Decorate with plants

Plants improve our homes and well-being

It’s entirely natural to see plants as living beings to which we create relationships. They bring a familiar and homely feeling to your new home.

Just as we intuitively know what styles we like, we prefer some plants over others. Geraniums might remind us of Grandma’s lovely veranda, or a lush palm tree might be something we’ve always dreamt of. Interest in plants grows by the year, and cultivating our green friends is becoming an increasingly important, relaxing and creative part of how we furnish our homes.

Decorate with plants

Plants and the how we present them can truly reinforce a given style, and never before have so many choices been available when it comes to furniture designed for this very purpose. Pedestals and wall shelves give us plenty of room to play when it comes to placement, while elevating plants to decorative new heights that also bring them more light. Little flower tables and rolling carts are other popular places to gather your plants, preferably next to books, magazines

Simplicity is beautiful, and a budding branch from nature will bring immediate vibrancy to a still life.

and other favourite odds and ends. Terracotta pots were once the only natural choice – but as our interest has grown, so has the selection of beautiful pots and watering cans. Glazed pots in shades of grey and green create a soothing, harmonious look, and for a larger plant or tree, a sculptural pot in a rusty shade of red can create a furnished and nicely grounded impression.

Choose plants to suit your style

As with all interior design, there are trends in plants. Succulents, close cousins of the cactus, are easy-care options that are steadily rising in popularity. They store moisture in their thick leaves and create a beautiful, decorative appeal in groupings or still lifes. Another growing trend is the desire for bigger, tree-like plants that lend character and a sense of excitement to a room. Two favourites, irrespective of trends, are the monstera, with its distinctive deep-green leaves, and the fresh green leaves of the fig tree – both are popular classics that work well with most styles.

Which plants are right for you?

All plants need light, but some are extra sensitive to direct sunlight. So it’s best to choose plants that will thrive in the light they will get, depending on the direction the room faces. As for watering, some plants want to be watered often and may be less suitable if you travel frequently, while others are hardier and can survive for two weeks without water. But plants are like people: make your choice based on personal chemistry and first impressions, and see if you thrive together!