Hallways can say a lot about your house as they are the first impression people will get.
However, pairing them with houseplants is not easy. You need to find that perfect balance between space, temperature, light but also style!
Even if you have a dark or bright hallway, small or large, modern or contemporary, you can use this article to get the perfect houseplants for it.
Here are the best houseplants for hallways:
1. Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra Elatior)
No matter what the conditions in your hallway are like, the cast iron plant should cope with them pretty well.
This plant, as its name suggests, is extremely hardy and will cope well with being kept in a busy, high-traffic hallway, even if there is minimal light.
The plant doesn’t grow to more than a few feet, so it wouldn’t outgrow a reasonably sized hallway, and it will look great.
Temperature: 60 – 75 degrees F (15 – 24°C).
Water: rare watering, when the soil is dry.
Light: medium to low light.
2. Devil’s Ivy (Epipremnum Aureum)
Another great plant if your hallway gets very limited light, devil’s ivy will happily grow in a hanging pot, putting out tendrils of green in every direction.
They like shady environments, and they can also be trained to grow up walls and poles if you prefer.
This means Devil’s ivies are perfect where the space is limited, and if you’ve got a really cramped hallway, you can hang them from the ceiling to save space.
Don’t worry about having to water this plant too often, either; it’s a tough specimen and will survive even if you neglect it a bit.
Temperature: 60 – 85 degrees F (15 – 29°C).
Water: only when the soil begins to dry.
Light: partial shade, with no direct sun.
3. Snake Plant (Dracaena Trifasciata)
The snake plant is a great size for narrow hallways when small, although it can get big as it matures. Even so, it grows tall, making it a great choice for a hallway of any size and style.
It has rich green leaves that are sometimes variegated, so it’s a fantastic plant, and is again tolerant of fairly low light.
The yellow stripes that outline its leaves will look great in your hall, and it will lend your hallway an air of modern decor.
Temperature: 60 – 75 degrees F (15 – 24°C).
Water: allow the top inch of the soil to dry before adding water; this plant hates too much water.
Light: tolerant of almost all light levels, including direct sun.
4. Dragon Tree (Dracaena Marginata)
A dragon tree looks fantastic standing in a hallway, although it does like to be kept in slightly brighter conditions than some of the other plants on this list.
It has impressive, spiky foliage, and although it’s a tall plant, it isn’t enormously wide, so it should fit well in your hallway.
It will generally reach up to six feet tall, and it’s reasonably resilient. If your hallway is wide enough for it, the plant will happily grow there, but you should keep it away from pets.
Temperature: 70 – 80 degrees F (21 – 27°C).
Water: allow the top half of the soil to dry before watering.
Light: prefers indirect bright light.
5. Rubber Plant (Ficus Elastica)
Impressive to look at and with thick, glossy leaves, a rubber plant is fairly large, so you should only grow one if your hallway is wide enough to accommodate its pot.
It is also a fast grower, and needs plenty of indirect light to thrive, but make no mistake, it’s mostly a hands-off plant.
Rubber plants are very a great hallway plant because they make an impact no matter their growth stage.
Smaller rubber plants have big leaves and an almost square shape while big ones grow straight and tall, perfectly fitting any corner.
As a houseplant, they will reach 6 to 10 feet tall, more than enough for the biggest of hallways.
Temperature: 65 – 80 degrees F (18 – 27°C).
Water: water well but allow to dry out a little in between.
Light: indirect light, but plenty of it.
6. Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)
If you’re after a smaller plant that will grow well in your hallway, a peace lily may be the answer.
These are immensely popular plants that need minimal care, and will reward you with a show of glossy green leaves and creamy flowers.
They are tolerant of pretty much any light level, so whether your hallway is bright or dark, a peace lily should thrive.
Peace lilies are medium-sized plants that can grow as wide as they are tall, making them perfect for medium-sized hallways.
Temperature: 68 – 85 degrees F (20 – 30°C).
Water: allow to dry slightly between waterings, but water if the leaves start to wilt.
Light: prefers bright light but will cope with low light.
7. Ponytail Palm (Beaucarnea Recurvata)
This palm is a fantastic way to say “I love plants” with its wild and enthusiastic springy foliage going in every direction.
It can grow to about four feet tall, but will survive and stay small if you restrict its pot because your space is limited.
You do need a brighter hallway for this plant, but it is reasonably tough and won’t require too much attention.
Temperature: 60 – 85 degrees F (15 – 30°C).
Water: water when the soil is dry and lightly mist the leaves occasionally.
Light: prefers bright light.
8. ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas Zamiifolia)
If you find that a lot of your houseplants don’t make it in your hallway, a ZZ plant may be perfect.
It will cope with almost any hallway conditions, although it can grow to about three feet in each direction, so it’s not ideal for a cramped space or narrow hallways.
However, it will cope even with artificial light, as long as it doesn’t get too much direct sun.
Temperature: 60-75 degrees F (15 – 24°C).
Water: rarely, when the soil is dry.
Light: bright, indirect light but will tolerate lower light.
9. Hindu Rope Plant (Hoya Carnosa Compacta)
For those who have very limited hallway space but still want a bit of greenery, the Hindu rope plant is ideal.
It has rope-like tendrils that twist and sprawl, and its leaves are glossy.
Hindu rope plants won’t flower if the light levels are too low, but their foliage is still attractive and they can fit into almost any hallway, especially if there is some morning sunlight.
Temperature: 65 – 80 degrees F (18 – 27°C).
Water: water deeply and then allow the soil to dry.
Light: a little direct sun in the morning but will tolerate fairly shady conditions.
10. Purple Shamrock (Oxalis Triangularis)
A much smaller option for your hallway shelving units or windowsills, purple shamrock responds to changing light levels by opening and closing its leaves and flowers.
