The Top 5 Plants for Your Living Room

Spring is finally upon us, and there’s no better time than to add a touch of greenery to your new Victoria Riverside apartment.

Bringing the outdoors into your living room can make a huge difference to the overall ambience of your home. Something as simple as introducing a few low-maintenance houseplants to your coffee table or windowsill can add a touch of class and beauty to any room.

There are even proven health benefits to adding plants to your home decor. Plants improve the air quality in any room, adding a little moisture, which in turn can be beneficial for dry skin and may even reduce instances of headaches. There’s even evidence to suggest that plants can improve your mood and reduce stress levels!

There are many popular low-maintenance plants around, but here’s a list of the top 5 plants for your living room, to help you to get started.

1 – Snake Plant

First on our list of the top 5 plants for your living room, is the Snake Plant (also known as ‘Mother-in-Law’s Tongue’ for its resilient nature!)

There are several varieties of this plant, including dwarf varieties like the Sansevieria fischeri which grows to 16 inches, or the Masoniana and Trifasciata types, which can reach up to 4ft

The snake plant is tough, slow-growing, and almost impossible to kill. It has a dramatic appearance, with upright spikes, and striped and twisting sword-like leaves. It makes for a striking decoration on any side table or corner of the living room.

You don’t need to do much to keep the snake plant happy – it can grow in low to moderate light, and only needs to be watered when the soil is dry.

Perhaps best of all, the snake plant has been proven to remove toxins from the air over time, so you know it’s beneficial to your health as well as being a stunning decorative piece.

2 – ZZ Plant

If you’re looking for a houseplant that has a unique look, then look no further than the ZZ Plant, also known as the Ric-Rac Plant.

Its dark, glossy, leaves with undulating edges fit in perfectly on a coffee table or in a discreet corner of your living room.

The ZZ plant is durable, doesn’t need much light, and can survive on little water. In fact, it only needs water in the top few inches of soil and can survive for weeks without watering, though you can boost its vitality with liquid fertilizer once per month in spring and summer.

It doesn’t need regular repotting, can grow up to 3ft, and is very hard to kill.

And as if all that weren’t enough, the ZZ plant is generous with its air purifying capabilities, removing toxins from the atmosphere.

3 – Braided Money Tree

The Money Tree, according to Chinese culture, brings good luck and prosperity to your home.

It has an attractive appearance, with a braided stem and green coin-shaped green leaves which make this one of the most popular living room plants.

The braided money tree only needs medium to bright indirect light and water once per week. Make sure to rotate the plant regularly to guarantee that Vitamin D is reaching every part of the plant.

If you look after it properly, it can grow up to a staggering 8ft tall!

4 – Rubber Plant a.k.a. Ficus Elastica

Another one of the most popular indoor plants is the Rubber Plant.

The rubber plant has large, dark leaves which can contribute to a more sultry look in a living room. They also have some fantastic air-purifying properties, which makes them a great positive addition to your home.

Easy to grow and look after, they just need watering once a week, or when the soil feels dry.

Rubber plants need to be exposed to bright, indirect light, and you might need to clean the leaves if they get a little dusty. Also make sure that you give the plant plenty of space if it’s in tree form, as they can grow up to six feet tall!

One piece of important advice if you have pets or small children – keep rubber plants out of reach, as they are highly toxic when ingested.

5 – Peace Lily

In fifth place on our list of the top 5 plants for your living room is the beautifully named Peace Lily.

Effortlessly chic, the peace lily has shiny tear-shaped leaves and delicate white flowers, and radiates tranquility – hence the name.

They’re a little more temperamental than the other plants on this list, as they need a little more looking after.

They are ok with moderate light conditions, but they prefer bright light. They also need moist soil, and for the soil to dry out between waterings. The plant itself will let you know when it needs watering as the leaves will start to droop.

This plant can reach around 30 inches high, and has air-cleaning properties, removing excess carbon dioxide and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the air.

Keep peace lilies out of reach from pets and small children, as they can cause be toxic if ingested.

Place it in the corner of your living room and you’ll have an elegant decorative piece to last for years.

Bonus Plants:

Although this is a list of the top 5 plants for your living room, we couldn’t finish without mentioning some bonus plants that make great alternative options.

1 – Maranta a.k.a. ‘The Prayer Plant’

The Maranta has pretty pink, white and deep green patterned leaves that curl up, as if in prayer, at night.

It just needs moderate light. Let it dry out a bit between waterings.

2 – Fiddle-Leaf Fig

A favorite on Instagram, this versatile plant serves as the focal point in any room it’s placed. Its large violin-shaped leaves and strong reddish brown branches are some of the most popular in the houseplant world.

Can grow well over 10 feet indoors.

Keep your fiddle-leaf fig in indirect light, and water once every one to two weeks.

3 – Monstera Deliciosa a.k.a ‘Split Leaf’

The monstera deliciosa, once an art-deco must, is now an Instagram staple.

It’s great for colorful, trendy living room spaces.

It just needs bright indirect light and to be watered once a week. It needs space to allow for its glossy leaves to grow outwards, and it can reach up to nine feet.