Why Your Bathroom Needs a House Plant
The best place to recreate a rainforest in your home is where it's already hot and steamy. Here's how to work greenery into any bathroom
Unless your bathroom is devoid of natural light, it’s likely a houseplant will be happy to grow in it. The moist air produced by baths and showers reminds many plants of their jungle or woodland ancestry and helps them to flourish.
While they thrive, you benefit from their natural greenery, which makes a nice contrast to ceramic fixtures and cool tiles. Plus, with so many plants to choose from, there’s a shape and style to suit any scheme, from cute and compact to lush and jungly.
While they thrive, you benefit from their natural greenery, which makes a nice contrast to ceramic fixtures and cool tiles. Plus, with so many plants to choose from, there’s a shape and style to suit any scheme, from cute and compact to lush and jungly.
Match the plant to the decor
Take the thought-through approach and choose a houseplant that mirrors or complements your decor. The patterned leaves of this
mother-in-law’s tongue (Sansevieria) naturally echo the chevron design of the wallpaper.
Practically speaking, this plant is also ideal in tight spaces, as it grows smartly upwards, with leaves that don’t flop or spread.
Decorating schemes that turn over a new leaf
Take the thought-through approach and choose a houseplant that mirrors or complements your decor. The patterned leaves of this
mother-in-law’s tongue (Sansevieria) naturally echo the chevron design of the wallpaper.
Practically speaking, this plant is also ideal in tight spaces, as it grows smartly upwards, with leaves that don’t flop or spread.
Decorating schemes that turn over a new leaf
Consider a cloche
Covering plants with bell jars or cloches has become fashionable recently. It’s a way of styling a simple houseplant, picking it out and helping it to look consciously chosen and positioned, rather than plonked.
Covering plants with bell jars or cloches has become fashionable recently. It’s a way of styling a simple houseplant, picking it out and helping it to look consciously chosen and positioned, rather than plonked.
Introduce an orchid
Delicate and elegant, orchids are a beautiful addition to any room. They also do particularly well in bathrooms, as they need 50-70% humidity and warm, moist air circulates here every time someone takes a shower. Make sure there’s adequate natural light, though, for this plant to really thrive.
Delicate and elegant, orchids are a beautiful addition to any room. They also do particularly well in bathrooms, as they need 50-70% humidity and warm, moist air circulates here every time someone takes a shower. Make sure there’s adequate natural light, though, for this plant to really thrive.
Hang it up
Hanging a plant is a great way to introduce some greenery to a bathroom short on space. Keep surfaces clear by hooking up a pot containing an attractive trailing plant.
Hanging a plant is a great way to introduce some greenery to a bathroom short on space. Keep surfaces clear by hooking up a pot containing an attractive trailing plant.
Try something space-age and sculptural
Plants don’t have to look wild or shaggy; they can look just as neat and contemporary as the scheme into which they slot. The roots of these two specimens have been disguised by white pebbles and, instead of a humble pot, they’re encased in a pillar of glass. This won’t be to everyone’s taste, but it’s certainly original.
Plants don’t have to look wild or shaggy; they can look just as neat and contemporary as the scheme into which they slot. The roots of these two specimens have been disguised by white pebbles and, instead of a humble pot, they’re encased in a pillar of glass. This won’t be to everyone’s taste, but it’s certainly original.
Go totally green
Installing a living wall in your bathroom is quite a design commitment, but, once thriving, it will add a wonderfully lush, natural feel to your space. Suddenly, taking a bath will feel like dipping into a woodland pool.
15 creative vertical gardens
Installing a living wall in your bathroom is quite a design commitment, but, once thriving, it will add a wonderfully lush, natural feel to your space. Suddenly, taking a bath will feel like dipping into a woodland pool.
15 creative vertical gardens
Create a jungly vibe
Tall plants create a jungly feel in any room and add welcome height and lots of living greenery to a scheme. Position tall plants close to the bath, so you can lie back and stare up into the leaves.
Tall plants create a jungly feel in any room and add welcome height and lots of living greenery to a scheme. Position tall plants close to the bath, so you can lie back and stare up into the leaves.
Channel country style
Create a relaxed, informal vibe with plants in vintage enamelware containers. Forget styling them or positioning them under lights. Instead, just pop them on a windowsill for an easy-going look.
Create a relaxed, informal vibe with plants in vintage enamelware containers. Forget styling them or positioning them under lights. Instead, just pop them on a windowsill for an easy-going look.
Soften up
A single plant will gently knock the austere edges off a contemporary bathroom. Here, a scheme made exclusively of concrete and wood gains a dash of softening green via a houseplant. Choose a specimen without angles or spiky leaves to provide ultimate contrast, as seen here.
TELL US
Do you have plants in your bathroom? Share your tips for helping them thrive in the Comments below.
MORE
Browse more great ideas for plants
A single plant will gently knock the austere edges off a contemporary bathroom. Here, a scheme made exclusively of concrete and wood gains a dash of softening green via a houseplant. Choose a specimen without angles or spiky leaves to provide ultimate contrast, as seen here.
TELL US
Do you have plants in your bathroom? Share your tips for helping them thrive in the Comments below.
MORE
Browse more great ideas for plants
A single houseplant marooned in a bathroom can look like something of an afterthought. Two houseplants, on the other hand, add balance and create more impact. Choose two different species for variety or a couple of matching plants for a sweetly symmetrical look.