It’s a beautiful plant that doesn’t need direct light, but does like indirect sunlight, so you’ll need a reasonably bright hallway for this one.
Temperature: 60 – 75 degrees F (15 – 24°C).
Water: allow the top inch of soil to dry before watering.
Light: bright indirect light.
11. Aluminum Plant (Pilea Cadierei)
A striking plant covered in streaks of silver, this plant can get 2 to 3 feet tall, so you’ll a medium-sized hallway will likely be the best fit.
It will fill the space with beauty, however; its leaves are attractive and look great when kept in half-light, because the silver is particularly striking.
Aluminium plants start off small but grow fast, so they do need repotting more often than some of the plants on this list.
Temperature: 65 – 75 degrees F (18 – 24°C).
Water: water when soil is dry to ½ inch down.
Light: bright, indirect light.
12. Lucky Bamboo (Dracaena Sanderiana)
If your hallway is dark and narrow, lucky bamboo is a great plant to add. It doesn’t take up too much space, and you can train it into almost any shape you like, ensuring that it suits your home perfectly.
The tall, slender canes are a great way to accentuate a narrow space and add greenery even if you have very little room to spare and no head height for a hanging plant.
Choose a narrow vase, and you should be able to squeeze in a lucky bamboo in a hallway of pretty much any size.
Temperature: 65 – 95 degrees F (15 – 35°C).
Water: keep the soil slightly damp or grow in water, changed weekly.
Light: moderate or indirect light.
13. Jade Plant (Crassula Ovata)
If you love succulents, the jade plant is a perfect option to add to your hallway. It’s large, impressive, and has satisfyingly oval, thick leaves. These will shrivel to tell you the plant is thirsty.
These plants can get big, but they don’t mind being root bound, so they should be okay in most hallways, as long as there is enough light.
Jade plants need direct sun each day.
If your hallway doesn’t get much, consider a variegated variety, which may cope better, but will still need some direct sunlight.
Temperature: 65 – 75 degrees F (18 – 24°C).
Water: water well when the surface of the soil dries out.
Light: a few hours of direct sun per day.
Best Houseplants For Dark Hallways
Hallways often don’t get as much light as other parts of the house and for that reason, some plants might struggle.
Here are the best houseplants for dark hallways:
1. Ivy (Hedera)
Hung from a basket, ivy will thrive in limited light and should be fine in a dark hallway. Because it’s a climbing plant, it’s also ideal if you don’t have a windowsill.
2. Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum)
This lush green plant will cope well with shady conditions and is a good size for a hallway.
3. King Begonia (Begonia Rex)
If you want amazing foliage without too much light, the king begonia is a great choice. The king begonia makes for a great low light hallway because it has phenomenal coloration and, even though it’s not a big plant, it will make an impact.
4. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum Comosum)
Among the best plants for growing in limited light, spider plants are a hardy option for a dark hallway. They can be hanged on left to trail down furniture.
5. Golden Pothos (Epipremnum Pinnatum)
As long as your hallway gets a bit of light, golden pothos is a good way to bring a splash of green-gold color to your walls.
6. Philodendron
Philodendrons are iconic plants, sometimes confused with Monsteras, but they are ideal if you have a large hallway with limited light. They won’t thrive in total darkness, but they will cope with medium or low light levels.
7. Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema)
If you’re looking for a pop of color in your dark hallway, the Chinese Evergreen is gorgeous, and well suited for low light conditions. They are hard to kill and perfect for new plant enthusiasts.
Choose one with more green variegation if the light levels are particularly low.
8. Corn Plant (Dracaena Fragrans)
Corn plants make great plants for dark hallways because they actively dislike direct sun and will grow fine in a darker corner. They will grow tall and don’t need a big pot, making them great for hallways of any size or style.
Best Houseplants For Bright Hallways
If your hallway is getting enough light or you have an ultramodern corridor with glass walls, here are some of the best houseplants for bright hallways:
1. Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea Elegans)
As the name suggests, this is a very elegant plant to add to a hallway that gets bright, filtered light.
2. Flamingo Flower (Anthurium)
Anthuriums will be happy in a bright hallway that gets plenty of indirect sunlight. With their waxy, impressive leaves and colorful flowers, they will make a big impact.
3. Umbrella Tree (Schefflera)
This plant can be grown in lower light conditions, but it will have bushier, healthier growth if it gets enough indirect sun.
Medium-sized or wide hallways with plenty of bright-indirect light are the best for umbrella trees.
4. Prayer Plant (Calathea)
Bright, medium-sized hallways are the best hallways for prayer plants. No direct sun for this plant, but a bit of bright light will also maintain its amazingly patterned leaves.
5. Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus Lyrata)
This plant needs bright sun but not too strong. It will thrive in a hallway that gets medium sunlight for hours. Fiddle leaf figs get big and wide, so they work best for bigger hallways.
6. Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera)
Christmas cactus is perfect for a tight space and needs bright, indirect light to grow. It works great for tiny hallways or for keeping it on furniture.
However, if you want to see flowers, you’ll need to provide it with an uninterrupted 14 hours of darkness.
7. Flaming Katy (Kalanchoe Blossfeldiana)
This plant needs minimal other care, but requires bright light to survive and produce its vibrant flowers. Flaming katy is a perfect plant for hallways that need a splash of color and get plenty of bright light, even direct sunlight.
8. Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is another famous plant that works great for medium-sized hallways. If your hallway enjoys a medium amount of light, an aloe vera should thrive there.
Final Thoughts
No matter what your hallway is like, you can find plants that will make it breathtaking.
There are so many options for all sorts of arrangements, so whether the space is narrow, wide, dark, or light, you’ll find a plant that’s perfect.