They say it can be hugely beneficial for well-being to bring the outdoors in.
But that doesn’t have to mean bringing the British weather inside too, because there are a whole host of amazing house plants that can help with everything from sleep to air purification in your home.
Whether you’re a tenant, a landlord looking to decorate your rental property and add something different or you’re a homeowner looking to add something fresh to your property, our run down of the best house plants will help.
Types of indoor plants
Common house plants
The most common house plants in the UK, which are found in homes across the country, are the spider plant, aloe vera, peace lily, jade plant and weeping fig.
Flowering plants
Flowering plants can add a real zing and dose of colour to your interior. Some of the best flowering plants include the rose of china, flowering maple, flamingo flower and flaming katy.
Low light plants
If you’re lacking time to care for your indoor plants, a low light option would be best for you. These plants include the corn plant, dragon tree and parlor palm, and are happy in low light conditions and don’t always require regular watering.
Foliage plants
If you like leafy plants rather than flowers, foliage plants will be for you. Like low light options, these are often low maintenance. Great examples include the aluminium plant, cast iron plant and Chinese evergreen.
Cactus plants
Lots of light and plenty of warmth in your home? Then you could opt for a cactus plant. Take a look at the rat’s tail or bunny ears to make a real statement.
Indoor palm plants
Great for conservatories, offices and living rooms, palm plants are usually large leafed and make a real statement. Great examples include the parlor palm and lady palm.
Trailing and climbing plants
Climbers and trailers can look as great indoors as they do outside. Ones to look at include the Swiss cheese plant and heartleaf.
Succulent plants
Succulent plants are often smaller, making them great options for any room that needs a little texture. Try an aloe vera or kaffir lily in your dining room or kitchen.
Ferns
Ferns are great for making the most of large spaces, although care must be taken when growing them. Take a look at the birds nest or Boston fern for great examples.
Best house plants for bathrooms
Bathrooms can be great places to grow stunning indoor plants.
They’re moist and usually warm, which means great growing conditions for some indoor plants.
Try the following plants in your bathroom…
Ferns
Ferns enjoy high levels of humidity, but low levels of light and plenty of shade so bathrooms can be great places to grow them.
Try asparagus or maidenhair in a plant stand on the floor of your bathroom.
Peace lily
These plants can cope with low light levels but look amazing when flowered. Their soil must be kept moist at all times, so bathrooms are great places for them to flourish.
Calathea
Calathea has beautiful leaves and a loves shady places indoors, so bathrooms are ideal havens for them.
Cat friendly house plants
While house plants can really add something unique to your indoor space, there are some that simply aren’t suitable if you have pets.
Many have leaves that, if eaten by pets, can cause major discomfort or worse.
Fortunately, though, there are plenty of house plants that are perfectly safe for animals and still look great.
Here are some of the best cat-friendly indoor plants on the market…
Gloxinia
As well as being safe for cats, Gloxinia is also one of the best-looking house plants available thanks to its gorgeous blooms. It loves indirect light and constant moisture.
Baby tears
A creeper with small green leaves, baby tears works well from indoor baskets. It’s safe for cats and can be used to cover soil in other plants if your pet likes to dig.
African violet
These bloomers flourish in low light so they’re one of the most popular indoor plants in the UK.
Air purifying plants for bedroom
House plants for bedrooms can have amazing benefits.
They can lift a room, making your interior more appealing but also can purify the air in your bedroom, meaning a better night’s sleep.
Here are some of the best house plants for bedrooms…
Pothos
Pothos has stunning green, heart-shaped leaves and its low maintenance requirements are backed up by its ability to remove toxins from the air.
Peace lily
As well as filtering out harmful toxins like benzene and formaldehyde, the peace lily can also help you sleep more soundly, according to studies.
It doesn’t need much light, either, so it’s perfect for the bedroom.
Rubber fig
Not only does a rubber fig look great, but it also helps fight disease as well as remove toxins from the air.
A little maintenance is required by cleaning its leaves, but it’s a robust plant for the bedroom.
Best indoor plants for air purification
So, what is the best indoor plant to clean the air? If you’re looking for great plants to help purify your property, here are five great options…
- Snake Plant
- Spider Plant
- Rubber Tree
- Bird's Nest Fern
- Peace Lily
How often should indoor plants be watered?
This depends on the type of plant, but as a general rule plants that require more sunlight to grow will also need more water to balance that out.
Should you mist your houseplants?
It can be a good idea to mist your houseplants in the mornings, giving them the rest of the day to dry out. Misting can also help prevent some infestations.