18 Indoor Plants That Transform Living Rooms—From Low-Light Survivors to Statement Foliage

Plants add a piece of nature, a pop of color, and a sculptural accent to a room that you spend a lot of time in—your living room. There are plants, including great-looking fake plants, in different sizes, shapes, and colors.

From aesthetically pleasing plants to ones that would fit nicely in a corner or on a small table or trailing ones that would look stunning hanging from a window, these are the best indoor plants for the living room.

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Dieffenbachia

dumb cane plant — The Spruce / Krystal Slagle

Dieffenbachia has gorgeous variegated leaves that look silver in the middle. This plant has a sap that can drip from its leaves and is toxic if ingested so keep it in a place that won’t harm pets or children.1

Name: Dieffenbachia (Dieffenbachia seguine)
Light: Medium light, avoid direct light
Water: Water when the top 2 inches of soil feel dry
Mature Size: 10 feet tall and 3 feet wide

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Snake Plant

This popular houseplant is super easy to care for and comes in a number of different varieties. They vary in color but most snake plants have green-banded or striped leaves with a yellow or cream border.

Name: Snake Plant (Dracaena spp.)
Light: Full sun to shade
Water: Water when the soil is fully dry
Mature Size: 3 feet tall

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Bird of Paradise

Add some color to your space with a flowering plant. The bird of paradise has pretty orange blooms. However, most plants will not bloom until they’re around six years old so make sure you’re purchasing a mature one if that’s your goal.

Name: Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia nicolai)
Light: Bright, indirect light
Water: Keep soil moist but not soggy
Mature Size: 6 feet tall and 4 feet wide

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Kentia Palm

Kentia palms were basically the original living room plant, and you could once find one in nearly every Victorian parlor during the late 1800s. It’s a slow grower but treat it well and it’ll look amazing in a corner of your room.

Name: Kentia Palm (Howea forsteriana)
Light: Bright, indirect light
Water: Water when the top 2 inches of soil are dry
Mature Size: 10 feet tall

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Corn Plant

Dracaena fragrans by a window — The Spruce / Cara Cormack

If you’re looking to add some tropical vibes to your home, a corn plant is a great way to do that. The thick green leaves and sturdy trunk will look amazing in a corner of your home. It’s mildly toxic to pets and people if ingested.2

Name: Corn Plant (Dracaena fragrans)
Light: Bright, indirect light to partial shade
Water: Allow soil to dry out completely before watering
Mature Size: 4 feet tall

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Cast Iron Plant

This is one of those nearly unkillable plants. It will still survive if you don’t remember to water it and if you need to place it in a dark corner—perfect for anyone without a green thumb.

Name: Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra)
Light: Partial to full shade
Water: Allow soil to dry out completely between waterings
Mature Size: 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide

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Monstera Deliciosa

One of the more popular houseplants, the monstera deliciosa looks incredible and can grow really fast if it’s treated well. If you don’t want it overtaking your space, trim it back and then propagate the cuttings. The monstera is toxic to pets if eaten.3

Name: Monstera deliciosa (Monstera deliciosa)
Light: Bright, indirect light
Water: Water when the top 2 inches of soil are dry
Mature Size: 8 feet tall and 8 feet wide

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Marble Queen Pothos

The Spruce / Phoebe Cheongï

If you’re looking for a nearly unkillable plant that would look beautiful trailing down from a shelf or mantle, the marble queen pothos is it. It has very pretty variegated leaves and doesn’t need that much care to survive. This plant is toxic to pets if ingested.4

Name: Marble Queen Pothos (Epipremnum pinnatum ‘Marble Queen’)
Light: Bright, indirect light to partial shade
Water: Water when the top 2 inches of soil are dry
Mature Size: 10 feet long

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Chinese Money Plant

This is the ultimate housewarming plant so don’t be surprised if someone gives you one if you’ve just moved into your home. This is a popular plant for the living room and is said to be lucky.

