6 colourful houseplants that will brighten up any home – they're easy to care for too
These houseplants will bring more than green into your space
We view houseplants as the perfect way to get some greenery into our homes - to bring the outside in. But the outside is so much more than just green. And so are houseplants if you know what to look for. There is a whole world of colourful houseplants that are easy to take care of too.
That’s right, the best houseplants can come in an array of colours (and even patterns). And while many of them tend to be quite high-maintenance, there are also several vibrant houseplants that are easy to care for.
And we rounded up 6 of those unusual houseplants here as recommended by our plant experts. Are you ready to inject your home with some bright and organic colours? It's much better than any of the viral trends like plant beading, trust us.
6 colourful houseplants that are easy to care for
‘Decorating your home with bright and colourful plants has many benefits, the primary one being that they bring the beauty of the outdoors indoors, even in the darkest months,’ says Petar Ivanov, Fantastic Gardeners' gardening and plant expert.
‘However, for many people, the task of looking after houseplants can be challenging, especially if their schedule is busy and that’s why getting low-maintenance ones can be a very helpful alternative.’
These are the best indoor plants to invest in if you’re after some vibrant hues.
Petar Ivanov is one of the company's top-performing experts and manages over six teams of gardeners, delivering stunning landscape results and fostering a deep connection with nature through his work.
1. Polka dot plant
‘These plants have beautifully coloured speckled leaves in shades of pink, red, white, or green, that make a change from the plain green that we're so used to with houseplants,’ starts Steve Chilton, garden expert at LeisureBench.
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And as a proud owner of a polka dot plant, this writer can only second that as this interesting plant doesn’t only bring colour into interiors, but also pattern.
The best place for a polka dot plant is in a bright spot with indirect sunlight or in partial shade. Keep the soil consistently moist but avoid watering it too much, otherwise it could get waterlogged.
Where to buy a polka dot plant:
Steve is a passionate and knowledgeable garden expert with several years of experience within the field. As the director of LeisureBench, an industry-leading garden furniture company, Steve has developed strong expertise for all things nature and plants.
2. Chinese evergreen
Similarly to the polka dot plant, the Chinese evergreen grows leaves that are speckled or edged with pink, white or silver shades, depending on the variety you go for.
‘Keep in low to bright indirect sunlight and water only when the top few centimetres of soil are dry. Make sure to keep on top of trimming any yellow or brown leaves,’ Steve recommends.
Where to buy a Chinese evergreen plant:
3. Bromeliad
This tropical plant has thin, ribbon-like leaves growing similarly to a spider plant, which is one of the best plants to reduce dust in your home. And in the middle of those leaves, it has a brightly-coloured, rosette-shaped flower.
‘The bromeliads have rich texture and bright colours,’ Petar says. ‘They are very low-maintenance and need only a moderate amount of direct light daily and watering every 1 to 2 weeks during warmer seasons and every 2 to 3 weeks during the colder ones. Also, once the bromeliad parent plant dies back, the flower pups at its base can be replanted.’
Where to buy a bromeliad:
4. Anthurium
Similar to a peace lily, which is one of the best bathroom plants to absorb moisture, anthurium, also known as laceleaf, is a plant with bright flowers.
‘This is a particularly strong and sturdy indoor plant, which offers red, pink, and white blooms,’ Steve says. ‘It should be pruned in late winter or early spring to maintain shape and promote new growth.’
Additionally, anthurium should be placed in partial shade or filtered sunlight and its soil should be kept consistently moist.
Where to buy anthurium:
5. Kalanchoe
Even though the kalanchoe plant looks like just another flowering plant, it’s not. It’s in fact a succulent that easily tricks the eye. And that’s why it’s so easy to take care of.
‘The kalanchoe is native to Madagascar and it’s a stunning plant,’ Petar says. ‘It comes in a variety of colourful flower clusters that last several months. It’s actually a succulent and it requires almost no watering and thrives in low humidity conditions.’
Where to buy a kalanchoe plant:
6. African violet
Despite its delicate appearances, the african violet plant is a sturdy houseplant that’s very easy to care for.
‘African violets are hardy houseplants that have bright rosettes on a bed of fuzzy, dark green foliage. Once they are potted, they require little to no maintenance, but you should still make sure to use a lightweight soil mixture,’ Petar advises.
Where to buy an African violet plant:
And there they are, 6 bright and beautiful yet easy to take care of houseplants to get.
Sara Hesikova has been a Content Editor at Ideal Home since June 2024, starting at the title as a News Writer in July 2023. She is now also the Ideal Home Certified Expert in Training on Furniture, and so far has tested 80 different sofas.
Graduating from London College of Fashion with a bachelor’s degree in fashion journalism in 2016, she got her start in niche fashion and lifestyle magazines like Glass and Alvar as a writer and editor before making the leap into interiors, working with the likes of 91 Magazine and copywriting for luxury bed linen brand Yves Delorme among others.
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