11 Plants That'll Keep Your Bedroom Clean And Calm

Sleep tight. Don't let the snake plants bite.

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This week at Goodful, we're talking sleep — why it matters, how to get more, and ways to make it better. You can find more Slumber Party posts here.

Considering plants can purify your air and help you feel calm, they make pretty great roommates, y'all.

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To get a truly gorgeous night's sleep, you need a relaxing bedroom to unwind in first — and houseplants are experts in relaxation. There's plenty of science behind the calming properties of plants and their ability to activate serotonin, a neurotransmitter sometimes referred to as the "happy chemical." And keeping a few plants in your line of vision is proven to enhance your mood and ease your stress, so placing a couple on your dresser, nightstand, or windowsill can really soothe you before bedtime.

Not to mention, they can remove toxins from the air in your bedroom and increase humidity. Less harmful chemicals and more oxygen means you'll breathe easier overnight. Plus, when the air is too dry, it can cause sore throats, colds, and skin breakouts, so that extra humidity from your plants will nip any of those potential problems in the bud (get it?). Plants might not be able to boost the quantity of your sleep, but they can certainly boost the quality.

Here are some of the best plants to share a room with:

1. Snake plant

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Even though the snake plant's nickname is mother-in-law's tongue, it isn't shady or spiteful. In fact, it's actually famously easy to take care of because it only needs water every two to three weeks and can tolerate low light. Best of all, it releases oxygen at night, and will rid your bedroom of toxins like benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, and xylene.

2. Pothos

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Just as easy to care for as the snake plant, pothos is an ideal bedroom companion for anyone who's a lil' neglectful of their plants. You only have to water it weekly and it can handle basically any light, including fluorescent (though, if you're worried about your quality of sleep, you might want to chill on the fluorescent light, which can make things worse). Plus, it filters out toxins including carbon monoxide and formaldehyde.

3. Aloe vera

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Aloe is another plant that releases lots of oxygen at night because of a lil' process called crassulacean acid metabolism, which basically means the pores in its leaves open at night to exchange gas, instead of during the day. That's great news for your respiratory system — as is the fact that this guy removes formaldehyde from your air.

4. Gardenia

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Keeping a gardenia in your bedroom requires a bit more work than some of the other plants on this list, as it needs bright sun and its leaves and petals are delicate (spray them with water if they're looking droopy), but considering researchers have compared this plant's calming fragrance to valium, it might be worth the extra effort. Seriously, the ability of these flowers to reduce anxiety and promote sleep (it's been shown to decrease the number of times you wake up during the night) is pretty freakin' effective.

5. Rubber plant

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If the deep green color of the rubber plant's thick and glossy leaves doesn't transport you to a tranquil forest, I'm not sure what will. This handsome plant doesn't require anything more than a weekly watering and anything from indirect to direct sunlight. It's also highly effective at removing carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene from air.

6. Pineapple plant

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According to NASA, which has done extensive research on air-purifying plants, the pineapple plant is a pro when it comes to producing oxygen and improving air quality at night, and can help reduce snoring. So, yes, your partner will think you're just putting a stylish plant in your bedroom, when really it's a snore silencer. Oh, and if you're wondering, it takes at least two years for the top of this plant to produce a tiny pineapple, and then another six months for it to mature.

7. Philodendron

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Say goodbye to formaldehyde in your bedroom if you decided to adopt a philodendron, and say hello to a gorgeous plant whose adorable heart-shaped leaves can cascade down from your ceiling. It's also low-maintenance: Weekly waterings and indirect light are all it needs.

8. Bamboo palm

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If cheery, tropical vibes are your style, the bamboo palm should be the cornerstone of your bedroom decor. While it's sittin' pretty in the corner, it's also ridding your space of benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene.

9. Peace lily

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Like its name implies, this plant will bring some more peace to your slumber. Sure, its lovely white flowers will add a calming feel to your bedroom, but more importantly, the peace lily will remove ammonia, benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene from your air so your breathing can go undisturbed while you snooze the night away.

10. Spider plant

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For how little work spider plants require — weekly waterings and indirect light — they'll not only sprout lil' babies, which you can pluck off and propagate in water or soil, but they'll also keep your bedroom formaldehyde-free. How sweet!

11. English ivy

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There's nothing more picturesque than ivy trailing down a wall, so pop this plant in a hanging pot and it'll add some soothing sophistication to your bedroom. All it asks of you is some indirect light and water when the top of its soil feels dry. In return, it'll get rid of benzene, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene in the air, and even help those with allergies or asthma breathe easier at night by helping airway muscles relax. That's a pretty great deal.

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