Breathe Easier, Sleep Better
We spend about a third of our lives in our bedrooms, yet the air quality in this sacred space is often overlooked. Indoor air can be filled with common household toxins like formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene, which are off-gassed from furniture, paints, and cleaning products. While an air purifier can help, nature has its own beautiful and effective solution: air-purifying plants.
These plants not only enhance your bedroom decor but also work around the clock to filter out harmful pollutants, creating a healthier environment for restorative sleep. Here are ten of the best indoor plants for clean air, chosen for their purifying abilities and ease of care.
1. Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata)
- Why it's #1: The Snake Plant is the undisputed champion of bedroom plants. Unlike most plants, it performs photosynthesis at night, converting carbon dioxide into oxygen while you sleep. It's also incredibly effective at filtering out formaldehyde, xylene, and benzene.
- Care: Nearly indestructible. It thrives on neglect, tolerates low light, and requires infrequent watering.
2. Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)
- Why it's great: Elegant and effective, the Peace Lily is a powerhouse known for removing all three major toxins: formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene. It can also help combat ammonia.
- Care: Prefers medium, indirect light and consistently moist soil. It will droop dramatically when it needs water, making it easy to care for. Note: Mildly toxic to pets if ingested.
3. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
- Why it's great: This prolific plant is a champ at removing formaldehyde and xylene. It's incredibly easy to propagate—the "spiderettes" that dangle from the mother plant can be repotted to create new plants.
- Care: Very forgiving. Prefers bright, indirect light but tolerates lower light conditions. Water when the top inch of soil is dry.
4. Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
- Why it's great: Often called "cubicle plant" because it's so hardy, Pothos is excellent at tackling formaldehyde. Its beautiful, trailing vines look stunning on a high shelf or in a hanging basket.
- Care: Thrives in a variety of light conditions and is quite drought-tolerant. Water when the soil is dry. Note: Toxic to pets if ingested.
5. English Ivy (Hedera helix)
- Why it's great: According to NASA's Clean Air Study, English Ivy is particularly effective at filtering out airborne fecal particles and formaldehyde.
- Care: Prefers brighter, indirect light. It's a vigorous grower that looks beautiful trailing from a hanging pot.
6. Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica)
- Why it's great: With its large, dramatic, dark green leaves, the Rubber Plant is not only a stylish statement piece but also an excellent remover of formaldehyde.
- Care: Prefers medium to bright, indirect light. Water when the top of the soil is dry.
7. Aloe Vera
- Why it's great: Like the Snake Plant, Aloe Vera releases oxygen at night, making it another perfect plant for the bedroom. It's also great at filtering formaldehyde. Plus, the gel inside its leaves has wonderful skin-soothing properties.
- Care: Loves bright, indirect light (like a sunny windowsill) and requires very little water.
8. Dracaena (Dracaena marginata)
- Why it's great: The tall, spiky foliage of the Dracaena adds a dramatic architectural element to a room while filtering out benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene.
- Care: Tolerates low light but does best in medium, indirect light.
9. Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)
- Why it's great: This classic, lush fern is a natural humidifier and is among the most efficient plants at removing formaldehyde.
- Care: This one is a bit needier. It requires high humidity and consistently moist soil, so it's a great choice for a bathroom or a bedroom with a humidifier.
10. ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)
- Why it's great: The ZZ Plant is another nearly indestructible plant that is great at removing toxins like xylene and benzene. Its waxy, dark green leaves are beautiful and require almost no effort.
- Care: Thrives in low light and is extremely drought-tolerant. It's the perfect plant for a forgetful owner.
By adding just a few of these green companions to your bedroom, you can easily and affordably improve your indoor air quality and create a healthier, more beautiful space to rest and recharge.