decorating with plants

hi, friends!

Today I’m sharing about one of my favorite design elements: plants!

House plants are a win on every level. Not only do they give a pop of color that compliments literally any design style or color palette, but they actually clean the air in your home while doing it! How great is that?!

There are a number of plants to choose from when decorating your home. As you weigh the options, here are a few things to consider:

1. Lighting. Make sure you research how much sunlight a plant needs before you purchase, and place it in an area of your home with appropriate lighting. For example, a ZZ plant does extremely well in low lighting, but a fiddle leaf fig needs to be near a window with plenty of sun to thrive.

2. Drainage. This one is SO important. The number one killer of house plants is overwatering. When your plant’s soil lacks sufficient drainage and it’s given more water than the roots can drink, the soil becomes waterlogged. When the soil doesn’t have a chance to dry out between waterings, your plant will develop root rot. It’s difficult to bring a plant back from root rot (trust me, I’ve made this mistake before!) The best way to keep your plant’s roots healthy is to use a container with plenty of drainage. You can use a ceramic pot with a drainage hole in the bottom and a coordinating saucer underneath to catch excess water, or you can use a disposable plastic saucer and place both the planter and saucer in a decorative basket or larger pot. I use baskets for my fiddle leaf figs and they are thriving! I also love the texture a woven basket adds to a space :).

3. Size. Because plants are living things, if taken care of properly, they grow. I know, I know, Captain Obvious here. But this really is something to keep in mind, especially for plants that will be living on a shelf or countertop. For example, I purchased my first ZZ plant as a baby and it was the perfect accent for my nightstand, but it quickly outgrew the space and I had to find a new spot for it! If you’re decorating shelving or some other small area and you want to avoid this problem, choose slow-growing plant varieties like succulents.

So, with those considerations in mind, here are a few tips for decorating with plants!

1. Rule of thirds. This is a classic design rule and there’s a reason it holds true. Grouping design elements into threes creates a sense of balance that is pleasing to the eye. When it comes to plants, you can cluster plants together or you can combine them with other items, like candles or decorative vases. Keep in mind that choosing items of varying height will result in the most visually pleasing outcome. Don’t be afraid to play around with different groupings until you find the best combination!

2. Less is more. Where my minimalist mamas at?! But really, even if you don’t consider yourself a “minimalist” per se, following the “less is more” rule almost always leads to a more polished outcome in decorating. I feel like this is especially true when it comes to plants. Strategically placing greenery throughout your home and allowing for some negative space lets those plants really shine.

3. Don’t fake it! Listen, I know it’s tempting to buy a fake plant from Target and just plop it on your shelf and forget about it. They’re less work, sure. But not only do they look tacky and do nothing for the air quality in your home, the production of those manufactured, plastic plants is terrible for the environment! Fake plants aren’t a substitute for the real thing, they are the antithesis of the real thing. (Can you tell I feel strongly about this?) Trust me, friends—you CAN keep a real plant alive, I know you can! Just say no to those plastic imposters :).

4. Variety is the spice of life. There are hundreds of plants you can grow indoors. Part of the fun of house plants is all of the cool varieties! From the shade of green to the size and shape of the leaves, there are choices for every space and aesthetic. Try using an assortment of plant types in varying sizes to keep things dynamic and interesting. For example, I have two fiddle leaf fig trees that nearly reach the ceiling, medium sized ZZ’s on plant stands, and several smaller varieties placed on bookcases and nightstands and countertops throughout my home. The different sizes, shapes, and textures are visually stimulating and honestly, just so fun! :)