Name: Chinese Money Plant (Pilea peperomioides)
Light: Bright, indirect light
Water: Water when the soil is dry to the touch
Mature Size: 1 foot tall and 1 foot wide

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Fiddle-Leaf Fig

The large leaves of this stunning plant will definitely make an impact in your living room. Keep it near a window and watch as it grows. Don’t worry if it drops a few leaves when you first get it, this is totally normal. This plant is toxic to cats and dogs if ingested.5

Name: Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata)
Light: Bright, indirect light.
Water: Water when the top 2 inches of soil are dry
Mature Size: 10 feet tall

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ZZ Plant

The Spruce / Anastasiia Tretiak

Another one that will be okay if you forget to give it a drink—the ZZ plant has rhizomes that actually store water. It’s a tough plant and a slow grower that would look beautiful on a corner table in your living room. It’s toxic to pets and humans if ingested.6

Name: ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)
Light: Partial shade to bright, indirect light
Water: Let soil dry out completely between waterings
Mature Size: 4 feet tall and 4 feet wide

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Swiss Cheese Plant

These fun plants are relatives of the monstera deliciosa. They also have leaves with holes in them which allows for light to shine through to the lower ones. It’s a gorgeous plant that would look just as good trailing as it would wrapped around a moss pole. The swiss cheese plant is mildly toxic to pets if ingested.7

Name: Swiss Cheese Plant (Monstera adansonii)
Light: Partial shade to bright, indirect light
Water: Water when top 2 inches of soil are dry
Mature Size: 8 feet long

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Satin Pothos

Another popular trailing plant, the satin pothos will look best hanging from a basket in a window. The silver spots along the leaves are really spectacular when they catch the light. They are toxic if ingested.8

Name: Satin Pothos (Scindapsus pictus)
Light: Can manage in low light but does best in bright, indirect light.
Water: Drought tolerant, water when the top 2 inches of soil are dry.
Mature Size: Vines can grow up to 8 feet long.

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Red Chinese Evergreen

If you love color, the red chinese evergreen is a great plant for your living room. The plant’s leaves are variegated and the color of the foliage will be brighter when it gets more light. They are toxic to pets if ingested.9

Name: Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema)
Light: Will do well in indirect light but color will be brighter when it gets a lot of light.
Water: Water when the top 2 inches of soil are dry.
Mature Size: 2 feet tall.

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Hoya Carnosa

Hoyas are beautiful plants that produce tropical flowers that grow in an interesting ball shape. Hoyas can be trained to vine or can just be allowed to trail as it naturally would over the pot its planted in.

Name: Hoya Carnosa (Hoya carnosa)
Light: Can tolerate bright, indirect light to partial shade.
Water: Keep soil moist, not soggy.
Mature Size: Vines can grow to 4 feet long.

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Triostar Stromanthe

The Spruce / Anastasiia Tretiak

Another colorful option, this plant will look best when it gets lots of light. The pinks, purples, whites, and green will be richer when it’s placed in bright, indirect sun.

Name: Triostar Stromanthe (Stromanthe sanguine)
Light: Part sun
Water: Keep the soil moist, not soggy.
Mature Size: 2-3 ft.

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String of Nickels

The Spruce / Adrienne Legault

Add this whimsical plant to a mantle or shelf and the string of nickels will cascade down. It’s a delicate plant that would look great in your living room.

Name: String of Nickels (Dischidia inummularia)
Light: Partial shade to medium light.
Water: Let the soil dry out between waterings.
Mature Size: Vines can grow to 18 inches long.

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Elephant Ear

If you really want to make a statement, get your hands on an elephant ear plant. They come in a number of different varieties and are very striking. Elephant Ears are toxic to pets and humans when ingested.1011

Name: Elephant Ear (Alocasia spp.)
Light: Bright light.
Water: Keep soil moist, not soggy.
Mature Size: 6 feet tall and 6 feet wide.