If you’re looking for something to cheer your bedroom up and make your sleeping space a little bit nicer, a plant seems like a good choice. However, is it good or bad to have plants in the bedroom? And what types of plants are suitable for it?
Plants in the bedroom are good as they are soothing, help purify the air, accompany mindfulness practice, and bring a bit of the outdoors inside. However, it can also be bad because they mess with your feng shui and affect pets.
Many people like to keep plants in the bedroom, and indeed, there are many health benefits. However, if you’re a feng shui fan or have pets (especially cats), keeping plants in the bedroom may well be a bad idea. The following article will explore the pros and cons of keeping plants in your bedroom and will also look at which kinds of plants work well in it, so keep on reading.
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Pros of Plants in the Bedroom
Some of the pros of plants in the bedroom include a soothing feeling, purer air, and more. Many people enjoy having some nature in the bedroom, which links well to popular meditation and mindfulness practices. If you live in the city or an apartment, bringing some outdoors inside feels excellent.
Here are the pros of having plants in the bedroom:
They Are Soothing
Plants have a soothing effect on us, as we associate them with open spaces and nature. You can look at a plant and imagine a gentle breeze on your skin and a trickle of clear water flowing past. Having plants around helps create a nicer space for you to live in. If you’re more relaxed and sleeping better, you’ll feel less stressed and suffer from fewer minor ailments.
They Help Purify the Air
Our homes are usually full of toxins, from central heating to polluted air from industry, local fires, or city living. Plants filter the air for carbon dioxide and absorb some of the unwanted substances from the air. They release oxygen, too, so having a plant or two around is a sure way to clean up the air you’re breathing.
They Are Good Accompaniments to Mindfulness and Meditation
Mindfulness and meditation have become popular ways to manage mental and physical health. People worldwide practice the art of mindfulness, and plants are a great connection to this mindset. Many practitioners use plants to help themselves meditate or practice mindfulness.
There Is a Bit of the Outdoors Inside
If you’re stuck at home a lot or prefer the outdoors, a couple of houseplants will lift your spirits. Bringing a bit of nature indoors can lighten the atmosphere in your home, help you relax and sleep better, and brighten up a dull room. Plants are also great if you can’t have a pet, as you still have something rewarding to look after.
Cons of Plants in the Bedroom
Despite the many benefits of having houseplants in the bedroom, there are certainly some disadvantages too. Many practitioners of feng shui say that plants ruin the feng shui in the bedroom, and plants can also attract bugs, allergens, and other things you don’t want to be sharing a bedroom with.
Here are the cons of having plants in the bedroom:
There Is Extra Work and More Mess
Plants aren’t entirely self-reliant, much as we might like to think they are. They’ll need watering regularly, and you may have to prune or repot some types. You will also need to keep an eye on how much light they’re getting, which could make fitting them into your room more difficult. If you have children or pets, they may spill soil or water or even tear leaves.
They Don’t Work Well With Pets
If you have pets, do your research before bringing any plants home, as many types of flowers, plants, and even vegetables are toxic to animals. In particular, cats are susceptible to poisoning, and lots of common plants, like lilies, are hazardous to pet cats. However, things like catmint are excellent, as your cat will love it, and it can’t harm them.
If you want to combine cats with plant life, I recommend these YINUOWEI Cat Planters from Amazon. They come in a couple of different animal styles, so if cats aren’t your thing, try cows or woodland creatures instead.
It Brings the Outdoors In
One of the biggest disadvantages of having plants indoors is that some of the outdoors comes in with them. Whether this is bugs, ants, unwanted moisture, dead leaves, or spilled soil, having plants indoors can cause you many problems. If you don’t mind the odd bee in the daytime, though, keeping plants in your bedroom comes with lots of benefits.
It Ruins Your Feng Shui
Feng shui practitioners dislike plants in the bedroom as plants encourage upward activity, which is the opposite of sleep. According to feng shui, plants inspire movement, activity, and energy and will ruin your calm, restful sleep space. However, many people find plants soothing, but if you practice feng shui, it’s best to avoid plants in the bedroom.
Which Plants Are Best for the Bedroom?
When you start looking for a houseplant, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by all the choices. To help you narrow it down, I’ve shared some of the common types of plants people keep in their bedrooms, such as spider plants, lavender, and peace lilies. The main thing to remember is to choose something you love.
- Spider Plants: Popular in the 1970s, spider plants have pencil-like striped leaves and can withstand a lot. If you’re looking for a sturdy houseplant that won’t be upset by harsh conditions, I recommend a spider plant. You can even sell or give away baby spider plants by harvesting the leaves to create new plants.
- Lavender: While you’ve probably used lavender in bath products or sleep oils, have you ever considered using it in its live form? Water your lavender plant when it has dry soil, and be mindful not to overwater. Lavender plants need a few hours of direct sunlight every day, so don’t keep it tucked away in a corner, or you’ll risk damaging it.
- Peace Lily: Not advisable if you have a cat, but a beautiful addition to a modern bedroom otherwise. To get the best bloom on your peace lily, it’ll need bright light, but they are surprisingly tolerant and can survive in low light. Divide your peace lily every few years, and only water when the soil is dry.
- Succulents: Succulents are easy to look after and come in a wide range of sizes, shapes, and colors. They will suffer if overwatered, and it’s easier to overwater your succulents than it is to underwater them. If you’re looking for a plant that won’t mind you being away often, a succulent is a good choice. It won’t suffer for your forgetfulness, either!
You may also like: The Pros and Cons of Leaving Windows Open at Night
Final Thoughts
In this article, I looked at the pros and cons of keeping houseplants in your bedroom and offered some suggestions on which types of plants to get. I don’t recommend plants in the bedroom if you follow feng shui, as plants will negatively impact your room.
However, if you’re a mindfulness practitioner or love plants, a houseplant can live in the bedroom as well as any other room in the house. Remember to check for plants that are toxic to pets and any allergies in your household.
