Are you dreaming of junglelicious windowless bathroom but you're terrified of killing the plants? I hear you. There is absolutely no reason why shouldn’t be able to create a beautiful jungle in your bathroom even without any windows. As they say: when there's a will, there's a way!
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In urban areas, most apartment bathrooms are built to maximise the practical use of space. This allows rooms we use more often on daily bases to get all the natural light.
Depending on the layout of a home, a bathroom window is placed in the shower or above the toilet. However, more often than not, bathrooms end up without any windows. Either way, it should be well ventilated.
Bathroom Plants That Grow in Low Light
When choosing the low light plants, you want to opt for the plants that will also thrive in humidity. Every plant needs a bit of light; however, some plants are more tolerant than others regarding the light challenge.
Generally speaking, plants with lighter leaf colours require more light than darker ones. But, of course, there are always exceptions.
Good plants for bathroom without windows:
1. Ferns
Whilst living nature they do well in shade, which makes this low light indoor transition easier. That doesn’t mean they do not need light at all, they just need more humidity than light. Even so, not all the ferns are the same and survive in very low light conditions particularly the ones that have a lot of white on the leaf. However, the ones that do well are Phlebodium aureum - Blue star, Asplenium nidus - Bird's nest, Dryopteris erythrosora - Autumn fern or Pellaea falcata fern (images in order as listed).
Get your fern online at patchplants.com.
Pair it with the minimal Mid-Century Modern Planter from Amazon and you've got yourself a stylish bathroom.
Large Ceramic Planter by Nicky Edmunds on Wearth London:
The brass planter with warm tones by Nkuku:
A little something to get you started - a cute pair of garden tools by Nkuku. Nothing too intimidating, especially if you are a beginner at plant parenting.
Do it right from the start and opt for eco-coir compost. Get your dose at forpeatssake.co.uk.
Stainless Steel Watering Can from Amazon to keep your plants healthy and hydrated:
Learn more about incorporating nature indoors and increasing your overall wellbeing with the Biophilic Design online course by Oliver Heath at oliverheath.com.
2. Philodendron
This is the kind that normally needs medium to the low-light environment. Like ferns, not all types of Philodendron like the same environment— some more than others are resilient to lower light. Philodendron that grows slower but still can live in your bathroom: Philodendron ‘Xanadu’ - Winterbourn (make sure you place it closer to the doors where it can receive medium-lower light), Pink princess philodendron, Rojo congo.
You could stack them on this beautiful Sustainable Handmade Solid Oak stand from Etsy:
If you have a smaller bathroom, I would suggest getting a taller plant stand. It will not only save you some floor space but add visual interest and make the room feel more elevated. In that range, multifunctional Wooden Pant Stand on Amazon is the perfect fit:
If modern and minimal vibes are more to your taste, the metal planter from La Redoute is the perfect fit.
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3. Calatheas
Another great house plants for bathroom are Calatheas, which belong to the family Marantaceae, from the tropical part of the world. The ones you could nurture in your bathroom are Calathea ornata, Orbifolia or Warscewiczii.
Shop for potted Calathea plant online at pathcplants.com.
With its lush dark green leaves, it goes perfectly with natural colours - like this Noko Seagrass Basket by Nkuku, made of sustainably sourced seagrass.
Reclaimed Iron Planter gathered from old storage drums:
If you fancy bohemian style, you might fancy this charming Boho Rattan Plant Stand:
4. Sansevieria masoniana
Order your Sansevieria online at Gardening Direct.
Perfect for tiny bathrooms thanks to its tall long growth. Looks very similar to snake plant. It can live in darker areas, but if you would like to grow faster move it in a brighter corner from time to time.
Let's not forget to mention the Snake plant and The Stem (cylindrical snake plant) - some of the most popular plants for a reason, as they tolerate any type of conditions.
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Maximise the space in your bathroom by choosing a taller plant stand. For a minimalist vibe my absolute fave is this handmade Metal Planter from Etsy:
If you prefer more organic look, how about this Sustainable 'Huffer T' Oak Stool by KONK, on Etsy:
Shop the plant stand on made.com.
Download your FREE copy of Sustainable Home Guide here.
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5. Peace Lily
This wonderful creature with glossy dark leaves can live anywhere. So versatile and easy to care, as long as you water it regularly. Get the Lily at patchplants.com.
If you have a tiny bathroom, you need to be creative with space and use every inch strategically. In small space, you have to thin tall, floating or hanging, anything that takes up the floor space as little as possible.
You could use a stool or even a slim side table, something like this one - Sustainable Handmade Oak side table by KONK:
Recycled cotton pot on Wearth London, if you're more on a minimal side:
6. Homalomena
I don’t know about you, but I absolutely looove these lush-looking plants that either grow out to be a beautiful large bushy wonder or hang gracefully in all the colours of the green rainbow (if that’s even a thing). It loves lower light and regular watering. The two types in particular - Homalomena Truncata and Selby.
You can order your Homalomena on patchplants.com.
