There’s nothing like lush greenery or flowers to brighten up a space and make it more inviting and layered. Fun fact? Houseplants are also proven to positively boost our mood, increase productivity, and reduce stress- some improve our air quality too! Soo, get decorating with plants if you haven’t yet.
I like to think of houseplants as being just like pieces of furniture or home accessories, each with a specific function and place. Here are my tips and ideas to help inspire your plant choices and how to arrange them in your home
Start with the room. Is your kitchen in need of an indoor tree to fill a wide, tall corner? Perhaps your bathroom needs a lush accent, or maybe there’s a shelf in your living room longing for some greenery. It’s crucial to have a clear idea of where your new plant will sit, the size required, and the role it will play in your room. Do you need a statement plant, or perhaps just a dainty string of pearls to inject some life and colour into your side table?
Look for the light. Next, look around your room and notice how much natural light is available, the paint colour and the general style of the space—be it rustic, modern, or eclectic.
Picking the right plant. Now it's time to pick your plant. Be sure to pay attention to their care needs. Different plants have different requirements so choose those suitable for the area you are decorating and place them where they will thrive. Consult with your florist or keep the plant’s labels, as they help determine what your plant prefers. This is essential to keep them alive. A lot of plants like the Fiddle-leaf fig, the Snake Plant and the China Doll Plant, need sunlight, so I like to keep them in open and bright spaces. However, plants such as ferns, the Silver inch plant, the devil’s ivy or monsteras prefer shade so they live in our snug or the living room away from windows.
Looking to create a focal point in your room? You might need a statement plant. Consider the Banana Tree, Elephant's Ear, or indoor trees like Citrus or Fig Trees.
Styling your houseplants. Place plants on the windowsill. This is a great way to display light-loving houseplants. I love having little herb vases on our kitchen windowsill and the girls have one tiny geranium plant each in their room planted inside two of our little Bambino vases. They add such a natural, rustic touch to the space.
Ever tried adding plants to your shelves? You can create little clusters or use little shadow-loving plants to break up your book collection. I absolutely love our little Fern in our bookcase styled in our Pinet pot.
Bathrooms are often overlooked when it comes to adding flowers or greenery but they provide the perfect humidity levels for many indoor plants, like the Boston Fern, the Spider plant, the beautiful Philodendron Xanadu, the Pothos and the Bird's Nest Fern.
Lastly, your bedroom. It’s fascinating how some (quite a lot actually!) plants can absorb harmful toxins from the air while making your bedroom look more calming and inviting. Try the English Ivy or the Ficus if you’re looking for a plant, and the Peace Lily plant or the Chrysanthemums plant for a touch of colour.
Oh and…if you’re not green-fingered, faux plants have come a long way since the ’90s and are a great alternative!
