Indoor gardening: The best plants for every room in your home

Springtime is here, the flowers are in bloom and outdoor gardens are coming to life, so bring the vibrant hues of the season indoors and surround yourself with the calming effects of household plants. Whether you get plenty of sun in your home or have a lot of windowless space, here are the best choices for every room in the house.

Photography by Vadim Kaipov

BATHROOM

When it comes to your bathroom, it’s important to choose a plant from a tropical climate that thrives in a humid environment. If there is a window that spills bright and indirect sunlight into your bathroom, then the pilea peperomioides (also known as the pancake, Chinese money plant or UFO plant) is your best pick. The majesty palm is another plant that loves humidity, and while they can handle low light from time to time, they grow best in sunny locations. Other popular choices for the bathroom include snake plants, fiddle leaf figs, spider plants or white orchids.

KITCHEN

The kitchen is one of the most used areas in the home, so why not fill it with colour and introduce some plant life this season. If you have a bright window sill and you want something easy to look after, then look no further than the aloe vera plant. Other hardy plants that are perfect for the kitchen include the English ivy, which prefers moderate light, but can adjust to low light if needed, or the beautiful peace lily, which tolerates darker spaces, but only blooms its pretty white flowers in bright light. Some other good choices for the kitchen include the air plant, Chinese evergreen, spider plant or the pothos.

“For something close to home, look at native Australian plants, such as succulents, a glossy Moreton Bay chestnut, or a kentia palm, one of the most popular indoor palms.”

Photography by Markus Spiske

HERBS

The kitchen is also a great spot to grow fresh herbs so you can add them to your cooking as and when you please – and they look great, too. If you have a sunny window sill, then basil and rosemary will thrive, but if your kitchen is on the darker side, then opt for less fussy herbs such as mint, parsley and chives. Other herbs to consider for your kitchen garden include thyme, oregano, dill and sage, but be sure to follow the care instructions as each herb will need different levels of water and sunlight, and some need to be harvested more regularly than others depending on the season.

SOMETHING SPECIAL

For all other spaces in your home, the indoor plant options are almost endless, so why not consider something unique – a real statement plant to bring your interior to life and create a talking point for guests. For something close to home, look at native Australian plants, such as succulents, a glossy Moreton Bay chestnut, or a kentia palm, one of the most popular indoor palms, which does well in partial shade, humidity, as well as cool conditions. If you like the look of a basket, then opt for a string of nickels, with coin-shaped leaves and stunning cascading tendrils, or the wax vine, with shiny foliage and star-like flowers that leave a beautiful fragrance lingering in the air.