agriculture

Best Indoor Plants for the Living Room

Best Indoor Plants for the Living Room

Plants add a piece of nature, a pop of color, and a sculptural accent to a room that you spend a lot of time in—your living room. There are plants, including great-looking fake plants, in different sizes, shapes, and colors. From aesthetically pleasing plants to ones that would fit nicely in a corner or on a small table or trailing ones that would look stunning hanging from a window, these are the best indoor plants for the living room.

  • 01of 18

    Dieffenbachia

    dumb cane plant
    The Spruce / Krystal Slagle

    Dieffenbachia has gorgeous variegated leaves that look silver in the middle. This plant has a sap that can drip from its leaves and is toxic if ingested so keep it in a place that won’t harm pets or children.1

    • Name: Dieffenbachia (Dieffenbachia seguine)
    • Light: Medium light, avoid direct light
    • Water: Water when the top 2 inches of soil feel dry
    • Mature Size: 10 feet tall and 3 feet wide
  • 02of 18

    Snake Plant

    frontal shot of a snake plant in a pot
    The Spruce / Alonda Baird

    This popular houseplant is super easy to care for and comes in a number of different varieties. They vary in color but most snake plants have green-banded or striped leaves with a yellow or cream border.

    • Name: Snake Plant (Dracaena spp.)
    • Light: Full sun to shade
    • Water: Water when the soil is fully dry
    • Mature Size: 3 feet tall
  • 03of 18

    Bird of Paradise

    bird of paradise
    Artur Debat / Getty Images

    Add some color to your space with a flowering plant. The bird of paradise has pretty orange blooms. However, most plants will not bloom until they’re around six years old so make sure you’re purchasing a mature one if that’s your goal.

    • Name: Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia nicolai)
    • Light: Bright, indirect light
    • Water: Keep soil moist but not soggy
    • Mature Size: 6 feet tall and 4 feet wide
  • 04of 18

    Kentia Palm

    kentia palm in a home
    The Spruce / Kara Riley

    Kentia palms were basically the original living room plant, and you could once find one in nearly every Victorian parlor during the late 1800s. It’s a slow grower but treat it well and it’ll look amazing in a corner of your room.

    • Name: Kentia Palm (Howea forsteriana)
    • Light: Bright, indirect light
    • Water: Water when the top 2 inches of soil are dry
    • Mature Size: 10 feet tall
    Continue to 5 of 18 below
  • 05of 18

    Corn Plant

    Dracaena fragrans by a window
    The Spruce / Cara Cormack

    If you’re looking to add some tropical vibes to your home, a corn plant is a great way to do that. The thick green leaves and sturdy trunk will look amazing in a corner of your home. It’s mildly toxic to pets and people if ingested.2

    • Name: Corn Plant (Dracaena fragrans)
    • Light: Bright, indirect light to partial shade
    • Water: Allow soil to dry out completely before watering
    • Mature Size: 4 feet tall
  • 06of 18

    Cast Iron Plant

    A cast iron plant in a terracotta pt sitting on top of a record player
    The Spruce / Kara Riley

    This is one of those nearly unkillable plants. It will still survive if you don’t remember to water it and if you need to place it in a dark corner—perfect for anyone without a green thumb.

    • Name: Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra)
    • Light: Partial to full shade
    • Water: Allow soil to dry out completely between waterings
    • Mature Size: 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide
  • 07of 18

    Monstera Deliciosa

    Monstera deliciosa in a woven basket on an apartment floor
    The Spruce / Letí­cia Almeida

    One of the more popular houseplants, the monstera deliciosa looks incredible and can grow really fast if it’s treated well. If you don’t want it overtaking your space, trim it back and then propagate the cuttings. The monstera is toxic to pets if eaten.3

    • Name: Monstera deliciosa (Monstera deliciosa)
    • Light: Bright, indirect light
    • Water: Water when the top 2 inches of soil are dry
    • Mature Size: 8 feet tall and 8 feet wide
  • 08of 18

    Marble Queen Pothos

    Marble queen pothos plant with light green variegated leaves
    The Spruce / Phoebe Cheongï

    If you’re looking for a nearly unkillable plant that would look beautiful trailing down from a shelf or mantle, the marble queen pothos is it. It has very pretty variegated leaves and doesn’t need that much care to survive. This plant is toxic to pets if ingested.4

    • Name: Marble Queen Pothos (Epipremnum pinnatum ‘Marble Queen’)
    • Light: Bright, indirect light to partial shade
    • Water: Water when the top 2 inches of soil are dry
    • Mature Size: 10 feet long
    Continue to 9 of 18 below
  • 09of 18

    Chinese Money Plant

    Chinese money plant on a shelf in a white pot alongside other plants
    The Spruce / Krystal Slagle

    This is the ultimate housewarming plant so don’t be surprised if someone gives you one if you’ve just moved into your home. This is a popular plant for the living room and is said to be lucky.

