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Designing a Green Kitchen: Best Plants for Cabinet Area

Discover the best kitchen plants and smart placement ideas to bring freshness, warmth, and natural style around cabinets.

By: THURSD | 27-01-2026 | 4 min read
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Plants for Kitchen Cabinets Header Image

The modern kitchens are no longer designed as a place just for cooking food. It has evolved as a haven where your day starts, conversations happen, and where your lifestyle choices and designs come to life.

One of the major trends revolutionizing kitchens is greenery that not only takes you closer to nature but also softens the surfaces, enhances air quality, and adds a soothing, homely vibe to the heart of the home. But not all plants can thrive well in a kitchen environment. Determining which plants would thrive and which would struggle depends on heat, humidity, exposure to sunlight, and cabinet positioning in the kitchens.

This blog will lead you through the finest plant choices and clever placement strategies around the cabinets to help you with your green kitchen design.

Plants That Grow Comfortably Near Kitchen Cabinets

Here we pen down different plants that thrive around cabinets while bringing warmth and life to your cooking space.

 

Potted indoor plants in modern kitchen
Picture by @wilder_eden_design_company

 

1. Pothos

Pothos, also known as Devil's Ivy plant, is one of the best plants for kitchen cabinets and popular for all the right reasons. It grows well in low to medium illumination and can resist irregular watering.

Reasons why Pothos is suitable for placement near cabinets:

To create a striking yet simple impression in your kitchens, plant Pothos in hanging planters or ornate pots on cabinet tops.

 

Green kitchen cabinets with indoor plants
Picture by @kasialiveingreen

 

2. Snake Plant

The snake plant is your best buddy if your kitchen does not receive much sunlight. Renowned for its air-purifying capabilities and upright leaves, this plant is virtually unbreakable and can hardly be destroyed.

Reasons it can be placed near kitchen cabinets:

Moreover, its vertical appearance looks great with sleek and contemporary cabinets.

3. Spider Plants

Good airflow and medium lighting make spider plants ideal for kitchens. Their arching leaves and little offshoots provide a great visual appeal and are thus a worthy addition to your cooking haven.

 

White flowers on dark green cabinets
Picture by @homewiththestewarts_x

 

Benefits of placing it near cabinets:

Spider plants go really well with open shelving cabinets, making your kitchen more inviting and naturally styled.

4. Herbs: Rosemary, Mint, and Basil

In the kitchen, edible plants provide unbeatable usability, and there is nothing better than having herbs that can serve a dual advantage. Herbs flourish in bright kitchens, giving both fresh fragrance and usage.

Reasons why they work well around cabinets:

 

Potted trailing plants on kitchen shelves
Picture by @zrobieni_naszaro

 

Just make sure that they get enough sunlight and are not situated too near the heat sources.

Smart Cabinet Arrangement Ideas

1. Over Upper Cabinets

Make good use of any distance between your cabinets and the ceiling for an eco-friendly kitchen. Trailing plants like Pothos or Philodendron give your kitchen a natural "green crown" that instantly accentuates the look of your kitchen.

2. On Open Shelves

Open shelves are the best places where you can add a green touch without changing the layout of your kitchen. Small plants set amidst your kitchenware break the monotony and also enliven your cooking space. But make sure that you turn the plants every few weeks because it helps promote even growth and maintains their freshness.

 

Indoor plants on bright kitchen shelves
Picture by @flourishplantstudio

 

3. Near Windows

Plants that prefer natural light, including herbs, would thrive in cabinet locations close to windows. Choosing pots and planters that coordinate with your kitchen color plan or cabinet finish for planting these sun-loving plants promotes a unified look and makes everything merge rather than appear unplanned.

4. Besides Tall Cabinets

Tall cabinets and pantry units often produce solid, seamless blocks that can feel heavy. Arranging a plant nearby helps to ease that aesthetic burden. Slim and erect plants like snake plants or rubber plants work well for such places because they echo the cabinet height without competing with it.

 

Potted plants on green kitchen windowsill
Picture by @peppertreeliving

 

Where Function Meets Fresh Green Living

Designing a green kitchen is about picking the appropriate plants that enhance daily life, work with your cabinets and fit in your kitchen easily. Cautious plant selection and strategic arrangement will make your kitchen feel fresher, calmer and more connected to nature without giving up usability. So, what do you wait for? Swear by this guide to create a classic kitchen that breathes green vibes!

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