Plants are, in the most literal sense, dirty. No matter how pretty your planters are, they likely get caked in dirt, leaves or petals, dust, and mud from watering. It’s fine when they’re outdoors for most of the year, but when it gets cold and you bring your planters inside, they bring that dirt in with them. And after a season of sitting on hardwood or carpet (or any other material) floors, your pretty planters are bound to leave behind some not-so-pretty rings when you move them back outside. So, the best place to store plants in winter to avoid a mess? The bathtub. Courtesy of West Elm You can store plants in the tub if you have a standalone; you still need to shower, after all. If you don’t use your bathtub often, putting that empty space to work as your plant center for a few months keeps dirt, water, and other debris contained. Once those planters go back outside, the bathtub is easy to scrub clean. Even better, it looks amazing. And if you have pets or little ones in the house, keeping plants safely out of reach in the bathtub is a safe option, too. We first stumbled upon this smart idea at the West Elm Holiday House, a collaboration between West Elm, StreetEasy, Sherwin Williams, Leesa Sleep, Sonos, and more to put top holiday decorating ideas on display in a made-over New York City apartment. The primary bathroom in the Holiday House featured a bathtub overflowing with potted plants that gave the whole room a lively, jungle-like feel. In the midst of winter, when you’re chilly and gloomy from the lack of sunlight, wouldn’t it be nice to preserve some space in your home for tropical greenery? Alternatively, a rarely used sink can also serve as an excellent spot for storing your plants during the winter. If you have a large standing shower, you can even set a thirsty plant in the driest corner. And if you keep indoor plants all year long, there’s nothing wrong with keeping them in the bathroom, especially if you really don’t use that tub. The goal is to keep the (inevitable) mess contained and the plants alive. And if it also comes with a little decorative flair, all the better.
