7 Bathroom Plants That Are Natural Dehumidifiers
There’s something oddly satisfying about walking into a bathroom that smells fresh, looks lush, and doesn’t feel like a steam room after a shower.
If you’ve ever wondered why your tiles feel permanently damp or your mirror fogs up just from brushing your teeth—yep, you’re not alone. Bathrooms tend to trap humidity, and while exhaust fans help, they’re not always enough.
So what can you do when you want your bathroom to feel spa-like but not swamp-like? Add plants.
Not just any plants, though—we’re talking about houseplants that naturally absorb moisture from the air. Yep, nature’s little dehumidifiers.
Why Use Plants for Bathroom Humidity?
Here’s the thing—plants breathe. They take in moisture through their leaves and roots and release oxygen.
Some are especially good at slurping up excess moisture from the air, making them ideal for humid spots like bathrooms. And bonus: many also purify the air while they’re at it.
Plus, plants just look good in bathrooms. Whether it’s a tiny shelf over the toilet or a hanging pot near the window, that pop of green instantly softens up all that cold tile and porcelain.
Best Bathroom Plants That Help Reduce Moisture
Let’s walk through some of the green MVPs that thrive in humidity and help manage it.
Boston Fern
Ah, the Boston Fern—frilly, full, and basically made for steamy bathrooms. It’s a natural humidifier, yes, but it also works in reverse.
When there’s excess moisture in the air, it absorbs that too. They love indirect light and a nice warm room, so a bathroom is basically their dream home.
Peace Lily
Peace Lilies aren’t just pretty—they’re powerhouse air purifiers and moisture-absorbers.
They can suck humidity right out of the air, and as a bonus, they also help break down mildew-forming spores. If your bathroom has a window, they’ll be especially happy.
English Ivy
This one’s kind of a superstar when it comes to moisture and mold. English Ivy’s trailing vines soak up humidity and filter out airborne mold particles.
It’s also gorgeous when draped from a high shelf or trailing down from a hanging pot.
Spider Plant
If you’re terrible at plant care (hey, no judgment), the spider plant is your low-maintenance bathroom buddy. It thrives in steamy air, sips up humidity, and adds that fun, spiky energy to the room.
They’re super easy to propagate too, so one plant can become many.
Tillandsia (Air Plants)
Air plants are wild little things—they don’t need soil, just air and moisture.
They’ll absorb humidity straight from the environment and are happy living in wall-mounted glass orbs or tucked into shower nooks. Just mist them now and then if the bathroom ever gets too dry.
Orchids
You might not think of orchids as practical, but they’re actually quite helpful in humid spaces.
Native to tropical rainforests, they love steamy bathrooms. They draw in moisture from the air through their leaves and roots and reward you with those stunning blooms if they’re happy.
Snake Plant (Sansevieria)
Good ol’ snake plant—tough as nails and one of the few plants that releases oxygen at night.
While it’s not the most aggressive moisture-absorber, it still pulls some from the air and helps keep mold levels down. Plus, it looks modern and sculptural, which always helps.
Do They Really Dehumidify?
Okay, let’s be honest—no plant is going to totally replace a good bathroom fan.
But adding a few of these green beauties can absolutely help balance humidity, freshen the air, and reduce that gross damp feeling that lingers after showers.
It’s not magic, but it’s nature doing what nature does best.
Where to Place Them?
- On window sills if there’s indirect light
- Hanging from the ceiling (spider plant and ivy love that)
- In the shower niche (air plants, hello)
- On a shelf above the toilet
- Right on the vanity, if space allows
Mix and match a few, and suddenly your bathroom’s gone from “meh” to mini rainforest. Minus the mosquitoes.
