A happy home is a plant-filled home. Natural elements, plants, and greenery is this season's top home decor trend. So, simply buy plants that you love and place them on display. Right?
Wrong.
Using plants as decor is simple, but not quite that simple. There are several elements you need to consider so that your indoor plants can survive as decor. Otherwise, you will have shriveling brown blobs and, let’s be honest, that doesn’t exactly scream spring.
WHAT PLANTS ARE USED FOR DECORATION?
Let’s start with the best plants to use for decoration. There are hundreds of plant species that make beautiful indoor plants. Succulents, aloe, and other tropical plants do well in warm climates. Certain tree species, like ficus and figs, are statement makers. And then, of course, hanging plants are a great option as well.
However, you should choose plants as decor based on your plant lady level. Beginners will do best with easy care plants and then you can work your way up to the more difficult to care for plants. Most nurseries show difficulty levels on their plant tags so be on the lookout for those care guides to decide what to use.
If you are brand new to the idea of keeping plants indoors, here are some foolproof plants that you'll love and they'll thrive no matter where you live.
HOW DO I BEAUTIFY MY HOUSE WITH PLANTS?
Now, let’s get to how to decorate with plants so that they both thrive and serve as beautiful decor! There are several things to consider when it comes to choosing houseplants:
Plant type
Placement
-Sunlight
-Temperature/humidity
-Size
Next, you need to consider elements of design once you’ve chosen your plants:
Room style
Functionality
Accessibility
Visual impact
CHOOSING HOUSEPLANTS AS DECOR
As mentioned above, choosing the right plant for your level of expertise will go a long way in sustainable plant decor. Yes, plants die sometimes, and that is nothing to fret about. However, buying 5 new plants and having them all die in the first month is simply a waste of money and time. So choosing the right houseplants as decor is the first step to success!
You’ll want to consider placement of your plants before you buy them. Do you have a large wall or window that's in need of accent? Looking for a new table centerpiece? Mantel decor?
When using plants as decor, take into consideration the style of the room, functionality and accessibility in the space and the visual impact you’re looking for. For example, tropical plants tend to have a more playful vibe than ivys or ficus, which lean more sophisticated. So if you have a formal living room, you may want to avoid succulents or tropical plants.
Similarly, you need to keep functionality and accessibility in mind. You don’t want to put plants in a space that you can’t access to water or that would be in the way of living in the space. Large plants should be tucked out of the way so they don’t get bumped and jostled, and smaller plants should be placed where you can easily water them (rather than high on a shelf, for instance).
And lastly, you want to consider the visual impact you desire. Some plants are made to stick out, like the monstera or other large houseplants. They make a statement in a room and serve as a focal point.
Smaller plants, like trailing philodendrons or peperomia, show off glossy leaves for a pretty and petite statement. They serve more as a decor accent rather than a show stopper. So as you plan, determine how you want your plants to serve as part of the overall design of a room. Start simple and "grow" from there.
Here's some inspiration just for you...