The plants in your living room will add some nature, color and sculpture to the room. Plants come in all shapes, sizes and colors. These are the best indoor living room plants. They range from those that look good to those that fit in a corner, on a table, or even trailing plants that would look beautiful hanging from a large window.
01
Dieffenbachia
dumb cane plant
The Spruce by Krystal Slagle
Dieffenbachia leaves are beautiful and variegated, with a silvery center. The sap from this plant can drip off its leaves. It is toxic and should not be kept near pets or small children.
Name: Dieffenbachia (Dieffenbachia seguine)
Light: Medium light, avoid direct light
When the soil feels dry, water it.
Mature size: 10 feet tall by 3 feet wide
02
Snake Plant
Frontal shot of a Snake Plant in a Pot
The Spruce by Alonda Baird
This popular houseplant comes in many different varieties and is easy to maintain. The leaves can vary in colour, but the majority of snake plants are green with yellow or cream borders.
Snake Plant (Dracaena species)
Light: From full sun to shade
When the soil is completely dry, water it.
Mature Size: 3 feet tall
03
Bird of Paradise
Artur Debat/Getty Images
Flowering plants can add color to any space. Bird of paradise blooms are orange. Most plants won’t bloom until around six years of age, so be sure to buy a mature plant if you want it to flower.
Name: Bird of Paradise
Bright indirect light
Water: Do not let soil become soggy.
Mature size: 6 feet tall by 4 feet wide
04
Kentia Palm
Kentia palms in the home
The Spruce by Kara Riley
Kentia palms are the original living-room plants. You could find them in almost every Victorian parlor of the late 1800s. Slow growing, but if you treat it right it will look great in a corner.
Name: Kentia Palm (Howea forsteriana)
Light: Bright indirect light
When the soil is dry, water it.
Mature Size: 10 feet tall
05
Corn Plant
Dracaena Fragrans in front of a window
The Spruce by Cara Cormack
A corn plant will add a tropical feel to your home. The sturdy trunk and thick, green leaves will look great in any corner of your house. If ingested, it is mildly toxic for pets and humans.
Name: Corn Plant (Dracaena fragrans)
Light: bright, indirect light to partial shading
Water: Let soil dry completely before watering
Mature Size: 4 feet tall
06
Cast Iron Plant
Cast iron plant with terracotta pot sitting on a record player
The Spruce by Kara Riley
It is almost impossible to kill this plant. This plant will survive even if it is not watered and placed in a dark place.
Cast Iron Plant
Light: partial to full shade
Water: Let soil dry completely between waterings
Mature size: 3 feet tall by 2 feet wide
07
Monstera Deliciosa
A woven basket of Monstera deliciosa on the apartment floor
The Spruce by Leticia Almeida
The monstera deliciosa is one of the most popular houseplants. It looks amazing and grows quickly if you treat it well. Trim it back if you don’t wish it to overtake your space. Then propagate cuttings. If pets eat the monstera, they will be poisoned.
Name: Monstera deliciosa (Monstera deliciosa)
Light: Bright indirect light
When the soil is dry, water it.
Mature size: 8 feet tall by 8 feet wide
08
Marble Queen Pothos
Plant with variegated light green leaves.
The Spruce (Phoebe Cheongi)
The marble queen pothos would be a beautiful plant to trail down from a shelf, mantle or other surface. The marble queen pothos has beautiful variegated foliage and does not require much care. If ingested, this plant can be toxic to pets.
Name: Marble queen Pothos (Epipremnum Pinnatum “Marble Queen”)
Light: bright, indirect light to partial shading
When the soil is dry, water it.
Mature Size: 10 feet long
09
Chinese Money Plant
Chinese money plant in a white pot on a shelf with other plants
The Spruce by Krystal Slagle
Don’t be surprised to receive this plant if you have just moved in. This plant is popular for the living area and is considered lucky.
Name: Chinese Money Plant (Pilea peperomioides)
Light: Bright indirect light
Water: When the soil feels dry to the touch, water it.
