These Are the 14 Best Houseplants for Your Bedroom

You might already have houseplants adding color and life to the rest of your home, but they can dress up a bedroom, too. Scientific studies have shown that the presence of plants can reduce stress and increase productivity, which can help make your space the perfect environment in which to unwind after a long day. There's a wide selection of plants perfect for bedrooms, including low-maintenance varieties.

Test Garden Tip: Avoid overwatering. More plants die from too much moisture than the other way around. Keep a plastic or ceramic plant saucer below the plant, taking care that no moisture will damage carpet or wood surfaces, but never let your houseplant sit in standing water.

The parlor palm is an ideal bedroom companion because it prefers indirect light and can grow with average home humidity (though it grows best with high humidity). Keep the soil evenly moist but never soggy and soaked. Let the soil go barely dry to the touch, then water thoroughly.

Growing Conditions: Bright, filtered light to low light and evenly moist soil

Size: Up to 8 feet tall

Buy It: Parlor palm ($65, Bloomscape)

The snake plant might have a less-than-attractive common name, but it's a winner in terms of maintenance. Silvery striations cover the green swordlike leaves, making it a perfect plant for a focal point in the corner of a bedroom. A snake plant is technically a succulent and can thrive in low-moisture environments.

Growing Conditions: Bright to low light; let the soil dry out between waterings

Size: Up to 4 feet tall

Buy It: Snake plant ($60, The Sill)

A blooming orchid exudes serenity, making it perfect for a bedroom. The moth orchid is the easiest orchid to grow and named for its petals that resemble the rounded wings of a moth. Because moth orchids originate in tropical regions, they prefer high humidity. The best location is an east- or west-facing window or an open northern exposure with no obstructions. Moth orchids bloom once a year, but you can expect them to stay in bloom for many weeks or even months before the blooms fall off the flower spike. Place the orchid in a saucer or cachepot to keep any excess moisture from damaging furniture or flooring.

Growing Conditions: Medium to low light; orchids planted in bark need watering less frequently than those in moss, so always feel the growing medium before watering

Size: Up to 3 feet tall

Buy It: Moth orchid in grower pot ($21, The Home Depot)

Pothos is one of the easiest, most foolproof plants for bedrooms. The thick leaves store water, and its vining nature makes it easy to clip to keep at the size you like. Grow it in almost any light condition, and keep the soil on the dry side. Pothos grows with light yellow or white variegation, but if you prefer leaves of a solid color, select its cousin, heartleaf philodendron, an equally easy-care houseguest.

Growing Conditions: Low to bright light; let the soil dry out slightly between waterings

Size: Up to 8 feet long

Buy It: Silver pothos ($35, Bloomscape)

Easy to care for and easy on the eyes, dracaenas grow long, slender, strappy leaves that curve attractively from a central stem. Leaves are variegated in an assortment of colors, including pink, red, yellow, and cream, and hold the color even in low-light situations. One variety is even called a corn plant because of its resemblance to maize. Dracaenas grow best in bright, indirect light. Just keep dracaenas away from pets and children; they're toxic if chewed.

Growing Conditions: Bright to medium light; water when the surface of the soil is dry to the touch

Size: Up to 10 feet tall

Buy It: Dracaena marginata ($195, Bloomscape)

If you want a plant that performs like (and even resembles) an artificial one, check out the ZZ plant. Dark green, shiny leaves grow across each stalk. It gets its common name from the initials of its botanical name, Zamioculcas zamiifolia. Because it grows with an underground storage unit, the ZZ plant can store water and go long periods of time without watering. Add a ZZ plant to a container that complements your decor.

Growing Conditions: Bright to low light; let the soil dry out between waterings

Size: Up to 3 feet tall

Buy It: ZZ plant ($57, The Sill)

Who needs dresser drawer sachets when you have a houseplant with a wonderful aroma? Relatives of the ordinary household geranium, the scented geranium flowers less frequently but makes up for it with its leaf fragrance, which comes in an astounding variety of scents: apricot, rose, nutmeg, cinnamon, lemon, mint, pineapple, ginger, lime, coconut, chocolate, and more. Remove any faded flowers or leaves as you notice them. Pinching stems creates a bushier plant.

