Decorating with Plants
There are so many well-known physical benefits to implementing potted plants into your home – cleaning air, boosting mood, and reducing stress just for a few. In putting together key elements I use in accessorizing a space, some form of plant or greenery is absolutely within the top few no matter the kind of room. It adds color, texture, and an undeniable sense of life. Another great thing about decorating with plants is the versatility they offer in terms of scale; they can be small tabletop accents or act as a main feature in the room. Oftentimes, if a space needs just something a little more it can be the perfect ingredient that helps fill that void.
KINDS
Blooms – Adding cut flowers to your home is a great way to change the look or feel frequently. This can also be a bit of a downside because they will obviously need to be replaced. One of my favorite things to do on a weekend is visit local farmer markets and so bringing home a colorful in-season combination for the kitchen countertop is a really nice touch of delight throughout the week.
Blooming Plants – Plants don’t necessarily just need to be green. If you’re looking for something more colorful and cheery there are certainly options. More common choices could be an Orchid, Hydrangea, or Amaryllis. I like to use these as centerpieces or an accent in a room tied into the room as an accent.
Trees/ Floor Plant – They can range from a couple feet tall to 7-8 feet so paying attention to scale is going to be extra important with these selections. Think about the ceiling height in the room. Depending on the species, you’ll want to put an indoor tree in an area that provides the most favorable conditions. Light, temperature, and humidity will play a role so be ready to possibly move a plant like this around your home as the season changes and the sun comes in windows differently. A few popular options right now are a Fiddle Leaf Fig, Birds of Paradise, Olive Tree, Snake Plant, or Jade.
Easy Care – Succulents or Cacti are especially low maintenance. These are desert plants that require less water and light and are naturally heartier. These work as great accents in homes with more of a modern aesthetic.
Faux – If you are the kind of person that can absolutely not keep something alive, are gone often, or don’t have a spot with ideal conditions to maintain a plant there are some fake options out there and they have absolutely come a long way! There’s no shame if this is you, but I do still encourage adding some greenery to transform a space for the better. Here are a few of my go-to's:
How to Style
Obviously wherever there is a gap to fill or whatever feels right to the space I can’t argue with, but here are a few fool-proof spaces to add some greenery or plants:
Shelves
In my opinion the “shelfie” isn’t complete without some liveliness. Small plants work nice set on top of a stack of books or ones about half the height of the shelf create a finished look layered in front of a leaning picture or artwork.
Corners
Corners tend to create awkward spaces that become tough to fill, but a floor plant or tree is a great solution. This is a nice space to create a more layered look with 2 plants at varying heights, but in similar planters.
Hanging
Sometimes space is limited and hanging plants can be a nice go-to. Ferns, Spider plants, or Ivy are perfect for this application. Corners tend to suite hanging plants best, but do keep in mind if it is real that you’ll still want it within a closer proximity to a window.
Centerpiece
Generally this is in a more formal setting: Dining, Kitchen, decorated coffee tables. I love creating mini vignettes of items that may include a tray, books, candle, and some type of greenery. It is a great way to be able to add a variety of textures and heights on a single plane.
Whether your plant is hanging, on a table, or a home for a large indoor tree the planter is half the statement. This is an opportunity to further capture the design style your after or bring in some color/ texture that the room needs so don’t skimp! Classic ceramic planters come in so many styles, but concrete, woven baskets, or vintage vases are nice alternatives as well.
Plants have a magical quality to bring life to a space without making it feel too busy. It sounds cliché, but they really breathe life into your home while paying homage to the outdoors!
