Plants and flowers look beautiful in the great outdoors, but they’re also a fantastic addition to your interior design too. If you don’t have a green thumb, don’t worry. There are plenty of plants that require little attention or light to thrive. We’ll help you decide where plants will best blend with your home and lifestyle. But first, a word on why it’s worth the effort.
Plants and other natural decor elements have a relaxing effect on the mind and body. Time spent in nature even has the power to reduce depressive thoughts. If you bring nature inside, it can have a similar effect.
Plants and flowers can also boost the effectiveness of an air purifier because they can absorb harmful biotoxins that come into the home with everyday products like carpet, adhesives, and ink. There are also species that absorb carbon dioxide during the day and release oxygen at night, making them the perfect addition to a bedroom.
With that, let’s get to how you can make plants work for you.
Unify with Shape or Colour
A mix of potted plants and flowers can look chaotic if there’s not a unifying element. Though the plants’ shape, size, and colours may vary, you can unify them with their pots. All white is a very modern, streamlined look. There are also eclectic pots in animal shapes or geometric shapes for an edgy look. Part of your choice will depend on the species of plants and their size, but from there, it’s all up to you.
Macrame Hangers
Macramé is back. These colourful, weaved hangers can be used for plants of any size. Hanging plants don’t take up any square footage. You also get some options in colour and thread/rope thickness.
Fill the Corners
Those empty corners with a low ceiling or behind an accent chair are perfect for a floor plant. Think about your taller varieties like a ficus or palm. While they do use some square footage, they add visual appeal in a vertical space that would otherwise remain empty.
Lively Center Piece
A row of succulents at the centre of your dinner table looks beautiful and inviting. In such a prominent position, they should have some unifying characteristic. It could be the size, variety, or pots. If you really want to get creative, you can use a piece of driftwood with a few air plants strategically placed for visual appeal.
Air Plants (Tillandsia)
Air plants are new and popular enough that they deserve their own mention. This family of plants does not require soil to thrive. You’ll find them hanging in glass orbs, resting in a terrarium, or filling an old drawer. They can survive almost anywhere given enough light, and they skip the mess of potting soil.
They’re easy to care for too. In the summer, they need to be soaked in water for 15 to 30 minutes once a week. When it gets cold out, they may only need to be watered once every two weeks. The only part of their care that’s even remotely complicated is the fact that they need to hang upside down after watering until they’re completely dry. This prevents mold or mildew from forming. It’s pretty simple for those of us who don’t have a green thumb.
Conclusion
There are many other ways to bring plants into your home. Look for empty spaces that could use some colour and visual pop. Most of the time, there’s a plant that can fill it. Be sure to look for plants that thrive in your climate too. Don’t buy a plant that needs full sun and heat if your days are mostly cloudy and temperate. Once you’ve got the right variety, the location, and the will, your plants will greet you with happy leaves whenever you walk through the door.
