Not all houseplants have to be plain green.
Some of the best indoor plants are colourful, patterned, dramatic, and honestly a little chaotic — in the best way.
Whether you love:
- pink leaves
- deep purple foliage
- silver shimmer
- striped patterns
- bright tropical colours
…there are loads of indoor plants that can completely change how a room feels.
Here are some of the best colourful indoor plants that genuinely stand out indoors.
🌸 1. Calathea
If you love dramatic foliage, calatheas are hard to beat.
Some varieties have:
- pink stripes
- deep purple undersides
- silver patterns
- almost painted-looking leaves
They look incredibly expensive and make even boring corners feel styled.
The catch?
They can be slightly dramatic about:
- dry air
- underwatering
- cold drafts
But honestly, once you understand them, they’re manageable.
👉 A pebble tray or small humidifier helps massively with calatheas.
💗 2. Pink Princess Philodendron
This is probably one of the most famous colourful houseplants online.
The leaves are dark green — almost black sometimes — with bright pink variegation.
No two leaves look the same.
They’re expensive compared to normal houseplants, but if you want a true statement plant, this is definitely one of them.
Just remember:
more light usually means stronger pink colouring.
🌿 3. Tradescantia Zebrina
Honestly one of the easiest colourful houseplants.
And one of the most underrated.
The leaves have:
- silver stripes
- deep purple tones
- trailing vines that grow quickly
It looks gorgeous:
- on shelves
- in hanging pots
- spilling from bookcases
And unlike some “Instagram plants,” it’s actually pretty forgiving.
👉 Hanging planters work beautifully for trailing tradescantia.
❤️ 4. Croton
Crotons look almost fake sometimes because the colours are so intense.
Think:
- orange
- yellow
- red
- green
- even almost neon shades
They bring serious tropical energy into a room.
BUT:
they need bright light.
A croton in a dark corner usually becomes a sad green stick.
If you have a sunny window though, they’re stunning.
💜 5. Purple Oxalis
This one feels almost magical.
The deep purple leaves open during the day and close slightly at night.
It’s compact, unusual, and very different from typical green houseplants.
It also produces delicate pale flowers that look beautiful against the dark foliage.
One of my personal favourites for adding colour without needing a huge plant.
🌱 6. Polka Dot Plant
These are small but ridiculously cheerful.
You can get varieties with:
- pink spots
- white speckles
- red patterns
They’re perfect for:
- desks
- bathrooms
- shelves
- little pots grouped together
They do like moisture though and can get leggy without enough light.
🌿 7. Aglaonema
If you want colour WITHOUT high maintenance, aglaonema is honestly one of the best options
Some varieties have:
- bright pink stems
- red edges
- silver leaves
- camouflage-style patterns
And they’re much easier than calatheas.
A really good “colourful but low-effort” houseplant.
👉 These colourful aglaonema varieties are beginner-friendly and surprisingly easy to care for.
🌸 8. Nerve Plant (Fittonia)
Tiny drama queens.
But very cute ones.
Fittonias have bright veins in:
- pink
- white
- red
against dark green leaves.
They collapse dramatically when thirsty… then recover a few hours after watering.
Honestly stressful the first time it happens.
But they’re great for terrariums, bathrooms, and smaller spaces.
🌿 Tips for Keeping Colourful Houseplants Happy
One thing many colourful plants have in common?
They usually need:
✅ brighter light
✅ more stable watering
✅ slightly higher humidity
Without enough light, many plants lose their strongest colours and revert greener.
That doesn’t mean you need a jungle greenhouse setup though.
Even simple things help:
- moving plants closer to windows
- rotating them regularly
- using grow lights in winter
- avoiding dark corners
👉 A simple grow light can make a massive difference during darker UK winters.
Final Thoughts
Colourful indoor plants can completely change a room.
And honestly?
They make indoor gardening feel much more personal and creative too.
Whether you love:
- dramatic pink leaves
- dark purple foliage
- tropical reds
- silver shimmer
- trailing striped vines
…there’s definitely a colourful houseplant for your space.
And once you buy one colourful plant?
You’ll probably end up wanting ten more.