10 Best Houseplants for a Relaxing Spa-Like Bathroom
Even a few well-placed bathroom houseplants can completely change how a space feels.
The best part is that you don’t need a modern bathroom or a full renovation to achieve the look. Plants do most of the work, adding life, texture and colour in a way that instantly makes the space feel more inviting.
Bathrooms were one of the first places I experimented with displaying houseplants, although my rented bathroom didn’t get much natural light. It took some trial and error (moving plants around and finding the right spots) but that’s all part of the process. Over time, it became less about “perfect styling” and more about creating a space that simply felt good to spend time in.
If you’re looking to create a more relaxing bathroom using plants, these are some of my favourite houseplants to start with.
String of Bananas
It’s a low maintenance, easy to care for, and works especially well in brighter bathrooms with plenty of natural light. When placed higher up, the trailing vines can eventually reach impressive lengths, creating a dramatic, cascading effect against the wall.
Because it prefers the soil to dry out between watering, it’s a great option if you want something fairly low effort while still making a visual impact.
To really show off the trailing shape, try placing it on a shelf, above a cabinet, or in a hanging plant holder to bring more greenery up into the space without taking up valuable surfaces.
2. Anthurium Clarinervium
This is one of those plants that instantly draws attention. The large, heart-shaped leaves and bright veining give it a bold, sculptural look that works beautifully in a bathroom setting.
It prefers bright, indirect light, so placing it near a well-lit window away from direct sun will help it thrive. Because it can be sensitive to constant humidity fluctuations, it tends to do best in bathrooms that stay relatively consistent in temperature and moisture levels.
A bright guest bathroom or downstairs toilet can be a great spot for this one, somewhere the striking foliage can really stand out and become part of the overall styling of the space
3. Golden Pothos
This is where the indoor jungle feel really starts to come together.
Golden Pothos is a fast-growing trailing plant that works beautifully in bathrooms, especially if you want to create a fuller, more relaxed spa-like atmosphere. The vines can either trail naturally from a shelf or be guided around the space using small clips to encourage climbing along a shower frame or wall.
Pairing it with eucalyptus inside the shower instantly makes the room feel fresher and more calming, even in a smaller bathroom.
It’s also one of the easier houseplants to care for, making it a great option for beginners. Since it tolerates lower light conditions fairly well, it’s ideal for bathrooms with smaller windows or limited natural light.
If you’re feeling inspired to create your own hanging displays, the Daisy Chain plant hanger kit pairs beautifully with trailing plants like this.
4. Ferns
Ferns are perfect for adding softness and fullness to a bathroom without taking over too much space.
Depending on the size, they work beautifully styled along the edge of a bathtub, on a windowsill, above cabinets or even on top of a toilet cistern to bring a little more life into unused corners.
Because they naturally grow in dappled light in the wild, they’re usually more forgiving in bathrooms that don’t receive constant direct sunlight. As long as the room gets a reasonable amount of natural light, you can experiment with different placements to see where they thrive best.
Their softer shape also pairs really nicely with harder bathroom surfaces, helping the space feel calmer and more balanced overall.
5. String of Hearts
If you’re able to add a ceiling hook or hanging point in your bathroom, String of Hearts is a beautiful choice for creating that relaxed, trailing look.
This delicate succulent produces long cascading vines covered in small heart-shaped leaves, which can eventually grow several metres in length when given enough space. Hanging it higher up really allows the plant to become part of the room styling rather than just another plant sitting on a surface.
Place it somewhere bright with plenty of indirect light and, over time, the vines will develop beautiful soft purple tones along the stems.
6. Tradescantia
If you’re looking for a fast-growing trailing plant that’s easy to care for, Tradescantia is a great choice.
There are lots of different varieties available, with Tradescantia Zebrina being one of the most popular thanks to its striped purple and silver-toned leaves. It adds an instant pop of colour and works especially well in bathrooms that need a little more vibrancy.
To keep the colours rich and the growth full, place it somewhere bright with indirect light. In lower light conditions the stems can become thinner and more spaced out over time, but trimming these back and moving the plant into a brighter spot usually encourages healthier growth again.
7. Succulents
Succulents make some of the easiest and most versatile bathroom plants, especially if you’re working with a smaller space.
Because they stay fairly compact, they’re perfect for styling on windowsills, shelves, toilet cisterns or little unused corners that need a bit more life and colour. They also make lovely gifts thanks to how simple they are to care for.
Most succulents prefer the soil to dry out fully before being watered again, making them ideal if you want something lower maintenance and easy to manage.
The main thing they do need is plenty of light, so they’ll be happiest in brighter bathrooms - particularly west or south-facing rooms where they can get enough sun throughout the day.
Grouping a few different shapes and sizes together can also help create that calm, spa-like feel without overwhelming the space.
8. Rubber Plant
Tall plants are one of the easiest ways to fill an empty bathroom corner and make the whole space feel more finished and balanced.
A Rubber Plant works especially well for this. Its large glossy leaves add structure and depth, helping smaller bathrooms feel fuller and more styled without needing lots of extra decor.
They can grow surprisingly tall over time, making them ideal if you want to bring more height into the space. Place yours somewhere with plenty of bright, indirect light, while avoiding intense direct sun which can scorch the leaves.
Combining taller plants like this with smaller shelf plants and trailing greenery is what really creates that layered, indoor jungle feel, even in bathrooms you can’t fully renovate or redesign.
9. Monstera
If you have a little more floor space to work with, a Monstera is one of the best plants for creating instant impact in a bathroom.
The large split leaves bring so much life and movement into a space, helping the room feel fuller, greener and far more relaxing without needing lots of extra styling.
Monsteras also grow fairly quickly in the right conditions and are surprisingly easy to care for, making them a great option if you want something statement-worthy without too much maintenance.
Placed near bright, indirect light, they can completely change the atmosphere of the room, making everyday routines feel a little calmer and more enjoyable.
10. Neon Pothos
Last but definitely not least — the Neon Pothos.
Yes, another pothos… but this one deserves a spot for its vibrant lime-green leaves alone. The brighter colour instantly lifts a space and adds a fresher, more energetic feel compared to deeper green houseplants.
Like other pothos varieties, it’s low maintenance, fast-growing and easy to style around a bathroom. The long trailing vines can eventually reach several metres in length, making it perfect for higher shelves, cabinets or hanging displays that help make use of awkward or empty spaces.
It’s one of those plants that adds impact surprisingly quickly, especially when combined with softer textures and natural materials throughout the room.
Want to try a DIY?
If you’re feeling inspired to create your own hanging displays, this simple jute plant hanger tutorial is a great place to start.
Or, if you’d prefer something a little more guided:
Planning your own jungle spa bathroom?
If you’re thinking of creating multiple hanging plants throughout your bathroom, working out the right cord lengths for different plant pots and spaces can quickly become confusing.
I created a simple macrame cord calculator to help you customise your plant hangers based on your own pot sizes, ceiling heights and bathroom layout, making it much easier to plan everything before you start.
