The 9 Easiest House Plants To Take Care Of (That We Use All The Time)
When it comes to your home, one of the simplest ways to bring your space to life is with plants. (They’re definitely our go-to when it comes to design projects.) And even if you don’t have the greenest of thumbs, there are still lots of options to add some nature to your nest.
Whether you have a slightly sunny studio, a loft with low light, or a totally bright bungalow, there is a house plant that will work for your space (even if your track record of keeping plants alive isn’t so great).
Having plants around your home isn’t just about them looking good- they’re also good for you. They produce oxygen, help clean the air, and can improve your mood, health, and well-being. They look great and are helpful, so what’s not to love?
We’ve rounded up 9 of our favorite options that are not only easy to take care of but will also look great in your space. (We should know- we use these plants all the time in our design projects.) And most importantly, we’re also letting you know how to take care of them too.
If you’d like even more ideas of how to bring more of the outside indoors, check out our post on How to Bring Nature into Your Space.
Photo: The Sill
FIDDLE LEAF FIG
Why we like it
It’s been a staple of interior designers for years, and can work with just about any interior style. It also comes in lots of sizes to fit different spaces, from table top to a 10 foot tree.
How to take care of it
Fiddle leafs will thrive with a good amount of light, so placing in front of a window that gets plenty of sunlight is your best bet. The soil should be consistently moist, so be sure to water regularly, but it also needs to have good drainage to prevent root rot. Also, it’s a good idea to rotate your plant every few months to keep it growing straight- fiddle leafs will grow towards the light source.
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Photo: Pistils Nursery
Staghorn Fern
Why we like it
Unlike most plants, a staghorn is an epiphytic plant, meaning that it grows on other plants in the wild. That’s why staghorns are typically hung or even mounted to a piece of wood and attached to a wall, making them a very unique addition to a space.
How to take care of it
Bright or medium indirect light is best (no direct bright sunlight). Water every 1-2 weeks with a fine mister and cover the entire plant and leaves.
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Photo: The Sill
SNAKE PLANT
Why we like it
Also known as sanseveria or mother-in-law’s tongue, this plant’s long, sword-like leaves have a real sculptural quality. It’s great for adding height to a room, or filling corners, and is especially good at purifying the air.
How to take care of it
A snake plant can handle bright, medium or low light and requires water only every 2-3 weeks. If you’ve killed every plant you’ve owned, this is the one for you. It’s nearly indestructible.
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Photo: Spruce
Audrey Ficus
Why we like it
It has a very minimalist aesthetic, with simple, deep green leaves on light branches, and looks great in modern and more contemporary spaces. It can also be trained to grow in a straight, vertical line or as a wider, more full tree.
How to take care of it
An Audrey needs bright, indirect light. Allow the soil to full dry out between waterings, and be careful not to overwater.
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Photo: Bloomscape
Rubber Tree
Why we like it
It’s leaves come in a variation of colors from a rich, dark green to cream and pink tones and have a waxy finish. It looks elegant and sculptural, whether as a small plant on a tabletop or a large tree.
How to take care of it
Will thrive with bright, indirect light or partial shade. Keep the soil moist, and be sure to wipe down the leaves on occasion.
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Photo: Greenery Unlimited
Schefflera
Why we like it
The schefflera comes in many varations, but all have long vertical stems with groupings of leaves on the end. (It’s sometime called the umbrella plant for that reason.) We like it’s simple, but interesting shape for use in lots of different rooms.
How to take care of it
Indirect light is best, and let the soil completely dry out between waterings, then fully soak. You also may want to prune from time to time to ensure healthy growing.
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Photo: Introspecs
Asparagus Fern
Why we like it
Light and delicate, the wispy leaves of this plant make it a nice contrast to furniture and spaces that have hard lines. It’s also a perfect pairing for a bright bathroom.
How to take care of it
The asparagus fern is another virtually indestructible plant- it just needs some sun or partial sun and regular watering to stay healthy and happy. Also, mist with water daily if growing in a dry climate.
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Photo: The Sill
Peperomia
Why we like it
Also called the pancake or U.F.O. plant for its leaf shape, the peperomia comes in a number of varieties. We find it works particularly well on bookshelf where its leaves are able to trail down.
How to take care of it
It will thrive in bright light, but medium light will work also. Keep soil on the drier side, as over watering can be detrimental.
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Photo: Torrey Fox
Photo: Succulent City
Photo: Fractal Flora
AIR PLANT
Why we like it
With no soil required, an air plant can be placed just about anywhere you’d like to add some life. They come in all shapes and sizes, from long tendrils to spiky spheres, and can create some great visual interest on bookshelves and coffee tables.
How to take care of it
Water once a week by completely submerging the plant in room temperature water for 5-10 minutes and then letting it drip dry in the sink. Bright light is best, but if you’re lacking that, you can also use artificial fluorescent lighting to keep your air plant happy.
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FAUX PLANTS
No green thumb? We get it! While we’ve tried to share our easiest plant options, we realize that some of us just don’t have a knack for keeping those beautiful plants alive. So if your track record with plants isn’t the greatest, check out our picks for faux plants that will give you all the greenery (with none of the responsibility). We even included a few flowers and branches as well. No more excuses!
Love seeing these! Any chance we’ll be seeing a pet friendly version?
Air plants, peperomia and staghorn ferns are all pet friendly! -B
I’ll definitely look into it myself, but in the future, would so love a little tag on these that are pet-friendly, thanks!
I’ll keep that in mind for future posts, thanks. You can also check out this easy guide for reference. Thanks! xx -B
I love your website, and this is a great article. However, it really needs a good copyeditor. I stopped reading it in the middle because I was so annoyed by the mistakes (e.g., missing commas, incorrect use of apostrophes). I would be happy to copyedit it for you (for free). It’s such a professional website in every other sense.
I agree with Ms. Feinstein regarding your need for a copyeditor. In fact, I sent a note a few months ago saying I would be glad to offer my services for free, but received no response. I hope you will take Ms. Feinstein up on her offer.
Other than that, I also agree with her that your articles are good and your suggestions are helpful and creative. Each of us has a gift to offer.
Thanks, Bobby, for letting us share.
Thank you for your concern. We’ve circled back and edited this article, and have an editor on staff handling copyediting as well. Glad you are enjoying the site and appreciate your comment. xx -B