Mature size: 1 foot tall by 1 foot wide
10
Fiddle-Leaf Fig
Fiddle leaf fig plant
The Spruce by Leticia Almeida
This stunning plant’s large leaves will make a big impact in your living area. Watch it grow by keeping it near a large window. It’s normal for it to drop a few of its leaves at first. If ingested, this plant is poisonous to cats and canines.
Name: Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata)
Light: Bright indirect light
When the soil is dry, water it.
Mature Size: 10 feet tall
11
ZZ Plant
zanzibar gem plant
The Spruce/ Anastasiia Tretiak
The ZZ plant also doesn’t mind if you don’t give it water. Its rhizomes actually store the liquid. This is a beautiful, slow-growing plant that can be placed on a table corner in your living room. If ingested, it is toxic to humans and pets.
Name: ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)
Light: From partial shade to indirect, bright light
Allow soil to dry completely between waterings
Mature size: 4 feet tall by 4 feet wide
12
Swiss Cheese Plant
monstera swiss cheese plant
The Spruce by Cara Cormack
These plants are related to the Monstera deliciosa. These plants also have holes in their leaves, which allow light to pass through to the lower leaves. This is a beautiful plant that looks great trailing or wrapped around a moss rod. If ingested, the swiss-cheese plant can be mildly toxic for pets.
Name: Swiss Cheese Plant (Monstera adansonii)
Light: From partial shade to indirect, bright light
When top 2 inches soil is dry, water.
Mature Size: 8 feet long
13
Satin Pothos
White pot with Satin Pothos and spotted leaves on stack of books
The Spruce by Leticia Almeida
The satin pothos is another popular trailing plant. It looks best hanging in a basket from a window. Silver spots on the leaves look stunning when they catch light. If ingested, they are toxic.
Name: Satin Pothos (Scindapsus pictus)
Light: Does well in bright indirect light.
Water: Drought-tolerant plants should be watered when the soil’s top 2 inches are dry.
Vines can reach a mature size of up to 8 feet.
14
Red Chinese Evergreen
Dafid Saputra/Getty Images
The red chinese plant is perfect for those who love color. The leaves of this plant are variegated, and their color will brighten when they receive more light. If ingested, they are toxic for pets.
Name: Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema)
Light: Does well in indirect lighting, but the color will be more vibrant when there is a lot of sunlight.
When the soil is dry, water it.
Mature Size: 2 feet tall.
15
Hoya Carnosa
Hoya
Pino Panarese/Getty Images
Hoyas produce beautiful tropical flowers in a ball shape. Hoyas are either trained to grow as a vine or allowed to trail over the pot they’re planted in.
Name: Hoya Carnosa (Hoya carnosa)
Light: Tolerates bright indirect light up to partial shade.
Water: Keep soil moist, not soggy.
Mature Size: Vines grow up to 4 feet in length.
16
Triostar Stromanthe
Plants are a great way to get your daily dose of vitamin D.
The Spruce (Anastasiia Tretiak)
This plant looks best in bright, indirect sunlight. When placed in indirect sunlight, the pinks, lavenders, whites and greens will look richer.
Name: Triostar Stromanthe
Light: Part sun
Keep the soil moist but not soggy.
Mature Size: 2 to 3 ft.
Continue to 17 below.
17
Nickels in a String
String of Nickels succulent in white pot with round leaves and bright green stems.
The Spruce by Adrienne Legault
This whimsical plant will cascade nickels down if you place it on a shelf or mantle. This delicate plant would look beautiful in your living area.
Name: String of Nickels (Dischidia inummularia)
Light: Medium light to partial shade.
Allow the soil to dry between waterings.
Mature size: Vines can reach a length of 18 inches.
18
Elephant ear
Issarawat Tattong/Getty Image
Get your hands on elephant ear plants if you want to really make a statement. Elephant ears come in many different types and are striking. Ingesting Elephant Ears is toxic for pets and humans.
Elephant Ear is also known as: Alocasia spp.
Light: Bright light
Water: Keep soil moist, not soggy.
Mature size: 6 feet tall by 6 feet wide.
