Nicky Roeber is the Online Horticultural Expert at Wyevale Garden Centres. Here, he explains why you should add houseplants to your bedroom, and how you can do it.

Houseplants are becoming increasingly popular, and there are a few reasons for this. For example, more people are buying and renting homes that come with little to no outdoor space, so keeping plants indoors can help to satisfy their gardening bug. Plus, greenery can serve as a design feature — dotting it around your space can go a long way to livening it up and adding colour.

But, one of the biggest reasons why people are bringing more plants into their homes is that they can have some fantastic benefits when it comes to your physical and mental wellbeing. Here, I'm going to talk you through just some of the reasons you should look to introduce houseplants into your bedroom in particular, and the best ways you can do this. Read on to find out more.

What are the benefits of having house plants in your bedroom?

By bringing houseplants into your bedroom in particular, they can help to regulate your moods, promote a healthy sleep pattern, and improve the quality of your sleep.

Anxiety and stress are two of the biggest reasons why you might struggle to fall asleep at night. But, studies have shown that spending time with nature can reduce the effects of these problems and help us to relax. For example, a study conducted by Friends of the Earth Europe found that doctors prescribe fewer anti-depressants in urban areas with more trees, and that access to nature is associated with mental well-being and even lower mortality rates. So, if you want to be able to wind down more easily at night, bring the outside indoors — it could go a long way to relieving any stress or anxiety you typically experience.

Additionally, if your home has poor air quality or mould, this can have a negative impact on how well you sleep each night. Fortunately, there are plant varieties that will do a fantastic job of filtering the air in your bedroom. NASA has even carried out research into which kinds of plants are best for this (more on that later).

What plants will work well in your bedroom?

If you're looking to add greenery to your bedroom for the look and colour, any old houseplant that you're confident you can keep alive will do. But, if you want to take advantage of some of the benefits I've discussed above, like the fact that they can purify the air and help you to relax, you'll need to put some extra thought into choosing the right varieties. Here, I'll talk you through just some of the benefits certain plant species offer so you can choose those that suit your needs best.

Jasmine: Great for lowering anxiety levels, which should lead to better quality sleep

Lavender: Can help you to relax and send you into a deep sleep much quicker

Snake plant: Great for purifying the air, giving you a better night's sleep

Aloe Vera: One of the best air purifying plants, according to NASA

Gardenia: Known for reducing anxiety, and helps to promote high quality sleep

Spider plants: Great for cleaning the air, absorbing odours, and keeping oxygen levels up

Valerian: The scent can help you to drift off to sleep much more quickly

Of course, you can carry out your own research and stray away from this list, but these plants are a great place to start.

How can you pot your plants in a creative and stylish way?

As I've briefly mentioned, plants can work as a design feature, and potting them in a creative or interesting way can go a long way to elevating the look of your bedroom.

You have a number of options when it comes to what kind of planters you're going to put your flowers and shrubs in. If you're pushed for space, keeping things traditional by putting them in individual pots and dotting them around the space is a great option. You can still put your personal stamp on this by picking out pots and planters that fit with your existing colour scheme and reflect your personal taste.

If you would like to do something a bit different, you could even introduce hanging baskets to your bedroom. While you'll traditionally find these outside front doors in suburban areas, they're becoming an increasingly common feature in the homes of people looking to bring the outdoors in. So, if you don't have the surface space for pots, or simply want to liven up your room in a new and interesting way, hanging baskets could offer the perfect solution. Just make sure that you buy those that are designed for indoor use, otherwise you're likely to have some problems with leaks.

I would highly recommend introducing houseplants to your bedroom. There are so many benefits, that you're probably wondering why you haven't done it already. And, now you know which varieties will work best, and how you can make space for them in your room, what are you waiting for?