift off in.
Orchids need moderate light and water, but in general many are very low-maintenance, making them great beginner plants for bedrooms.
Gerbera Daisies -
The final contender on our list is again another powerful plant on NASA’s top 10 air-purifying plants list, Gerbera daisies.
Gerbera daisies, like Snake Plants and Orchids, increase the oxygen in your bedroom at night, helping improve air quality and letting you sleep soundly all night long. This makes Gerbera daisies perfect plants for the bedroom.
Gerbera Daisies need direct sunlight, sandy soil and regular watering until they bloom - again another plant for the green thumbs among us!
How to look after bedroom plants?
The two key ingredients for a flourishing bedroom plant are water and light. Firstly, research the amount of water and light your specific plant needs, then follow our top tips.
Watering: Ensure your plant has proper drainage holes. Feed it with enough water. When watering, do so slowly, make sure the water can drain through completely and only water when the soil is dry to touch!
Top Tip: To ensure you never leave your plant sitting in stagnant water, water your plant over a sink and return to the saucer only after all the water has drained through.
Lighting: If your bedroom plant needs a lot of light to flourish, place it near a window. If you don’t have one artificial light is the second best, but not a complete replacement, A south-facing window gives the best light for sun-loving indoor plants, after that a west-facing window is the best option.
In a nutshell
So there you have it. The benefits of bedroom plants, the thinking behind plants to help sleep, our top 10 plants for your leaf-filled sleep haven. Plus, some handy tips to help keep your bedroom plants thriving.
All that’s left for you to do? Decide what bedroom plant suits you best, stock yourself up and let the restful slumber commence!
