Skip to Content

Bring the Sunshine In: The Best Houseplants for Bright, Sunny Apartments

Plants by the window

A sunny apartment offers benefits that go well beyond beautiful natural light. They’re also well suited to the conditions many popular houseplants need. Adding plants indoors can instantly liven up living spaces, improve the ambiance, and bring fresh air into enclosed rooms. However, picking plants that match your apartment’s light conditions is key, as it makes ongoing care much more manageable. Continue reading for top plant picks for renters that help a home feel more welcoming.

Low-Maintenance Favorites for Bright Spaces

Succulents are among our favorite plants for apartment living, and it’s not hard to see why. Succulents are drought-resistant plants that have become popular as houseplants due to their wide variety of colors and shapes, not to mention their low maintenance needs. Succulents thrive in sunny apartments because they need 4 to 6 hours of direct sunlight each day at minimum. Because they’re so compact, succulents make it simple to create a green display of any size, which is why busy renters love them.

Tough, Stylish, and Easy to Care For

The snake plant is another favorite among apartment dwellers. Despite the venomous name, snake plants are easy to care for and thrive indoors. Most of the low-maintenance varieties feature tall, sword-shaped leaves striped in green or yellow, adding to their visual appeal. Since they grow tall rather than wide, snake plants easily fit into a living room, entryway, or bright corner.

A Practical Plant with Personality

The bright sunlight from your apartment windows is perfect for a houseplant like aloe vera. Aloe vera’s bright green leaves and low water needs make it another great option for a houseplant that basks in a sunny spot. Aloe vera is well known too for its gel, which can help with dry skin, sunburn, and other issues. Because it doesn’t grow very big, aloe vera works perfectly in small spaces.

Bright Light Helps Them Thrive

Another good pick for busy renters is the jade plant, which thrives in containers and requires little care. The jade plant features thick, woody stems and bright, oval-shaped leaves, giving it the appearance of a miniature tree. Growth is slow for jade plants, which do well with bright, indirect light. If you have a sunny windowsill, a jade plant is a perfect way to add a splash of green!

Fresh Flavor Meets Apartment Style

An herb garden is a solid choice for indoor plants that blend function with beauty. Plenty of herbs flourish in a sunny room and provide an ongoing harvest for cooking and baking. Popular indoor herbs include basil, rosemary, thyme, and mint. Great for container gardening, these varieties add life to a kitchen window with their green foliage.

Bring Tropical Vibes Indoors

Consider a tropical houseplant for your sunny apartment if you’re after brighter blooms and an exotic vibe. While most tropical varieties will need special care, many can flourish in direct or indirect sunlight indoors. Some popular tropical houseplant varieties include pathos, orchids, palms, and philodendron. With ideal conditions, several of these plants can grow to an impressive size, great for those with space who want visual drama.

Pet-Friendly Plant Considerations

Apartment dwellers with pets need to think about a few more things when choosing houseplants. It’s because plenty of plants can prove toxic to pets when ingested. For example, dogs can be poisoned by eating popular flowering plants like lilies, chrysanthemums, and geraniums. Before you bring a plant home, make sure to check toxicity information specific to your pet. The ASPCA offers a full list of toxic plants on its website, and additional information is available online.

Personalizing Your Space Naturally

Adding houseplants can help turn an apartment into more of a home. While there’s responsibility involved with plants, the warmth, color, and personality they add make it all worthwhile.

Searching for a rental home with plenty of natural light and welcoming living spaces? Contact us today, or check out Real Property Management NW Chicago Suburbs at Arlington Heights to find a place where your indoor garden can thrive.


This content is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, tax, or investment advice. Readers should consult with licensed professionals regarding their specific circumstances.

We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.

The Neighborly Done Right Promise

The Neighborly Done Right Promise ® delivered by Real Property Management, a proud Neighborly company

When it comes to finding the right property manager for your investment property, you want to know that they stand behind their work and get the job done right – the first time. At Real Property Management we have the expertise, technology, and systems to manage your property the right way. We work hard to optimize your return on investment while preserving your asset and giving you peace of mind. Our highly trained and skilled team works hard so you can be sure your property's management will be Done Right.

Canada excluded. Services performed by independently owned and operated franchises.

See Full Details