7 myths about sleeping near plants

Is sleeping near plants good for us? This question has been hotly debated for some time, so we decided to take a look for ourselves and shed some light on things. Based on our own experience and various studies on the topic, we've outlined our humble opinions below:

1. Do plants belong in the bedroom?

Before you go ahead and fill your bedroom with greenery, remember that plants won’t water themselves. They will also need exposure to natural light so you should carefully consider where you put them. A cactus may be very low maintenance but think twice before putting it near the alarm clock. In fact, probably the only place in the bedroom we’d recommend keeping 100% plant-free is your bedside table, because even your best watering intentions can mean you end up sleeping next to a puddle. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. If you love the soothing effect of a plant beside the bed, try an artificial one!

2. Plants purify the air

Many studies such as this one from NASA claim that plants eliminate air pollution such as smoke, chemicals or bacteria from the room. So, if you’re into the jungle vibe, you can rest assured you’ll be improving the quality of the air you breathe.

3. How about while you sleep?

That’s the big question. But why? During the day, plants photosynthesise and naturally purify the air but at night the effect is reversed – instead of producing oxygen, they emit carbon dioxide. Which is exactly the same as what happens when we breathe.

And that’s the problem. Which is why many people claim that plants “steal” our oxygen at night-time, reducing the quality of the air we breathe while we sleep, and earning plants that harmful label.

So what’s our take on this? We’ve gone as far as to come up with a name for it: plant phobia. Because seen the same way, the logical conclusion would be that sleeping near your pets is also harmful because they breathe in the same way. In fact, small- or medium-sized plants actually produce much less carbon dioxide than a pet or a person.

Obviously, if you have breathing or sleeping problems, we recommend that you check first with a specialist. But in general, we’d say that plants are nothing to lose sleep over. They generally aren’t harmful while we sleep, but don’t go wild either – as they say, everything in moderation!

4. Reducen el estrés

Si te gustan las plantas y cuidar de ellas, habrás notado que tiene un efecto muy positivo a la hora de reducir el estrés. Son una excusa perfecta para olvidarte de tus problemas y centrarte en una actividad entretenida que no requiere muchos quebraderos de cabeza.

Además, estar rodeado de naturaleza siempre es bueno para sentirte conectado con ella.

4. They help reduce stress

If you like plants and are good at caring for them, you may have noticed their stress relieving powers. Indulge yourself in a little lush greenery and you’ll often notice your worries melting away as you focus on pampering your pots.

There really is nothing quite like connecting with nature if you want to unwind.

5. They help reduce damp

As if purifying your air wasn’t enough, they’ll also suck up any damp in the air to keep themselves well hydrated. Most plants are quite effective at doing this, but certain species are expert damp killers, such as succulents and Tillandsia.

6. Their brighten up our homes

We can’t help it... we love to focus on the decorative potential of things and plants are among our favourites. They help add colour, a natural touch and brightness to the room. They even contribute to better acoustics by reducing any echo effect. Benefits all round!

7. The truly important things

Instead of getting lost in internet theories, it’s much more important to focus on basic well-being – a well-ventilated bedroom is essential, whether you choose to add plants or not. And there’s nothing quite like clean sheets, a quality mattress, and an uncluttered space to relax in.

Are you looking for bedroom décor inspiration? Click here to find out more in our blog.