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As working from home becomes evermore common, creating a home workspace that isn’t sterile and can actually help your well-being is absolutely possible.
In fact, doing so in the right way can make you more productive and help with focus.
Most people focus on furniture, design principles, etc. but an often overlooked addition to any home office is plants.
Not only do they look good, especially on a video call, but studies show that they can boost productivity, improve air quality, and have a calming effect.
Even if you’re in a condo or apartment, having greenery around your home gives a connection to the outdoors.
Some of the plants we will explore gives off moisture, helps air quality, and acts as a natural sound absorber.
Let’s explore our top 10 picks for some of the best plants for a home office, focusing on those that are low-maintenance and thrive in indoor environments.
We’ll also provide detailed care instructions, with light preferences, how often to water, and general upkeep to make sure any plant you choose stays vibrant and healthy.
Snake Plant
We have about 8 snake plants around the house because of its air-purifying qualities, which also makes it an ideal top pick for a home office where you’re spending hours per day. It cleans the air by by filtering toxins like formaldehyde, benzene, and xylene.
A common theme we’ve been talking about is trying, when possible, to set up your home office near a window. Snake plants are fine in almost any lighting condition but do their best in bright, indirect light. Offices (and living rooms) that get lots of natural light are perfect for snake plants.
Another reason that snake plants are so popular is that they don’t need much water. They are referred to as “drought-tolerant plants”, so you only need to water them every 2-4 weeks – ideal for a home office or even physical office setting. We’d me more concerned about root rot from overeating. If the soils is completely dry, it’s probably time for a little drink.
Pothos
We don’t have one, but a Pothos is another good choice for home offices because they are low-maintenance and have an ability to purify the air. Plus, their vines hand down from shelfs or hanging planter, ideal for a video meeting background if you have shelving storage behind you (naturally covers it up).
Pothos’ do well in many light conditions but shouldn’t be placed where they will have direct sunlight for extended periods because it will scortch their leaves. This is a great option if you have somewhere to hang a plant where it won’t get a lot of light.
As for watering, you can let them dry out but generally watering every 2 weeks will keep them healthy.
ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)
Another one we’ve researched but never bought is the ZZ plant. These are low maintenance and their dark, glossy leaves are quite appealing.
To keep that deep green, try to keep them in a place that gets a lot of sun, but they’ll do ok with lower light conditions.
Like snake plants, ZZ plants don’t need a lot of water, every 2-3 weeks is fine, but don’t overwater!
Be careful: ZZ plants are mildly toxic to pets and humans if ingested.
Spider Plant
We have a few of these (the only “spider” my daughter likes) – spider plants are also known for cleaning the air quality by removing toxins like carbon monoxide and formaldehyde.
They do their best in bright areas but tolerate low light conditions just fine. However, if the plant is not getting enough light, its leaves can become pale…a sign you need more natural light in your workspace, if possible.
Unlike the previous three, spider plants prefer to be moist, but not soggy. Try to water them once a week when the top soil feels dry, but not too much or their roots will start to rot.
Peace Lily
These are one of the best indoor plants for air quality because they filter out a range of pollutants, even ammonia and benzene. They have elegant, white flowers that stand out against glossy green leaves.
No direct sunlight (will cause leaves to burn), so try to locate them in indirect light.
Peace Lily’s are more tempermental and need to be kept moist. Typically watering them once a week will do the tric, but if the leaves start to wilt they’re asking to be watered, but don’t worry, they typically bounce back quickly after being watered.
Aloe Vera
These are neat looking plants and have a few other uses. Its gel from inside the stems can be put on burns and cuts, making it a useful plant to have on hand, especially if you have young children like we do. Additionally, aloe vera is excellent at purifying the air and adding moisture to your workspace. Our house has radiator heating so we are thankful for the moisture addition during the long Canadian winters.
This is another window loving plant that thrives in bright, indirect sunlight. However, too much direct sunlight can scorch it’s leaves
Aloe vera is from the succulent family, which means it stores water in its thick leaves. That keeps it hydrated for long stretches so you only have to water it every 3 weeks or so during spring/summer and less frequently during the winter months (did I mention Canada, eh?).
Chinese Evergreen
These have unique light green and white leaves that also purify air quality. They are a good option for any office because they are usually overflowing with leaves and can survive in almost any type of office setting.
Continuing on the adaptable theme, these plants do best in indirect light. They can tolerate low light conditions, but their variegation comes out in brighter light. Direct sunlight, however, can scorch the leaves.
You should generally water Chinese evergreens every other week. They’re drought resistant, but pay attention to the color of the leaves – if they fade, it’s time for a drink.
English Ivy
English ivy is another neat hanging plant and can spruce up a shelf or bookshelf, especially if it has storage in it. This plant is famous for removing mold spores.
Try to give them as much light as possible. If your setting doesn’t allow for lots of natural light, this isn’t the plant for you.
Water every other week and don’t overwater. If you go with the “less is more” mantra, give it a little water every week. I say a little to avoid having the plant sit in water if the pot doesn’t have drainage as they are prone to root rot.
Be careful: English ivy is another toxic plant to pets
Bamboo Palm
I’m not really a fan of this one, it seems gangly and stringy to me, but Bamboo Palm’s are too for the air removing formaldehyde and benzene. The other appeal is that it adds some moisture to the environment too. If you tend to have a dry office space, that’s a nice feature. Lastly, the height makes it good for video backgrounds, similar to mature snake plants.
They like the light, but do okay in lower light rooms. Keep them moist, around 2 cups of water every other week.
Jade Plant
This is a really neat looking plant. It’s another succulent so it’s leaves are quite thick and a rich dark green. We get a lot of nice comments on ours.
They don’t need a lot of attention, other than needing lots of light, but not in a window that gets sun all day (they’ll burn).
They only need to be watered every 2-3 weeks during the spring/summer season and less often during the winter.
Conclusion
That might be more information on plants than you ever wanted to know, but incorporating them into your home office is a great way to enhance the space’s aesthetics and improve your mental and physical wellbeing.
When you’re picking the right ones for you, remember, lighting is most important, followed by watering schedules.
These kinds of plants can make you video backgrounds come alive (pun intended) and give a depth of picture that can make a digital meeting feel more personal. You’ll also inevitably impress people – some will come out and say it, some will think it in their subconscious. Either way, that good impression will stick with you and the relationship.
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