A bedroom is where you want calm, not chores. The best plants for it are the easy, forgiving ones — greenery that softens the room and lifts the mood without demanding attention or a bright window (bedrooms often being on the dimmer, cooler side). And if you share your bed with a cat or dog, pet safety moves to the top of the list. Here are the best bedroom picks, sorted by what matters, plus an honest look at the "plants purify your air while you sleep" claim.

#First, two myths to put to bed

"Plants release CO₂ at night and are unsafe to sleep with." This old worry is unfounded. Yes, plants respire and release a little carbon dioxide in the dark — but the amount is tiny, far less than you or a pet exhales all night. A bedroom full of plants is completely safe.

"Bedroom plants purify the air while you sleep." This one is mostly wishful thinking. The famous claim traces to a NASA study done in small sealed chambers, not real rooms. In an actual ventilated bedroom, you'd need an impractically large jungle to measurably clean the air. So enjoy bedroom plants for how they look and feel — genuinely calming and pleasant — rather than as air purifiers. That's reason enough.

#Best easy, low-light bedroom plants

Bedrooms are often dimmer and less fussed-over than other rooms, so lean toward tough, low-light, low-water plants:

  • Snake plant. The classic bedroom plant — upright, striking, thrives on neglect and low light, and needs watering only occasionally. See snake plant care. (Toxic to pets.)
  • ZZ plant. Glossy, sculptural, shade-tolerant, and near-indestructible. See ZZ plant care. (Toxic to pets.)
  • Pothos. Forgiving trailing vine that softens a shelf or hangs beautifully, tolerating low light. See pothos care. (Toxic to pets.)
  • Peace lily. Adds elegant white blooms and copes with lower light — a calming presence. See peace lily care. (Toxic to pets.)
  • Heartleaf philodendron. Easy, trailing, low-light-tolerant. (Toxic to pets.)

These are ideal if you don't have pets that chew plants. If you do, read on.

#Best pet-safe bedroom plants

Sharing the room with a cat or dog? Choose from these non-toxic options so a curious nibble is harmless:

  • Spider plant. Easy, pet-safe, tolerant of low-to-medium light, and it makes free baby plants. A top all-round choice. See spider plant care.
  • Calathea / Maranta (prayer plants). Beautiful patterned, pet-safe foliage; they want humidity and indirect light. See calathea care.
  • Parlour palm. A soft, elegant, pet-safe palm that tolerates lower light — great for a tropical touch.
  • True ferns (Boston, bird's nest). Non-toxic and lush; they like humidity, so pair well with a humidifier.
  • Peperomia. Compact, easy, pet-safe, and available in many leaf shapes and colours — perfect for a nightstand.
Toxicity note: "toxic" for most common houseplants means chewing causes mouth irritation, drooling, and vomiting — unpleasant but rarely life-threatening. Still, the safest approach with a determined chewer is to choose non-toxic plants or keep plants genuinely out of reach, and to contact a vet if your pet ingests a toxic plant.

#Styling a restful bedroom

The bedroom is a place for calm, so resist the urge to fill every surface. A few well-placed plants do more for the mood than a crowded jungle:

  • Keep it uncluttered. One statement plant in a corner, a trailing plant on a dresser, and a small plant on the nightstand is plenty.
  • Soften hard edges — a trailing pothos over a wardrobe or headboard adds a gentle, restful line.
  • Choose calm shapes — soft, arching foliage (ferns, palms, spider plants) feels more soothing than spiky, architectural plants for a sleeping space.
  • Mind the light and habits. Bedrooms are often dim and less frequently tended, so the easy, low-light, low-water plants above are the realistic winners.

For the broader principles, see decorating with houseplants.

#The bottom line

The best bedroom plants are the easy, calming, forgiving ones — and, if you have pets, the non-toxic ones. Reach for a snake plant or ZZ if it's a pet-free room you rarely fuss over, or a spider plant, calathea, or parlour palm if a curious cat or dog shares the space. Don't count on them to purify the air while you sleep — but do enjoy the genuine calm that a little well-chosen greenery brings to the room where you rest.

Frequently asked questions

Is it safe to have plants in the bedroom?
Yes. The old worry that plants release dangerous amounts of carbon dioxide at night is unfounded — the amount is tiny, far less than a sleeping person or pet exhales. Plants in the bedroom are perfectly safe and can make the space feel calmer.
Do bedroom plants really purify the air?
Only modestly. The famous NASA study was done in sealed lab chambers; in a real, ventilated bedroom you'd need an impractical number of plants to measurably clean the air. Enjoy plants for how they look and feel, not as air purifiers.
What is the best low-maintenance plant for a bedroom?
Snake plants and ZZ plants are ideal — they tolerate low light, need infrequent watering, and thrive on neglect, making them perfect for a bedroom you don't want to fuss over. Pothos is another easy, forgiving choice.
What bedroom plants are safe for cats and dogs?
Spider plants, calatheas and prayer plants, parlour palms, and many true ferns are non-toxic and safe for pets. Avoid pothos, snake plants, ZZ plants, and peace lilies in reach of pets, as these are toxic if chewed.
bedroom plantspet safelow lightair purifyingsnake plant