Do you have a gloomy corner in your house that needs some brightening up? Is there a spot you wish to place a houseplant? We know what’s stopping you from placing your favourite plant in that spotlight! Don’t worry, with a few clever hacks, you can add life to that gloomy spot and brighten up the whole space. All it needs is tactical placement and lighting for your indoor plants to survive and stay healthy. Our green friends aren’t just a piece of decoration in interior spaces; they have various health benefits as well. Apart from adding life to the space, these tiny creatures are also known to remove toxins from the air. The next advantage they have to offer is a good night’s sleep. Various species release aromas that help you sleep well.
For those living in cities and cosmopolitan regions, natural light has become a luxury as buildings are placed very close to each other. However, these conditions shouldn’t be an obstacle between you and your love for nature. Let inadequate natural light not prevent you from bringing your green friends home.
We have a solution for you to grow your favourite houseplant even in these conditions. You can opt for low-light plants to fulfil your desire to have a bit of nature in the interior. These plants, with their elegance, can also function as great decorative objects for home decor.
We have prepared a comprehensive list of tips, tricks, and hacks for you to make indoor plants a possibility even in low-light conditions. Towards the end, we have also suggested a few of our favourite indoor plants with low light to go for and the necessary merits of the same.
11 Tips, Tricks, And Hacks Of Using Low-Light Plants
Those of you with dim dwellings know that poor lighting is bad news for your plants. Though some plants survive even in poor lighting, this shouldn’t hamper your personal preference for indoor plants. A few clever design hacks can make a huge difference in the lighting in your space.
Are you ready to learn these tricks? Let’s dive into the sea of smartness to know the tips for using low-light plants.
Below is a list of tips and tricks for growing low-light indoor plants:
- Incorporate LED Lighting
- Magic of Mirrors
- Using Hanging Planters
- Display Solutions
- Light-colored Rugs to Reflect More Light
- Opt for Smaller Plants to Bring in More Light
- Use a Grow Light to Fool Your Indoor Plants
- Move to Sheer Curtains
- Let Fairy Lights Do their Thing
- Light-Coloured Walls
- Bring in the Artworks to Reflect
01. Incorporate LED Lighting
LED lighting can prove to be extremely beneficial for the survival of your low-light plants. Giving low-light indoor plants overhead lighting for about 8-12 hours a day provides them with the appropriate exposure. However, you must be extremely careful with this technique. If your plant shows signs of light leafing and weak stems, you need to increase the timing of light exposure.
You can even get tech-oriented and opt for smart bulbs. These lights can be turned on in the morning and stay on until sunset, mimicking natural light. You can even set the temperature that is suitable for the room.
02. Magic of Mirrors
We’ve read about magic mirrors in childhood tales. Do you know these can prove magically beneficial to your low-light indoor plants? Hanging mirrors can form an illusion of the space being bigger and elevate the aesthetics.
However, setting these mirrors at strategic angles can aid in reflecting light to brighten up the gloomy nooks of your room. You can even get innovative technological mirrors that are thin and lay on flat surfaces to reflect natural light in the desired direction.
03. Using Hanging Planters
Do you have a desire to have indoor plants, but your compact space deters you from having one? We’ve got you covered.
You can ornament your room with tiny green companions by choosing the ones that fit in hanging planters. Opting for hanging planters further gives you the advantage of receiving better lighting solutions as well.
Let your inner creativity flow and ornament the windows or spaces near lighting with various hanging plants. You can either stick with one species or add multiples to form an interesting display.
04. Display Solutions
If the solution of hanging planters doesn’t fit your conditions, then there’s no need to worry because you can still play around with display solutions. All you need to do is accessorize the shelves near the windows. You can place plants with varying lighting needs.
From small planters to ladders allowing the vines to creep around, you can be tactical and smart to offer the best lighting solutions with a creative arrangement of low-light plants.
05. Light-colored Rugs to Reflect More Light
In case you’re struggling with your apartment receiving minimal light, you can go for light-coloured rugs. These can help reflect more light and brighten up your space. For rooms with dark walls, an off-white rug can do wonders.
Any pastel rug can make a huge difference in the area. The best part about choosing light-coloured rugs is that they go well with almost any colour of furniture or interior decor.
06. Opt for Smaller Plants to Bring in More Light
Did you know that even plants can hamper the penetration of natural light in interior spaces? If you place tall plants near the light source, the foliage might block the light from getting into the space. An easy and smart solution to this problem is to opt for small plants.
Buy low-light plants like philodendrons, ZZ plants, etc, and place them wherever you like. These can breathe life into the space and make it livelier.
07. Use a Grow Light to Fool Your Indoor Plants
How about playing it smart and fooling your houseplants? If your indoor spaces don’t receive enough natural light, you can use grow lights to aid in the growth of your plants. These are a great alternative to sunlight and will give your plant the life sunlight offers. Place the plant under grow light and manage the timing as per the species’ demands. While few plants can get enough light in just a few hours, succulents will need exposure for a longer duration.
