10 Small Indoor Plants for Compact Spaces

The best houseplants for small apartments and homes

Indoor plants can bring a touch of nature to a room while also helping to purify the air in your home.

If you have limited space, there are plenty of small indoor plants that won’t take up too much room.

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Small indoor plants in pots

10 SMALL INDOOR PLANTS

1. Air Plants (Tillandsia)

Air plants are low maintenance, small plants that don’t need soil or water to grow.

They’re able to absorb moisture and nutrients through their leaves.

Air plants need to be misted a few times a week and in summer they should be fully submerged in water once a week.

You can place them in an open terrarium, on a bed of pebbles or in a basket or bowl.

2. African Violet

African Violets are beautiful compact plants that grow to 6 inches (15 centimetres) tall.

The flowers come in a range of colors including white, pink and purple.

African violets will grow in most soil types but they don’t like their leaves getting wet.

The best way to water African violets is to fill a saucer of water and place the pot on top to draw the water up.

Small African violet plant

3. Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis)

Aloe Vera is a small, low maintenance succulent that has upright fleshy green leaves.

It’s able to store moisture in its leaves, so it doesn’t need to be watered often. Make sure that the potting mix has dried out before watering.

Aloe Vera is easy to propagate from the baby plants, also known as “pups” that grow around the base of the plant.

Aloe Vera will thrive in a well-lit spot near a window.

Aloe vera

4. Jade Plant (Crassula ovata)

Jade plants are small succulents with thick rounded leaves.

They’re a low maintenance plant that can live for years in the same pot.

Jade plants like to grow in well-lit areas and prefer to dry out between waterings.

Jade plant

5. Nerve Plant (Fittonia)

Nerve plants are small tropical plants with dark green leaves and white, cream or pink veins.

They love humid and moist conditions, so they’re perfect for terrariums or bathrooms.

Nerve plants grow to about 6 inches (15 centimetres) tall, but they can be made more compact by regularly pinching out the stems. [1]

In hot weather the leaves can be misted with water.

Nerve plant

6. Peperomia

Peperomia is a compact, low maintenance houseplant with round leaves.

It grows well in moderate light and prefers moist soil but doesn’t like to be overwatered.

Peperomia usually grow to about 12 inches (30 cm) high.

Peperomia plant

7. Polka Dot Plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya)

Polka Dot plants, also known as Freckle Face plants are small, attractive indoor plants with foliage in a variety of colors including pink, red, cream and green.

They love humidity and grow well in terrariums and bathrooms.

Polka Dot plants will tolerate low light but they may stretch out to reach the light.

Older plants can be trimmed back to maintain the shape of the plant.

Polka dot plant

8. Pothos

Pothos is a small attractive vine with heart-shaped leaves.

It’s an easy care plant that can tolerate low light and it’s one of the best indoor plants for purifying the air.

Pothos need regular trimming to keep it tidy and they don’t like to be overwatered.

You can grow Pothos in a hanging basket or place it on a shelf or bookcase.

Pothos plant

9. Succulents

Succulents are small, low maintenance indoor plants that are perfect for beginner gardeners or anyone lacking a natural green thumb!

They come in a range of colors and have a variety of leaf shapes ranging from spiky to round, so there’s sure to be one to suit your taste.

Succulents look great on a desk or coffee table, just be careful not to overwater them.

Succulents

10. Cacti

Cacti are another small indoor plant that doesn’t require much maintenance.

They grow best in areas with plenty of air flow to keep humidity low.

They’ve adapted to living in hot, dry conditions and only need minimal watering.

They’re best suited to a sunny spot near a window.

Cacti

How to Style Plants in Small Spaces

There are many ways to display your indoor plants when you haven’t got a lot of room:

Final Thoughts on Small Indoor Plants

These houseplants are a great choice for anyone with limited space.

As long as they have access to natural light and aren’t overwatered, they’ll live happily for many years to come.

I hope this list has been helpful.

RELATED ARTICLES

Have you tried growing any of these small indoor plants? Let me know in the comments below.

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Indoor plants for small spaces

Best indoor plants for small spaces

Kelly Martin

Hi, I'm Kelly Martin, a landscape gardener and designer with over 10 years experience. I have a passion for small space gardening and I love designing and creating beautiful outdoor spaces that maximize the potential of small urban gardens. Read more

This Post Has 18 Comments

  1. Erica (The Prepping Wife)

    I’ve been wondering how simple it would be to grow my own aloe vera plant! That is definitely something I’m going to try. I am never sure if I can keep a plant alive or not, but after reading your blog, I am gaining the confidence to give it a try!

  2. Anita Alig

    This is a list of wonderful indoor plants. Thank you! My favourite is the Jade plant! No doubt, plants like that transform a city apartment. Inspirational!

  3. Alecia Stringer

    Beautiful yet looks so simple. Thanks for sharing these delicate plants.

  4. Sunshine

    I never realised that Aloe vera was/ Is a house plant.

  5. Chloé Arnold

    Somehow I neglect every plant I ever bring into our home {even succulents}, but these all look so pretty I might have to try again!

  6. Jam Nesreen

    Most indoor plants, I mean all, are very pretty! I’ve been thinking of getting one for my apartment.

  7. GIna (Love, Auntie)

    Love your posts. I’m such a newbie with plants. And unfortunately, a few of my indoor plants haven’t made it. 🙁 I keep trying though, and your posts are inspiring.

  8. Joyce Osiango

    All those plants are really nice they can change much in a home. I love them all.

  9. Snehal

    Just in time, i was looking for something like this! I will have to shop for the african violet now 😍

  10. Live Learn Better

    These plants look so good and adorable. I will definitely look into getting some soon.

  11. Subhashish Roy

    I am a great fan of indoor plants as we have a little less space outdoors which I try to make up with indoor ones. I love this polka dot one very much which I will try to source.

  12. Smita

    The African violet is such a beautiful plant! So far I’ve only tried indoor plants with the snake plant – which I think is the easiest to maintain! How easy do you think is the African Violet to maintain?

  13. Lyosha

    So beautiful! I like it when houses have small home plants but I don’t have them – I am so bad at keeping them.

  14. Alexandra

    I so much love your plant information. Just looking at your pictures and imagining a nice clean airy house decorated with these delicate plants makes me feel so peaceful. Maybe by the time my boys are grown, I will be able to devote time to making my home a great outdoorsy place to be. Right now I have three boys and they break everything! But I love what you teach. I never knew that there was a plant that didn’t even need dirt. The air plant I think.

  15. Alyssa

    This post is perfect for me! I live in a small apartment. I really love the way jade plants and cacti look! I might need to get some!

  16. Sara Green

    Love this! I’ve recently moved into an apartment and miss my yard. So, it’s lovely to know what will work indoors.

  17. Angie

    Thank you for this list! I tend to destroy any green thing that comes into my house! So this list is very helpful to help me finally have a plant that can survive.

  18. WanderlustBeautyDreams

    Im so bad at keeping plants alive. But would love to try these options out for my apartment!

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