Outfitting a room with stylish furniture and art is all well and good, but odds are you'll still feel like something is missing. Nothing adds vivacity, texture, and warmth to an indoor space quite like houseplants.

To keep things interesting try one of these seven houseplants that will make your home feel extraordinary, whether you style them as part of a windowsill arrangement or let them stand on their own. As a bonus, most of them are easier to care for than you might think!

Christmas Cactus

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As its name implies, the Christmas cactus blooms when the temperature drops, usually from around November to February. When it's cold and gray outside, many indoor gardeners turn to this plant for a bright and cheerful burst of color. In fact, with its chains of flat leaves and tubular flowers in pink or lilac, it's hard not to look at this striking plant!

The Christmas cactus is part of a family of epiphytic succulents that hails from the forests of Brazil. That means that whereas most cacti are associated with hot, arid conditions, the Christmas cactus likes humidity and filtered sunlight.

It prefers to be watered slightly more frequently than desert cacti, but is still quite drought-tolerant, hardy, and low-maintenance, making it a great choice even for those who are new to the world of houseplants.

Boston Fern

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The Boston fern may not blossom into vivid colors, but its crisp, cascading fronds add a sense of freshness and refinement to any room. Place yours in a hanging basket, or on a bookshelf or tall plant stand, to maximize the impact of the fronds as they arch gracefully downwards.

This fern loves indirect light and humid environments. Although this is a more drought tolerant variety, you should regularly water your Boston fern. It usually stays green and attractive all year long, though it may take on a crunchy texture in winter.

Jade Plant

Jade plant

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This hardy succulent is popular around the world for its easygoing nature and charming appearance. With its fat, glossy leaves and crowning woody stems, it might remind you of a tiny forest.

Jade plants are very well suited to being houseplants, as they like warm, dry environments. Since they store water in their leaves and stems, they are quite drought-tolerant. But, you need to make sure they get enough light. When picking a spot for your new plant, choose one that gets at least four hours of sunlight per day.

They are also very easy to propagate. This way you can extend the life of your plant or possibly gift one to a friend. Jade plants are great for containers, they grow slowly but can live for decades with proper care.

Pro Tip: If you're comfortable with pruning shears, try shaping a well-established jade plant into a bonsai succulent.

Hoya Carnosa (Wax Plant)

Hoya carnosa

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The hoya carnosa, also called the wax plant or porcelain flower, is among the most romantic houseplants you can find. In either spring, summer, or fall (depending on the variety) clusters of delicate, glossy, and amazingly uniform pink and white flowers burst from its trailing vines.

Many wax plant owners choose to make the leafy vines of these houseplants appear denser by looping them around a trellis and securing them loosely with florist's wire.

The wax plant prefers bright, indirect light and enjoys having its leaves (not flowers) misted. This is an easy-care plant, but be patient; it may take a couple of years before you see blooms. Fortunately, the thick, shiny foliage is beautiful in its own right.

Nerve Plant

Nerve Plant

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The tropical nerve plant packs a huge punch, with colorful veins running through its green leaves. Depending on the variety you choose, the veins may be bubblegum pink, bright white, dark red, lavender, or one of many other colors.

These houseplants are relatively compact and can be grown in shallow soil, making them excellent choices for hanging baskets or small pots.

Although you don't need a lot of gardening experience to grow nerve plants successfully, they are not particularly easygoing, so pay close attention to their needs. Nerve plants thrive in moderate to cool temperatures, filtered medium or bright light (avoid direct sun), and consistently moist soil.

African Violet

Since its discovery by explorers in the forests of Tanzania back in 1892, the African violet has become a true classic among houseplants. These dreamy little flowers with their nests of fuzzy leaves now grace end tables and windowsills all over the world.

Though originally all violet, they are available today in a seemingly endless range of bold colors, ranging from pink to blue, with some varieties solid and others patterned.

African violets like plenty of filtered bright light, high humidity (place them near a humidifier if your home is dry), and careful watering. Avoid getting their petals and leaves wet to avoid crown rot!

Make Your House a Home

Of course, houseplants are about more than just the final product. As many people discovered during the pandemic, watching a young plant become healthy and vibrant under your care can be incredibly fulfilling. This is all the more so when you're growing houseplants you truly love.

So, bearing in mind your home environment and the amount of maintenance you can handle, do some research and have fun finding your next special plant!

Let us know what houseplant you chose in the comments!