08. Move to Sheer Curtains
Make the switch from dark and heavy curtains to light and sheer ones. The idea behind this shift is to let the natural light stay in the rooms during the entire cycle. If you’re worried about privacy, you can add a layer of sheer curtains behind the view-blocking ones. This offers you flexibility as per your individual needs.
09. Let Fairy Lights Do their Thing
Don’t we all love the ambiance fairy lights set? Layer your sheer curtains further with fairy lights to breathe life into the room. These lights are so magical that their beauty gets amplified when it’s dark outside. These can make the space warmer and more welcoming.
10. Light-Coloured Walls
To state the obvious, light-coloured walls can make the room look bigger and brighter. Bring in some low-light indoor plants to create a contrasting backdrop to make the space look beautiful and natural.
11. Bring in the Artworks to Reflect
Embellish any deep-hued wall with light and bright artwork to add visual interest to the space. Apart from giving a designer look to the room, these artworks can make the space look brighter and bigger. Be smart with your choice of art. You can even add a light and bright tapestry to the room to make it look more appealing.
10 Low Light Plants To Bring Life To Shaded Spaces
Let your home breathe and bring nature indoors. Now that we’re all set to take care of our favourite low-light indoor plants, let’s go through a list of 10 low-light plants that can be added to the dark nook of your room to brighten it up.
Below is a list of the 10 best low-light indoor plants:
- Lucky Bamboo
- Maidenhair Fern
- Peace Lily
- Mother-In-Law’s Tongue
- Spider Plant
- Bromeliads
- Parlor Palm
- Pothos
- Chinese Evergreen
- Tradescantia Zebrina
01. Lucky Bamboo
One of the best indoor plants for low-light, the lucky bamboo is sure to steal your heart with its little bonsai dimensions. These are quite popular in minimalist settings, and as per Feng Shui, this plant attracts a lot of favourable energy. Use this species to beautify any corner without worrying about lighting, as it thrives even in minimal light.
02. Maidenhair Fern
The soft, hanging leaves of maidenhair fern thrive in shady, wet environments. They can also be cultivated in low-light environments inside.
03. Peace Lily
Another species that can thrive in the absence of sunshine while also cleansing the air is the peace lily. Keep this indoor plant away from direct sunlight to avoid damage to its foliage.
04. Mother-In-Law’s Tongue
The bladed edges of the plant’s leaves give it its unusual name. It’s a popular houseplant that thrives in the absence of sunshine. Not only that, it may also filter the air in your home. It can retain moisture in its leaves, which are rigid and long. So, add this to your list of low-light plants and breathe in fresh air.
05. Spider Plant
The spider plant is one of the most versatile low-light plants. It’s so elegant that it looks great on any surface, from a desk to a fireplace, or as a dangling plant. This species has excellent air-purifying properties, making it a beneficial asset to any household.
06. Bromeliads
Bromeliads have the beauty of coloured leaves merged with the elegance of an air plant. The species receives most of the required nutrients through the leaves, which makes it super easy to maintain and grow indoors. Bromeliads are the best indoor plants for low-light conditions.
07. Parlour Palm
This petite palm flourishes in a range of light conditions and small places. The dark green foliage produces a bushy, rich plant that is great for any interior space. The parlour palm thrives in strong, filtered light, but it may also thrive in dim light.
08. Pothos
Offer Pothos a little support and enjoy the view of it gracefully climbing around it. This species can be hung as well with its lovely tendrils. These low-light plants can thrive without sunshine and help purify the air.
09. Chinese Evergreen
Chinese evergreen is an easy-to-grow plant. This species can grow well in dark settings and requires minimal attention. The only task you’ll have is to fertilize once or twice every twelve months.
10. Tradescantia Zebrina
Tradescantia zebrina, with touches of purple, will add a splash of colour to your botanical collection without going overboard with blooms. This species likes mild to strong indirect light.
Indoor Plants: The Best Interior Addition
Houseplants are a wonderful addition to your home. These add zest to the space and offer various health benefits as well. These also have a positive impact on your mind and thoughts.
Even in low-light spaces, you can grow your favourite low-light plants with these tricks. We recommend having them in your homes for their positive vibes and natural aesthetics. Let your favourite plants bloom and add liveliness to your interiors.
Author Bio
Saili Sawantt – She is an Architect and Interior Designer by profession. Writing is what she treats as her passion. She has worked as an Architectural Writer, Editor, and Journalist for various design as well as digital portals, both national and international. Formerly she has also worked with Godrej Properties Limited (GPL) Design Studio, Mumbai, due to her keen interested in learning about Sustainability and Green buildings. Apart from this, she runs her blog ‘The Reader’s Express’ and is a practicing Architect & Interior Designer.