Written by
Carmen
A student room only really feels like home with a bit of greenery. Plants don’t just make your space feel inviting, they also help you unwind and concentrate better between lectures, part-time work and exams. Whether your room barely stretches to twelve square metres or you’ve got a spacious attic room, these 5 plants are always a good idea.
Top 5 plants for your student room
Plants have a proven positive effect on your wellbeing and productivity. They reduce stress, encourage creativity and soften background noise. No idea where to start? These 5 plants are tough, forgiving and can even survive a hectic exam week when all you have time for is taking notes.
1
Snake Plant
The ultimate student plant. Snake Plant (Sansevieria) can survive a missed watering, a dark corner and almost anything else you throw at it. Just what you need when looking after plants isn’t your main priority.
2
ZZ Plant
Another virtually indestructible flatmate. The ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas) can go weeks without water and keeps on growing, glossy green leaves and all, even when you give it absolutely no attention.
3
Chinese Money Plant
Only got a tiny room? The Chinese Money Plant (Pilea) takes up very little space, while its round, coin-shaped leaves instantly add a playful touch.
4
Monstera
Got a sturdy moss pole and missing the jungle from your gap year? Then Monstera is your new flatmate. With its iconic split leaves, it turns a bare little room into a leafy jungle in no time.
5
Aloë Vera
Practical and pretty: Alöe Vera needs very little water, and the gel inside its leaves soothes sunburn after a day in a beer garden or at a festival. One less thing to spend money on in your pricey skincare routine.
How much light does your student room get?
Before you buy a plant, it’s always worth checking how much daylight your room actually gets. Houseplants all have different needs: some love a sunny spot, while others are perfectly happy in a darker, north-facing room.
Want to know more? Discover which houseplants need plenty of light and which houseplants need very little light, so you can choose a plant that suits your room, rather than the other way round. Got a windowsill with plenty of room for greenery? Take a look at these plants for your windowsill for a little extra inspiration.
Plants for student rooms big and small
Student rooms come in all shapes and sizes, so it pays to choose your plants accordingly. Got a compact room? Go for smaller plants such as Chinese Money Plant, Peperomia and Spider Plant, which bring a touch of green without taking up much floor space. Have a bit more room? Make a statement with a Monstera, Strelitzia or another XL plant.
Short on floor space but still want to squeeze in more greenery? Think vertically: hanging plants don’t take up an inch of floor space and give your room a surprising jungle feel. Take a look at these 10 hanging plants for more inspiration and styling tips.
More inspiration
Still looking for more options? This selection of 10 easy-care, resilient houseplants has plenty more sturdy candidates for your room. And if you’re heading off on holiday or a study trip, you can always arrange a plant sitter or keep your plants watered for longer with these clever tips.
Want to know more about the positive effects of plants? Read the article ‘Feel the plant effect’ and discover how a plant can help you focus more and stress less in the article about taking a plant break.
