As we step into Spring, many of us are looking for fresh ways to signal in the new season and refresh our homes, and what better way than embracing the viral #IndoorJungle TikTok trend?1 This trend turns your living space into a home filled with a variety of houseplants, which adds a botanical aesthetic but can also boost air quality and wellbeing.
Interested in this, experts at London rubbish removal company Rainbow Rubbish, outlined some of their expert tips on how to make the most of Spring by creating your very own indoor jungle in your home.
7 Tips for Creating an Indoor Jungle:
1. Maximise vertical space
If you have limited floor space, maximise your indoor space with hanging planters on your ceilings and walls, wall-mounted pots, as well as tiered shelving which not only saves space but also creates a lush, layered aesthetic that brings depth to your indoor jungle.
To achieve this: consider using fast-growing plants like pothos (Devil’s Ivy) or string of pearls to add a cascading effect.
2. Mix & Match Textures
A well-balanced indoor jungle isn’t just about greenery—it’s about variety. Instead of just using plants of the same variety, combine leafy ferns, vines and towering plants to create an indoor jungle that is full of textures of all shapes and sizes. Mixing different shades of green and leaf shapes can add visual interest and make your space feel like a natural oasis.
To achieve this: use plants such as Monstera, with its large leaves and air purifying qualities, or the glossy Snake Leaf Fern.
3. Upcycle & Repurpose
When you’re fully immersed in your yearly Spring clean, consider setting aside old pots, jars, tins, or furniture and give them a second life as plant containers. An old ladder can become a tiered plant stand, and vintage mugs or teapots make quirky homes for succulents. This way, you’re reducing waste while adding character to the room.
To achieve this: repurpose old containers to grow Succulents, Cacti, or even your own Herb Garden.
4. Group for Impact
You can make your indoor jungle mimic a jungle feel by grouping plants of varying heights to create a natural and organic feel in any room, and will help draw attention to the area, especially for busy areas like the couch or the kitchen table. Group one large and dramatic plant with medium and small plants, and for maximum impact, group plants with the same colours together.
To achieve this: A large plant such as the Bird of Paradise, medium plants like Player Plants and any small plants like Succulents.
5. Improve Indoor Air Quality
Most houseplants mentioned above not only look good, but they work hard too! Certain plants can help remove toxins from the air while increasing humidity levels. To help make your home fresher and healthier, they work best if you place them in bedrooms, living rooms, or home offices.
To achieve this: the best air-purifying plants include Snake Plants, Peace Lilies and Spider Plants.
6. Keep your plant care sustainable
You can care for your plant whilst also caring for the planet! Instead of tossing dead leaves and plant trimmings in the bin, if you have a garden, compost them to create soil rich in nutrients that will help your plants thrive. Consider swapping out chemical fertilisers for organic alternatives such as seaweed extract, or coffee grounds as these will provide natural essential nutrients. This not only reduces household waste, but in turn provides healthier plants.
To achieve this: most indoor plants mentioned will appreciate organic fertiliser, but you can be extra sustainable by adopting any of the air-purifying plants mentioned above.
7. Save water, sustain growth
Another way to keep your indoor jungle more sustainable is by conserving your water. There are many ways to do this, such as collecting rainwater in small containers, or repurposing leftover cooking water (like cool pasta or rice water) rather than throwing it down the drain. Another way is to invest in self-watering pots, which both minimise the risk of over-watering your plants as well as reducing your water waste. Habits like these help reduce your environmental impact and maintain a healthy green space.
To achieve this: choose plants like the Rubber Plant, Snake Plant and Cacti, as these only need to be watered once a month.
Dr. Sham Singh, Health Expert, comments on the psychological benefits of creating an Indoor Jungle:
“Setting up greenery and plants is associated with profound psychological and physiological health benefits. The soothing effect created by indoor plants promotes better sleep, as plants moderate humidity and oxygen levels, granting consumable settings for sleep. Plants like lavender and snake plants pump out oxygen at night, enhancing sleeping patterns. Thus we can deduce that greenery helps people wake less at night, relieving insomniacs or the stressed.
Plants might help relieve stress, acting as a natural touchstone for calm and relaxation, lowering physiological markers of stress. Engaging with plants lowers cortisol levels, the stress hormone, including activities like watering or trimming. Nature promotes mindfulness, grounding the mind and redirecting focus from daily concerns. This calming effect is associated with forest healing—lowering blood pressure and heart rate aids relaxation and emotional well-being.
Psychologically, plants uplift mood. Research shows indoor greenery increases dopamine and serotonin, neurotransmitters crucial to happiness and emotional regulation, which can be found in plants such as flowering varieties or pothos and ferns.
Houseplants act as natural air purifiers, thus improving air quality. Peace lilies, spider plants, and rubber trees filter toxins like formaldehyde, benzene, and carbon monoxide. Fewer respiratory irritants mean fewer headaches, congestion, and better lung function. A well-cared-for indoor jungle can also serve to regulate humidity levels indoors, saving the inhabitants from dry conditions that can irritate the skin and throat.
An indoor jungle may also improve our cognition, as studies tell us plants improve attention, memory, and general cognitive performance, species like rosemary and peppermint can help stimulate alertness and concentration, beneficial for those studying, or working from home. To maximise this effect, place plants as close to workspaces as possible and arrange them as found in natural landscapes, with a mixture of texture and height. Doing so will convey some of the psychological benefits attributed to biophilic design, awakening our mind-nature connection.”
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