Can Bedroom Plants And Nature Help You Sleep?

Has anyone ever told you that you’ll sleep well after getting lots of fresh air? There’s more to this statement than meets the eye.

Feeling at home and comfortable outdoors is perfectly normal. Spending time in nature is known to lower blood pressure and reduce the secretion of stress hormones, making us feel happier and more relaxed within a few minutes.

This is why getting out of the house and going for a walk feels so good – and it is also why we can feel depressed and claustrophobic indoors.

Bringing nature into your bedroom with plants replicates these positive effects in your home, helping you sleep better and manage stress. The results are so powerful that NASA astronauts grow plants in space!

We also know that spending time outdoors in daylight helps you sleep better by assisting your body in managing its natural sleep cycle (humans have circadian rhythms regulated by hormones affected by light).

Plants and sleep

Sleep disturbance and sleep disorders are associated with depression and anxiety, and greenery in the home is associated with reduced depression and anxiety. This means that plants in the home can help people with depression and anxiety-induced sleep problems sleep better with their calming effects.

Another scientific study looking at active interaction with indoor plants and stress found that people feel more soothed and comfortable working with plants than with computers. This is fantastic news for people working from home, who can interact with indoor plants to lower their stress levels and keep their motivation high.

This systematic review of greenspace exposure and sleep concludes that green space exposure is associated with improved sleep quality and quantity, indicating a positive relationship between greenery and sleep.

The bottom line - stress and anxiety are vital drivers behind sleep disturbances, and plants are known to reduce stress. It makes sense to try indoor plants as a solution for improving sleep quality, especially in bedrooms and living spaces.

Nature and sleep

Spending time outdoors has fantastic effects on our mental health, helping us feel happier, think clearer, and deal with racing thoughts.

Something as simple as a 30-minute walk daily can make you feel happier, giving you a change of scenery from the walls of your home.

Natural light is also known to positively affect seasonal affective disorder (SAD), where people feel unhappy in winter or grey, miserable weather. The human body uses sunlight to help regulate sleep, mood, and appetite, and lower light levels can disrupt our internal body clock, making it harder to fall asleep.

However, it isn’t just natural light that has positive effects on mental health and sleep quality – studies show that natural sounds like whale songs, tweeting birds, wind, rain, and ocean waves also have positive effects.

How to use plants for better sleep at home

Interact with one plant every day

Put one plant in every room of your house and water each plant on different days, so you interact with at least one plant per day.

Interacting with houseplants is the key to seeing therapeutic effects – it isn’t enough to see them and know they are there.

Use bonsai trees for deep therapy

Bonsai trees like the Chinese Elm and Ginseng Ficus require regular pruning of the shoots to ensure they grow in the intended shape.

It’s gratifying seeing bonsai trees change with the care and attention you put into them; they are straightforward to manage.

Fill low-light spaces with low-light plants

Many people think dark spaces are unsuitable for houseplants, but plenty of plants thrive in low light, like the Spider Plant and Lucky Bamboo.

Of course, no light will kill any plant, but low-light plants survive with only indirect light – sunlight that reflects off surfaces like walls.

Related pages

• How to sleep better with anxiety
• The 5 Big Benefits Of Getting More Sleep.