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Plant for Every Room in Your Home
By Melinda Myers
[February 07, 2026]
Add a bit of greenery to your home’s
décor with a few new plants. Match the plants to your style and the
growing conditions in each room to create the desired results.
Consider the time you have and want to invest in caring for plants
when selecting and placing them throughout your home. If you prefer
to give your plants lots of attention and are attentive to watering,
add a few challenging plants and those that like consistently moist
soil. If you are busy or prefer a more hands-off approach, look for
drought-tolerant plants that thrive with minimal care. Check plant
tags and reliable resources for information on the light, water and
care needed before purchasing your plants. |
Start with one room and once satisfied with the results, move to the
next. Dividing any project into smaller parts will be easier on your
budget and schedule and often results in greater success.
Focus on the room where you spend the most time or feel it needs a
greenery boost. Perhaps it’s your living room, family room or a
reading nook. Use large floor plants to create a focal point,
provide height and balance in the room and brighten bare walls.
Fiddle leaf and weeping figs, rubber plants, dragon tree (Dracaena
marginata), and palms are a few popular plants often sold as indoor
trees. Set them on a plant caddy to protect your floors and make it
easier to move them for cleaning and maintenance. Add some
decorative artificial lights if needed.
Add some welcome color to any room. Neon pothos with its bright
chartreuse leaves, crotons with its multicolored leaves, dracaenas
with striped variegation and Raven ZZ plant with its purple-black
foliage are just a few to consider. Incorporate a few
low-maintenance flowering plants like anthuriums, bromeliads and
moth orchids.
If you spend a lot of time cooking, washing dishes and cleaning up,
your kitchen may be your priority. A windowsill herb garden provides
fresh herbs to include in your favorite recipes. Their fragrance,
when given a pet, makes clean up a bit more tolerable.
Create a sense of calm and promote a good night’s sleep with
greenery. The beauty, oxygen and boost in humidity plants provide is
also beneficial. Consider adding a few trailing plants grown in
hanging baskets or displayed on shelves. The cascading foliage
provides a bit of screening and softens hard surfaces for a cozier
look.
Take advantage of the humidity in the bathroom and enjoy a splash of
greenery when stepping out of the shower or tub. Try some ferns, air
plants, prayer plants and other tropical plants that benefit from
this environment.
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Don’t overlook your home office. Research found looking at and
tending plants can help increase focus and creativity.
Don’t let fungus gnats ruin the calm you are trying to create. They
feed on organic matter in the soil, usually don’t harm your plants,
but are annoying as they flit into your face and gather at the
windows and your computer screen. Manage them with naturally
occurring soil bacteria, Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti),
found in Summit® Mosquito Bits® (SummitResponsibleSolutions.com).
The bacteria will kill the fungus gnat larvae in the soil but is
safe for people and pets. Follow the label directions and repeat as
needed.
Evaluate your home’s décor and do a bit of research before you start
shopping. Like any home project, planning can help save time and
increase success.
Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books,
including the Midwest Gardener’s Handbook, 2nd Edition and Small
Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything”
instant video and DVD series and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s
Garden Moment TV & radio program. Myers is a columnist and
contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and was commissioned
by Summit for her expertise to write this article. Myers’ website is www.MelindaMyers.com.
[Photo courtesy of MelindaMyers.com]
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