Living, breathing, and delightful. Plants have crept into interiors, and they are here to stay. Their colors bring such richness indoors a room is incomplete without them. What’s more, using plants in interior design can increase your aesthetic appeal in no time, not to mention added health benefits to bringing the outdoors in. Read on for everything you need to freshen up your space with greenery!
Interior Decorating with Plants Tips and Tricks
Indoor plant design dates back to 1,000 BC, China. Far from functional, pot plants were purely ornamental. In fact, having cultivated flowering trees in a home was a sign of nobility and status. As the adoration of manicured greenery continues, so does the accessibility. Stunning flower markets pop up near neighborhoods and nurseries. Anyone can have a jungle-esque indoors. And all you need for a flourishing space is to stick to the basic principles of interior decorating with plants. Here are the first few to get started.
Assess Your Space
Plants can fit any room, big or small. But it’s still vital to determine which type will work better in your interior. For instance, a kokedama or wall planter is great for a small room with a limited surface area. On the other hand, a large potted tree fits the drama of a spacious family room with a vaulted ceiling. You can also include a plant-only shelf as a living decoration.
Get to Know Your Plants
When decorating with plants indoors, you need to be mindful of how much sun and water your plant needs. You can pick from a wide range of low-maintenance greenery. This includes shade, semi-shade, full-sun, evergreen, and deciduous plants.
Pick the Right Container
The pot or planter box must meet two criteria. It must match your interior style and also be big enough to hold the correct soil and drainage. You can even opt for wall-mounted arrangements, like moss or herb walls.
Play with Heights & Sizes
Make the most of your vertical and horizontal space. Arrange various plants – from tall to slim and stubby – in clusters to create a balanced vignette.
Best House Plants for Interior Design
Some plants in interior design simply do better than others. Here are the hardiest, fastest-growing, and most beautiful greens for indoor plant design.
1. Sweetheart Plant
Cascading and wonderful. The sweetheart plant is a versatile climber perfect in a hanging basket, pot, or wall-mount. Its leaves sprout bronze before turning a deep, rich green. Their trailing vines make an exceptional focal point in a corner or near a bookshelf. However, it can irritate skin and eyes. So it’s best to keep your sweetheart out of reach from children and pets.
2. Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree
A popular choice for house plants in interior design, the fiddle leaf fig tree is as hardy as it’s beautiful. Its paper-like leaves are evergreen and sturdy. They won’t flop or drop to leave branches bare. So easy to care for, the fig tree is a wonderful addition to living rooms.
3. Monstera
Bold monsteras, also known as delicious monsters, are plants that thrive on little attention and less sunlight. If you want to spruce up your living room design with plants, this is a low-maintenance plant to try. For a bold feature, pick a big wing-leaf monstera, and for a delicate arty look, choose a split-leaf Philodendron varietal instead.
4. Palm
Palm trees come in all shapes and sizes. But what unites them are lush fern-like fronds that spring from the ground. These leaves lean slightly to form a green fountain shape that shades the surface below. They work equally well as a small desk plant or as a big and exuberant feature in a large room.
5. Snake Plant
Strikingly sculptural, the snake plant (also known as mother-in-law’s tongue) is one of the hardiest plants you’ll find. This never-say-die succulent is believed to rid an interior of negative energy. Moreover, its ribbon-like leaves are air purifying. In fact, they can absorb harmful chemicals like benzene and formaldehyde.
6. Air Plants (Tillandsias)
The two plant families that need the least maintenance and care are air plants and succulents. While tillandsias absorb their nutrients from the air, succulents live off the soil. For this reason, spiky-leaf air plants are the least demanding and most versatile of all living plants in interior design. They can even anchor onto any object, given it’s stable and offers grip. These green pops look exceptional in glass terrariums or wall-mounted vases.
Faux vs Real Plants in Interior Design
At times, you’ll have to choose between real and artificial plants in interior design. Each category has its benefits and drawbacks. But when designed correctly, every plant – true or faux – can be marvelous.
Faux Plants in Interior Design
Artificial house plants in interior design are great for commercial spaces and hard-to-reach places. Here are their set of pros and cons.
Benefits of Faux Plants
– Cost-Effective You get what you pay for, and you save on maintenance costs. There is no gamble on whether a plant will survive or not. The artificial plant you choose will remain while you have use for it. – Reduced Maintenance Faux plants in interior design offer near-effortless green goodness. No more trying to remember watering days or which plants need sun and which don’t. Apart from dusting, your artificial blooms need no attention whatsoever. – Avoid Allergies Artificial greenery is ideal for those who struggle with allergies but love to bring nature indoors. You can have your favorite shrubs and flowers without suffering from stuffiness.