Bedroom botanicals: the best and worst plants for quality sleep

Plants bring life, oxygen, and calmness to our spaces. However, not all of them are suitable for the bedroom. Certain types absorb oxygen at night, which can negatively impact our sleep.

Plants with spreading leaves absorb oxygen at night, potentially depleting it in the room. Furthermore, ones that are significantly fragrant or pollen-producing like some orchids and lilies, can cause headaches and respiratory irritation which can disrupt comfortable sleep.

Plants that are poisonous should never be kept in the bedroom. The list to avoid includes roses, lilies, hyacinths, hydrangeas, arums, stapelia, oleanders, daphnes, araliaceae, dieffenbachia, hoya plants, dracaenas, and cyclamens.

For the bedroom, small plants that don't absorb much oxygen are the best. Examples of these are cacti, ferns, spathiphyllums, and aloe vera. These plants will not only add charm to your interior but will also foster a restful night.

What else can we do to enhance the quality of our sleep, apart from selecting the appropriate plants?

Primarily, it's essential to create a comfortable sleeping environment. This includes a dark and cool bedroom, along with comfortable pillows and mattress. Blue-light-emitting devices and liquids that could necessitate middle-of-the-night bathroom trips should be avoided before sleep. Moreover, maintaining a balanced diet (i.e. avoiding food right before sleep) and regular physical activity are crucial as well.

Good sleep is incredibly important for our overall well-being and health. It aids in regeneration, fortifies our immune system, secures our mental health and helps us concentrate. It even helps regulate appetite and maintain stable blood pressure.

Moreover, maintaining regular sleeping schedules and patterns plays a central role in keeping our body's homeostasis. Disruptions in these patterns can lead to weakening an immune system and metabolic issues.