Are you planning to redecorate or renovate your bathroom? Before you start planning a complete remodelling, you might want to consider sprucing up its appearance with a few bathroom-friendly plants.

Plants are one of the quickest and easiest ways to completely change the look and feel of your bathroom. But can plants even survive in the bathroom? If so, which ones? Here’s our guide to everything you need to know about adding some colour to your bathroom with beautiful plants.

Will Bathroom Plants Even Survive?

It’s easy to assume that plants will not do well on your vanity or by your bathtub, what with all that humidity, fluctuating temperatures and lack of sunlight. But while many plants will not last long in such conditions, some plants can actually thrive.

After all, many plants come from the rainforests where the conditions are incredibly humid, and as a result, they are more than happy in a bathroom environment. And while most plants need some sunlight, many plants are happy with low levels of light or even bright fluorescent lights if your bathroom has a small window or even no window at all.

As long as you choose wisely, there are many plants that are perfect for bathrooms. With that in mind, here’s our guide to some of the best bathroom plants you can add to your home to brighten things up and create a more tropical feel.

Bathroom Plants that Need Bright Light

We’ve divided this guide into plants that need bright or even direct sunlight and those that are quite happy without bright light. Here are the plants that prefer either bright direct or indirect sunlight, so they should be kept near to the window.

Asparagus Fern

Asparagus densiflorus is very happy in the humid atmosphere of the bathroom. It is best in bright light but does well in moderate light too, so try to keep this one by the window or under bright artificial light. They can grow large too, so keep that in mind. But be warned – they are also toxic!

Orchids

Various plants from the Orchidaceae family do very well in bathrooms, but they are best in bathrooms that don’t get too cold. They tend to do best in moderate or bright light, so leave them on the windowsill with no direct sunlight. The Phalaenopsis Orchid is a great choice – this small plant produces stunning flowers that last for months, and it will give your bathroom a real tropical feel.

Spider Plant

Chlorophytum comosum is a highly adaptable plant that is very happy indoors and does well in bathrooms. Don’t leave it in direct sunlight, but ensure it gets enough light near to a window. It is named for the off-shoots that grow from it, which are called spiderettes, and it is fantastic at removing toxins from the surrounding air.

Snake Plant

Sansevieria trifasciata, also known as Mother-In-Law’s Tongue, is very easy to grow and does best in bright light but not direct sunlight. It is a very tough plant that is easy to look after, and it has pretty leaves with yellow edges.

Aloe Vera

Aloe barbadensis miller is well known for its healing properties, but this plant looks splendid too. It should go near the window and get indirect sunlight, and it can often get all the water it needs from the humidity in the bathroom.

Philodendrons

There are several varieties of Philodendrons, and all are very easy to care for. They are happy indoors all year round as long as they get bright indirect sunlight, and these tropical plants do very well in humid bathrooms.

Bromeliads

There are lots of varieties of Bromeliads that come in all kinds of colours, and they all have a beautiful tropical appearance. They are easy to care for and produce lovely blooms in red, yellow and other colours that last for weeks.

Boston Fern

Nephrolepis exaltata is found in tropical rainforests and needs lots of humidity, making it ideal for bathrooms. It is happiest on the window sill with lots of indirect sunlight, and it’s a very low-maintenance plant. This lovely draping fern also works well in hanging baskets.

Begonia

There are lots of types of Begonias, and many like the warm and humid conditions of the bathroom. Rex Begonias are especially good indoors. They need somewhere bright with a little bit of direct sunlight for flowers, but others are best when not in indirect sunlight.

Gardenia

You can choose from various Gardenias that do well indoors, like Cape Jasmine. This tropical broadleaf plant is happy in the humid bathroom, but it does need bright light. It can grow up to about six feet, but you can prune it to keep it smaller.

Bathroom Plants that Don’t Need Bright Light

While most bathroom plants need bright indirect sunlight, here are a few that will do well even in low light conditions.

Zanzibar Gem

The great thing about Zamioculcas Zamiifolia is that it is incredibly tough. It only needs watering a handful of times a year, and it is known as being one of the easiest plants to grow indoors. It is happy in low light conditions, so it does not need to be near the window, and its lovely oval leaves look splendid in the bathroom.

Devil’s Ivy

Epipremnum aureum has splendid heart-shaped leaves with marbled patterns. It is another incredibly hardy plant that is virtually indestructible, and it can do well in either low light or indirect light.

Peace Lily

Spathiphyllum is an elegant plant that is very easy to care for. It does very well in the humidity of the bathroom, and while it prefers bright indirect light, it is usually fine in lower light conditions too. A native of the tropics, this is an incredibly tough plant and is one of the best at filtering pollutants from the air in your home.

Choose the Perfect Plants for Your Bathroom

These are some of the best bathroom plants you can find. They are all different and unique, but they are all able to thrive in bathrooms. So as well as updating the furniture and features of your bathroom, consider introducing some plants to add some colour to your bathroom today.