If you fancy keeping all of your plants in one place, how about showcasing them on this beautiful handmade sustainable Oak Plant Stand by KONK, Etsy:
Add contrast with the black speckled pot from Amazon:
Increase your floor space with a floating Wooden Locker Shelf at Nkuku:
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Shop Plants & Accessories at Barbulianno Eco Picks
7. Air plants
Extremely easy to maintain alive. These low light green friends don’t need soil to grow. Air plants flourish in many different environments as they are native to the forests, mountains and deserts.
What makes air plants cool is that you can get creative in displaying them, a terrarium style can be a unique way of doing so. Take a look at these two cuties:
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The organic shape made from recycled glass - clear Viri Hanging Planters by Nkuku:
Seagrass Hanging Planter, Amazon:
8. Pothos
I have to say this is my absolute favourite. I know, I said it many times, but hey, who doesn't like pothos? Super easy to care for and doesn't require a lot of water or light. You could hang it anywhere you like and watch it grow (it does it pretty fast).
Order Photos online via patchplants.com.
If you fancy Bohemian style, a Macrame hanging planter is a great choice to hang your Pothos:
But if you're more on a minimalist, chic or modern side, this Atsu Brass Hanging Planter by NKUKU might be your cup of tea:
Add lux feeling with the black hanging planter from Amazon:
Or perhaps organic looking Wood & Cotton Hanging Planter on Etsy:
9. Lucky Bamboo
Lucky bamboo is really lucky, since you can find in almost every plant shop. It doesn't require soil to grow and it grows fast and tall. Another great pick for extremely tiny and dark bathrooms.
A glass vase where you can see the whole stem would be super flattering. The Lua Glass vase in organic shape by Nkuku is a perfect match.
Or perhaps the Miza Mini Glass Vase in subtle sophisticated colour palette:
10. Aspidistra Elatior - The Cast iron plant
A fantastic choice for a beginner plant parent. This plant can survive if you forget to water it and can be in extremes of temperatures and low light source.
To make this deep green leafy friend stand out event more, light tan colour of natural materials like rattan would be a perfect contrast. Something like this stylish Handmade natural rattan plant stands from made.com:
11. Aglaonema - Chinese evergreen
Chinese Evergreen is a tropical plant that enjoys high humidity and partial shade, which makes it perfect for a windowless bathroom. It is a piece of decor on its own with gorgeous pink leaves and white markings. Order your Chinese evergreen on Etsy.
Pair the colourful evergreen with a more neutral Affiti Clay Planter by NKUKU:
Or match the two with complimenting colourful ceramic planters:
12. Moss
For some, it might be an odd choice, but I think it can be beautiful, especially as a framed piece of art or a green wall. Also, keeping it alive is super easy - all you need to do is mist the surface a couple of times a week to keep it moist, or leave it to take in humidity on its own just by placing it near the shower. My top pick is the Moss Hexagon Wall Panels on Etsy.
13. Indoor Trees
Another great option is to add a bathroom tree to an empty corner. Indoor trees that thrive in low light are:
These are just some of the house plants that can survive without natural light. However you can always change them around and see what works the best for you.
How To Increase Natural Light In A Windowless Bathroom
Just because you don’t have a massive window in your bathroom, it doesn’t mean you can’t have some natural light coming through. Here are a few things you could do:
Keep the doors open - whenever the bathroom is not in use, remember to leave the doors open. It will allow natural light to sneak in from other rooms and feed the plants. You will also get rid of extra shower steam quicker and reduce potential mould situations.
A mirror is your friend if you use it right - depending on what layout you are working with and where most of the light is coming from, you should place the mirror to reflect the natural light coming from the other rooms. For example, you could hang the mirror on the wall closest to the bathroom doors or install full-length mirrored doors.
I selected the top five from handmade, vintage, reclaimed, sustainable or hand-painted mirrors for increasing natural light in the bathroom:
But what if you have a large mirror above the sink and add another one on the opposite wall? The light will have no choice but to shine through big time.
Before doing any of it, make sure you test it out and see what’s the best position for your bathroom. Read more about natural light benefits and ways to increase it - here.
Paint choice makes a difference - if you wish your bathroom to feel fresh, spacious and bright, regardless of the window situation, you need to choose your colours carefully. Warm colours, in general, are magical when it comes to reflecting natural light.
My personal favourite evergreen colour is white. However, choose the paint with a silk finish to maximise the light reflection. You can also wipe the silk wall easily, making it very practical. Learn more about how the colour of the wall affects your mood in the previous article.
Can Indoor Plants Survive Zero Natural Light?
Low light doesn't mean NO light at all. Even though all the above plants tolerate low light, you should still try to move your plants around from time to time and see what corner works best. There is no better way to learn than to try things independently and see what sticks.
Remember, when watering the plants that live in a low light environment, not to over-water them, as the soil takes longer to dry. One thing is for sure - if your plant is unhappy, you'll know.
Which plants will you choose for your bathroom jungle? Let us know in the comment section below.
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Thank you for reading!
Love,
Barbulianno
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