How to Choose a Plant for Every Room in Your House
A little bit of greenery can transform a space—and breathe new life into a room. It’s one of the easiest ways to update your house without having to spend a fortune on new furniture or overpriced décor accents. But not all houseplants are created the same—and that means they all won’t thrive in any old place. To choose a plant for a specific spot in your home, you’ll want to keep two things in mind: plant care and your home’s décor aesthetic. Certain houseplants have different needs when it comes to sun exposure and humidity levels, so you won’t want to put a plant that needs full sun in a windowless bathroom, or an air plant in your sun-drenched living room, when it prefers indirect light. Additionally, you don’t want a plant to stick out like a sore thumb and ruin a whole room’s décor style. A cactus in a serene bedroom? Doesn’t quite say peace and tranquility. Fortunately, there are more than enough houseplant varieties to suit any kind of dwelling and design style. Christopher Satch, The Sill’s in-house plant expert, shares his plant picks for every room in your home—from your living room to your child’s bedroom. And for those who lack a green thumb, Satch also gave us his best maintenance tips so you won’t end up with sad, dead greenery. There’s good news for those who go out of town a lot or just don’t have the time to look after something daily: most of these plant recommendations are low-maintenance and require only weekly or monthly watering.
Living Room
Make a statement in a space that gets a lot of foot traffic. “The living room is your respite from the outside, as well as your cozy collaboration space with friends and family,” Satch says. “Show off your elegant side with a bird of paradise or rubber tree plant. Or, show off your colorful and fun side with philodendrons, begonias, or cacti and succulents.” Choose plants based on what kind of sun exposure your living room gets. For general reference, there are four kinds of exposure: bright, direct light (full sun); bright, indirect light (partial shade); medium, indirect light; and low, indirect light.
Recommended plants and care tips:
Bird of Paradise: bright light to full sun; water weekly, increasing watering intervals with increased light
Rubber tree: low light to full sun; water weekly, increasing intervals with increased light
Philodendron: bright to low, indirect light; water weekly
Begonia: low light to full sun
Cacti or succulents: bright light; water monthly, or whenever it starts to shrivel
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Kitchen
“The kitchen is a source of water and, although it’s not as humid as the bathroom, it’s more humid than the rest of the house,” he says. “Counter space is also limited, so hanging things will be optimal.” Another good option: Potted herbs on your windowsill, which are both decorative and useful (just grab a couple of sprigs to sprinkle onto dishes).
Recommended plants and care tips:
Ferns: moderate to low, indirect light; weekly waterings; high humidity
Air plants: bright to moderate, indirect light; daily spritzing; high humidity
Herbs: full sun; regular watering when dry (usually every few days)
Trailing pothos: bright to low, indirect light; water weekly
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Dining Room
For the dining room, Satch suggests the same lineup of plants you’d choose to display in the living room—that’s because both rooms are places where family and friends congregate. Mix things up: If you chose a rubber tree in the living room, try a begonia in the dining room. Either way, make the space feel special by selecting greenery that’s eye-catching and ready to impress.
Recommended plants and care tips:
Bird of Paradise: bright light to full sun; water weekly, increasing intervals with increased light
Rubber tree: low light to full sun; water weekly, increasing intervals with increased light
Philodendron: bright to low, indirect light; water weekly
Begonia: low light to full sun, but prefers bright light; water weekly increasing intervals with increased light
Cacti or succulents: bright light; water monthly, or whenever it starts to shrivel
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Bedroom
Your bedroom is meant to be a restful sanctuary, so add a bit of greenery to create a peaceful atmosphere. “Plants have been shown to boost moods, decrease stress and anxiety, and filter toxins,” Satch says. For the bedroom, he recommended varieties that can improve indoor air quality. But don’t go overboard with your selections—an uncluttered space is a calmer space. One or two plants, max, will suffice.
Recommended plants and care tips:
Snake plant: bright to low, indirect light; water monthly
Rubber tree: low light to full sun; water weekly, increasing intervals with increased light
Spider plant: moderate, indirect light; water weekly
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Bathroom
The bathroom is a spot in your house that has a distinctly different temperature and environment than any other room. Go with tropical plants for this space, since the environment in the bathroom is similar to what these varieties are used to: low light levels, high humidity, and warm temperature. “Think of the environment that the space itself provides as a helping hand to keep your houseplants healthy and happy,” Satch says.
Recommended plants and care tips:
Ferns: moderate to low, indirect light; weekly watering; high humidity
Air plants: bright to moderate, indirect light; daily spritzing; high humidity
Pothos or philodendrons: moderate, indirect light; water weekly; regular humidity
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Kid’s Room
“It’s never to early to show the kids about the wonders of nature,” Satch says. “Having a plant in the bedroom can spark creativity and teach responsibility. Colorful, responsive plants will be key in this mission.” Just make sure the plants are kid-friendly—you wouldn’t want to place a spiky cactus in the room, so opt for a succulent instead.
Recommended plants and care tips:
Begonia or Fittonia: low light to full sun, but prefers bright light; water weekly, increasing watering intervals with increased light
Neon pothos: bright to low, indirect light; water weekly
Succulents: bright light; water monthly, or whenever it starts to shrivel
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Home Office
Pick a plant you wouldn’t mind staring at when you’re searching for inspiration or creativity. Plus, if you believe in certain superstitions, Marimo moss balls and jade plants are thought to bring good luck. Satch recommends Marimo moss balls (they’re not moss, but a spherical form of algae) for rooms that get low to medium light; and a jade plant or begonia for a home office with medium to high light.
Recommended plants and care tips:
Begonia or Fittonia: low light to full sun, but prefers bright light; water weekly, increasing intervals with increased light
Marimo moss: low to medium light; it doesn’t require much maintenance other than a swirl every other day, and a change of water every week
Jade plant: bright light; water monthly, or whenever it starts to shrivel
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Front Porch
Make a good first impression—Satch recommends begonia, mint, basil, chamomile, or ferns. Mint and basil give off an inviting scent, while begonia and chamomile have beautiful flowers that provide a warm welcome. “If you have a place to hang plants that’s shaded, always hang ferns—they love the shade and a moist atmosphere,” he says. “Otherwise, in the sun, hang basil, mint, begonias, or chamomile, and don’t forget to water daily in the summertime heat.” Sunny locations can dry plants out, so check the soil regularly—keep in mind that hanging baskets dry out faster than pots do. And watch out for outdoor pests, too.
Recommended plants and care tips:
Begonia: low light to full sun, but prefers bright light; water weekly, increasing intervals with increased light
Mint, basil, chamomile: bright light; when the temperature is greater than 78 degrees, water daily; on cooler days less than 68 degrees, water once a week; water every other day otherwise; deadhead the chamomile
Ferns: moderate to low, indirect light; weekly watering; high humidity