Finding it hard to nod off because of your room’s stuffy disposition? Is stress and anxiety causing sleepless nights of tossing, turning and turbulence? Or do you simply fancy adding a fresh flourish to your decor? Whatever the reason, if you’re looking to put the magic into ‘where the magic happens’, then look no further than plants. Indeed, they have a whole host of healing properties, from purifying the air, to promoting emotional wellbeing, and simply looking great, too.
Wait, we know what you’re thinking. Don’t be put off by that silly old wives’ tale that you shouldn’t have plants in your bedroom; it’s nonsense. The amount of carbon dioxide plants give off at night through photosynthesis is negligible. If anything, they promote better breathing – don’t believe us? Then just ask Nasa.
So with the help of DM Design, a specialist designer of bespoke bedrooms, here’s 4 IDEAL plants to place in your bedroom.
Aloe Vera
As a widely used medicinal plant, you’ll likely have already heard of Aloe Vera. The clear and cool gel of its leaf can be applied to burns, cuts, rashes and areas of sunburn to provide instant relief and speed up the healing process. Soothing indeed, but these restorative qualities extend far beyond skin application.
In addition to the above, Aloe Vera boasts another benefit in that NASA has deemed it one of the best air purifying plants. This is because they release oxygen on a regular basis during the night, not to mention fighting against both benzene (an ingredient of detergents) and formaldehyde (found in varnishes) to ensure a room’s air remains pure.
Because they are susceptible to frost, Aloe Vera plants are best kept indoors in a sunny location. Furthermore, planting them in a spacious pot that contains soil which has been well drained beforehand ensures a longer life.
Areca Palm
The Areca Palm goes by many aliases; the Bamboo Palm, the Golden Cane Palm and the Yellow Butterfly Palm, to name but a few. Whichever name you go for, know that it has also been included as one of NASA’s top air-purifying plants. What’s more, the plant has been said to be great for those who often have colds or sinus problems, due to it regularly releasing moisture into the air.
The plant will need to be in a spot with bright but indirect light. If you do expose it to direct sunlight, its leaves will turn a yellowish-green hue.
Chinese Evergreen
The Chinese Evergreen is a good choice for those looking for an easy-to-maintain houseplant. This is because the plant can grow even in areas of low light — no need to worry about placing it in a dark bedroom, then. The longer your Chinese Evergreen is in place in your bedroom, the greater the amount of toxins it removes.
As well as keeping it away from bright sunlight (which can actually scorch its leaves), the plant should be watered regularly with cool water and fed with plant food once every three to four weeks.
Boston Fern
The ruffled leaves and air-purifying properties of the Boston Fern plant make it both a decorative and functional addition to your bedroom. The plant is very adept at removing formaldehyde from rooms. It is however extremely sensitive to chemicals. Smoke which comes from coal fires and wood burners can also be toxic to the plant, which means that they should be placed away from any spaces susceptible to draughts.
As the leaves of the Boston Fern droop down, place them in an area where their leaves can hang — for example, atop your wardrobe.