We put them in front of the French window, on the windowsill, near the radiator and on the shelves. And in the bedroom? Can plants in the bedroom fit or do they hurt? We promised you last date, when we investigated which ones were best interior plants, to colour our home green: today we try to answer the spin-off question, the one concerning the placement – yes or no – of plants in the bedroom. The starting point admits of no argument: plants, wherever they are, are choreographic and warm the environment; But can plants in the bedroom be bad for our health?
YES TO PLANTS IN THE BEDROOM, NASA SAYS SO
Legend has it that plants in the room where you sleep can be harmful to your health because of the carbon dioxide they emit at night. It is true, but there is a but: plants at night consume oxygen and produce carbon dioxide, but if we think about the amount of CO₂ emitted by a few plants in the bedroom, this one is very small. In fact, it is not capable of harming the health of those who sleep next to it. This is proven by numerous studies, as well as a recent discovery by NASA. The civil government agency responsible for the US space programme and aerospace research, in fact, carried out research into how to improve the air inside space stations. According to this study, even the air in our homes contains certain harmful elements (present in the home due to air pollution or detergents used for cleaning household surfaces and room scenting) that can be neutralised by up to 85% through the presence of certain types of plants;
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RECOMMENDED PLANTS FOR THE BEDROOM
According to NASA, the benefits of having plants in the bedroom far outweigh any ‘damage’. There are, in fact, plants with the power to clean the air, absorbing harmful substances and releasing oxygen. In practice, natural air purifiers. Let’s take a look at some examples together;
- The Areca: it is the first to be mentioned among the plants suitable for placement in the bedroom. It filters benzene, trichloroethylene and formaldehyde, especially if placed near painted furniture. It is also ideal in case of frequent colds as it releases enough moisture into the air to help breathing;
- The Aloe Vera has the power to release oxygen overnight and absorb benzene and formaldehyde. It is easy to care for and requires no special attention. Beware, however, of dogs and cats because this plant is toxic to them;
- The Ivy effectively eliminates mould, trichloroethylene, formaldehyde, benzene and carbon monoxide. Ivy is also toxic to dogs and cats: best placed on a shelf (also ideal from a decorative point of view);
- The Gerbera eliminates trichloroethylene, benzene and formaldehyde. They are not toxic to either dogs or cats, so go for gerberas even if you have a furry friend in the house;
- The Sanseveria emanates oxygen throughout the night; filters out formaldehyde, trichloroethylene and benzene; also absorbs electrosmog produced by mobile phones and computers; is easy to grow; its bright green leaves are beautiful. Beware: the leaves are toxic to dogs and cats;
Better to avoid, however, overly perfumed plants: they may disturb sleep, cause migraine or nausea upon waking. As a general rule, however, plants should always be placed near the window or door, leaving it at least ajar to facilitate air exchange;
As is often the case, the best option lies somewhere in between: plants in the bedroom are good for you if they are in a quantity proportionate to the size of the room. We cannot fail to mention the relaxing power of plants. Firstly because of the colour – green encourages rest – and secondly because contact – however minimal – with nature always improves the mood.