    • Name: Chinese Money Plant (Pilea peperomioides)
    • Light: Bright, indirect light
    • Water: Water when the soil is dry to the touch
    • Mature Size: 1 foot tall and 1 foot wide
  • 10of 18

    Fiddle-Leaf Fig

    Fiddle leaf fig plant
    The Spruce / Letícia Almeida

    The large leaves of this stunning plant will definitely make an impact in your living room. Keep it near a window and watch as it grows. Don’t worry if it drops a few leaves when you first get it, this is totally normal. This plant is toxic to cats and dogs if ingested.5

    • Name: Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata)
    • Light: Bright, indirect light.
    • Water: Water when the top 2 inches of soil are dry
    • Mature Size: 10 feet tall
  • 11of 18

    ZZ Plant

    zanzibar gem plant
    The Spruce / Anastasiia Tretiak

    Another one that will be okay if you forget to give it a drink—the ZZ plant has rhizomes that actually store water. It’s a tough plant and a slow grower that would look beautiful on a corner table in your living room. It’s toxic to pets and humans if ingested.6

    • Name: ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)
    • Light: Partial shade to bright, indirect light
    • Water: Let soil dry out completely between waterings
    • Mature Size:  4 feet tall and 4 feet wide
  • 12of 18

    Swiss Cheese Plant

    monstera swiss cheese plant
    The Spruce / Cara Cormack

    These fun plants are relatives of the monstera deliciosa. They also have leaves with holes in them which allows for light to shine through to the lower ones. It’s a gorgeous plant that would look just as good trailing as it would wrapped around a moss pole. The swiss cheese plant is mildly toxic to pets if ingested.7

    • Name: Swiss Cheese Plant (Monstera adansonii)
    • Light: Partial shade to bright, indirect light
    • Water: Water when top 2 inches of soil are dry
    • Mature Size: 8 feet long
    Continue to 13 of 18 below
  • 13of 18

    Satin Pothos

    Satin pothos with spotted leaves in white pot on stacked books
    The Spruce / Leticia Almeida

    Another popular trailing plant, the satin pothos will look best hanging from a basket in a window. The silver spots along the leaves are really spectacular when they catch the light. They are toxic if ingested.8

    • Name: Satin Pothos (Scindapsus pictus)
    • Light: Can manage in low light but does best in bright, indirect light.
    • Water: Drought tolerant, water when the top 2 inches of soil are dry.
    • Mature Size: Vines can grow up to 8 feet long.
  • 14of 18

    Red Chinese Evergreen

    red Chinese evergreen
    Dafid Saputra / Getty Images

    If you love color, the red chinese evergreen is a great plant for your living room. The plant’s leaves are variegated and the color of the foliage will be brighter when it gets more light. They are toxic to pets if ingested.9

    • Name: Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema)
    • Light: Will do well in indirect light but color will be brighter when it gets a lot of light.
    • Water: Water when the top 2 inches of soil are dry.
    • Mature Size: 2 feet tall.
  • 15of 18

    Hoya Carnosa

    hoya
    Pino Panarese / Getty Images

    Hoyas are beautiful plants that produce tropical flowers that grow in an interesting ball shape. Hoyas can be trained to vine or can just be allowed to trail as it naturally would over the pot its planted in.

    • Name: Hoya Carnosa (Hoya carnosa)
    • Light: Can tolerate bright, indirect light to partial shade.
    • Water: Keep soil moist, not soggy.
    • Mature Size: Vines can grow to 4 feet long.
  • 16of 18

    Triostar Stromanthe

    plant
     The Spruce / Anastasiia Tretiak

    Another colorful option, this plant will look best when it gets lots of light. The pinks, purples, whites, and green will be richer when it’s placed in bright, indirect sun.

    • Name: Triostar Stromanthe (Stromanthe sanguine)
    • Light: Part sun
    • Water: Keep the soil moist, not soggy.
    • Mature Size: 2-3 ft.
    Continue to 17 of 18 below
  • 17of 18

    String of Nickels

    String of nickels succulent with bright green stems and round leaves in white pot
    The Spruce / Adrienne Legault

    Add this whimsical plant to a mantle or shelf and the string of nickels will cascade down. It’s a delicate plant that would look great in your living room.

    • Name: String of Nickels (Dischidia inummularia)
    • Light: Partial shade to medium light.
    • Water: Let the soil dry out between waterings.
    • Mature Size: Vines can grow to 18 inches long.
  • 18of 18

    Elephant Ear

    elephant ear
    Issarawat Tattong / Getty Image

    If you really want to make a statement, get your hands on an elephant ear plant. They come in a number of different varieties and are very striking. Elephant Ears are toxic to pets and humans when ingested.1011

    • Name: Elephant Ear (Alocasia spp.)
    • Light: Bright light.
    • Water: Keep soil moist, not soggy.
    • Mature Size: 6 feet tall and 6 feet wide.

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