Growing Conditions: Bright, direct light; let the soil dry out between waterings

Size: Up to 2 feet tall

Buy It: Peppermint scented geranium ($9, Etsy)

The only thing you need to do to keep this old-fashioned plant's leaves shiny is to carefully dust them every now and then. A rubber tree makes an attractive statement in a bright- to medium-light alcove or corner of the bedroom, growing larger and fuller with the years. Keep it in check by pruning, but avoid contact with the milky sap that gives this plant its common name as it can irritate skin.

Growing Conditions: Bright to medium light; allow the soil to dry out between waterings

Size: Up to 8 feet tall

Buy It: Burgundy rubber tree ($150, Bloomscape)

For a serene bedroom setting, choose a peace lily. This easy-to-grow gem lends a tropical feel to the room and is a good choice for gardeners inclined to overwater plants as it can take wetter soil than most. Glossy green pointed leaves grow with little care. Groom by removing any browned leaves or leaf tips. Depending on the size of your plant, you can grow it as a floor plant or on a tabletop.

Growing Conditions: Bright to low light; keep the soil evenly moist

Size: Up to 4 feet tall

Buy It: Costa Farms peace lily plant ($46, The Home Depot)

Almost as easy to grow as a pothos and twice as exciting in its leaf variegation, arrowhead vine flourishes in a variety of light conditions. The dark green leaves are marked with white along the veins; some varieties show more white coloration. You can use it in a hanging basket, train it up a moss pole, or keep it clipped to the shape you like it. In a bedroom, let the soft-looking leaves trail down the side of a shelf, dresser, or armoire.

Growing Conditions: Medium to low light; keep the soil evenly moist

Size: Up to 3 feet tall

Buy It: Arrowhead plant ($4, Etsy)

The cast-iron plant almost thrives on neglect. If you want greenery without having to think about it much, this is the plant for you. Its long, elegant green leaves are pretty enough for a bedroom but suitable wherever you put it. Cast-iron lives up to its name by being tough, drought-tolerant, and tells you (when the leaves droop) if it's finally had enough neglect. The manageable size means you can set it on top of a dresser or place it on a pedestal for more prominence.

Growing Conditions: Low light; keep evenly moist in spring and summer (during active growth), and barely moist in fall and winter

Size: Up to 2 feet tall

Buy It: Cast iron plant ($32, Wilson Bros Gardens)

The shiny leaves of the fiddle leaf fig are shaped like small violins. This tropical tree provides height and a substantial presence in a large room. Keep it pruned to the size you want or it might take over! Luckily, pruning is as easy as clipping crossing branches and fertilizing to make the repair process easier. Dusting the glossy leaves is about the only other maintenance it needs other than watering.

Growing Conditions: Bright to low light; allow the soil to dry out slightly between waterings

Size: Up to 12 feet tall in containers

Buy It: Fiddle leaf fig ($195, Bloomscape)

Lavender is a common stress-relief scent and will help lull you into a deeper sleep. Although lavender is typically an outdoor plant, you can grow it inside if you have a spot with plenty of sunlight. Just make sure it's in a large enough pot; the roots should have plenty of space and shouldn't be circling around the inside of the pot. And don't let it get too soggy.

Growing Conditions: Bright light; allow the soil to dry out slightly between waterings

Size: Up to 2 feet tall, depending on variety

Buy It: Lavender plant ($10, The Home Depot)

You'll often find jasmine in beauty products and fragrance diffusers since the scent is sweet and relaxing. The blooms open at night, making this plant the perfect one to fall asleep with. Jasmine plants are known to be long-lasting in the home, and add a pop of crisp white color.

Growing Conditions: Medium light; keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy

Size: Up to 2 feet tall

Buy It: 'Belle of India' jasmine ($16, Etsy)