6 Great Ways To Decorate With Plants
Interior design, as the name implies, is the process of creating and curating the inside of buildings, offices, and other structures so that they are comfortable and pleasing to the eye as well as to the body. I find it interesting and perhaps a little ironic to note how much of that process is dependent on how much outdoor space we are able to bring in. When we’re inside, we love to surround ourselves with natural elements such as wood furniture, stone finishes, and animal hides on rugs and cushions.
In spite of all of the ways we find to sneak nature into our homes, plants are probably the most important and beneficial. Whether at home or at the office, you cannot overlook the importance of having plants as part of your daily living space when it comes to good design. As a matter of fact, when I work with clients, it isn’t a question of whether the space should include plants, but rather about which plants are right for the space and its inhabitants.
In addition to your physical health, there are a variety of reasons to include a healthy dose of plant life in any and every room of your home. In addition to their aesthetic value, plants in your home reduce toxins in the air and improve air quality, not to mention the many and varied aromatherapy benefits they can offer. In addition to lowering blood pressure, it also enhances the performance of the mind and can even lead to deeper and more restful sleep.
There have been countless scientific studies that prove that plants are especially helpful to the ill, helping long-term patients reduce their level of stress. It’s clear that bringing green plant life into your home enhances the ambiance of the place. We’ve compiled six tips for green living that anyone can use, whether their thumb is green, blue, or any other shade in the rainbow.
Floor Plants
Whether you are designing a space for a client or updating your own home, any good interior design plan should look for ways to incorporate plants into the space. Moreover, plants add plenty of color and texture to decor, as well as providing a range of color combinations and textures. Plants are also awesome because they can be scaled to suit a wide range of needs. You can find them small enough to accent a tiny desk or a small, open shelving unit, or you can find them large enough to fill an entire floor space. An indoor floor plant can be a great solution if your room lacks green areas and is too bare.
Take a look at your house. You might not need to add more furniture to an empty corner the next time you realize that the space does not feel like it is complete. The floor plant could be the missing component that completes the decor and adds a sense of freshness to it. Plants are living, though, so you should keep this in mind. You should think about a few things before turning your favorite room into the new home for a floor plant.
Choosing where to place your floor plant in your space means making sure there is sufficient lighting. Consider a 6- to 7-foot plant for indoor residential spaces, and ensure that its size and scale make sense in the room. For example, a floor plant that touches the ceiling may seem like it’s consuming the entire space, while most furnishings are low to the ground. Despite this, if you are in a loft or if you have cathedral-style ceilings, you may have to choose a floor plant that is taller than ordinary. In smaller apartments, however, consider floor plants that go no higher than 3- or 4-feet tall and come in around 2- to 4-feet wide. Plants like these make a great alternative, and are less expensive as well.
Orchids
The next time you find yourself searching for plants to add to your decorating scheme, remember that green isn’t the only color you can choose from. In addition to providing all of the health and aromatherapy benefits of green plants, blooming plants can also add an extra pop of color to a room. Orchids have been a favorite flower among stylists and interior designers due to their sculptural design and vibrant colors. The way they’re positioned in a room setting makes an eye-catching statement that brightens the space. And with good care, they can last for many years.
Cut Blooms
You might want to use cut flowers to brighten up your space as an alternative to cultivating a plant. Cut flowers require less maintenance and less time than keeping a plant. The cost of flowers may be less depending upon how frequently you choose to replace them, as well as being less time consuming. It is possible to buy cut flowers for as little as two dollars. The cost can add up if you choose to continually replace the flowers because they don’t last as long as potted plants do (ideally). You can, however, change up the look of your room without spending a lot of money or time by changing your flowers. Regardless of how you go about it, cut flowers are a quick and easy option that can improve your mood, and add some much-needed color to your home.
Succulents and Cacti
Some of us don’t have the greenest of thumbs. There are a number of factors that go into caring for plants and you may find some to be more challenging to maintain than others depending on the type of plant, the climate in which you live and how much time you have available. If you’ve been unsuccessful in the past with plants – that is, they keep dying as soon as you water them – there are a lot of very hardy houseplants that you’re likely to succeed with and that will make your efforts more rewarding in the long run.
You might consider a succulent plant or a cactus for your home. Even though both are green and lively, they are desert plants that thrive in environments that are less than hospitable to other types of plants. The plants require only a little sunlight and water, and otherwise require little maintenance, so they are easy to take care of. In addition to their durability and strength, these plants also have an interesting appearance that blends well with modern interior designs. This is due mainly to their linear shapes.
Wall Hanging Herb Garden
Plants can be brought into any room in the house in a variety of fun and creative ways. It is best if the plant combines the aesthetic beauty of greenery and/or flowers with its functionality in a way that allows the plant not only to add to the look of the space but also be of some use, such as having lavender plants in the home office to help chase away stress.
It is also a good idea to have a hanging herb garden in the kitchen. By keeping different types of herbs in a small planter, you can both decorate the space as well as add a bit of freshness to your cooking with a variety of lovely, fresh herbs. Even better, setting it up couldn’t be easier. Just a few small planters and some wood screws can be used to beautify a brick wall. Planters allow you to create an interesting pattern without having to put together a series of shelves, allowing you to use your plants both as wall art and as kitchen aides.
Fake It!
If, however, you simply do not possess the touch, the patience, or the luck to be successful with plants of any kind but still want to incorporate nature into the look of your space, there are many ways to pay homage to the great, green outdoors without actually having them. A bit of faux greenery is all it takes to enhance your home’s appearance without having to deal with the hassle and the heartache of caring for plants.
When trying to create a plant-filled home, use your accessories, as well as your furniture. The simplest thing you can do to add a hint of plants into your home is to paint a floral scene on your ceiling or decorate your wall with a plant mural. Floral elements can even be incorporated into framed artwork, or simply incorporated into a living space with a floral focus. If aromatherapy is something you’re interested in, you can get therapeutic benefits from scented candles, diffusers, oils, and other products that make your space smell great. No matter which option you choose, none of them is likely to be as effective as the real thing, but when you don’t have the luxury of the real thing, a great candle might just do the trick.