So, apparently, it’s Spring here in the Northern Hemisphere. While the days are definitely longer and the sun is most certainly higher, it’s still been pretty cold here the last few days so it doesn’t quite feel like Spring. But there is one thing I almost always do at this time of year: bring in more leafy houseplants. Over the winter, when the air is dry and we don’t have a whole lot of sunlight, my plants suffer. Not all of them, of course, but there are always, sadly, a few fatalities. But in Spring, I get to go ‘plant shopping’ again, knowing that at least for a good 6 months or so, my plants should survive rather nicely.
Yesterday, I spent my day potting up a few of my new babies (some of which are seen above) and replacing some of the ones that have sadly not survived but I was thinking while I was doing this how much I use plants in styling my home. Without them, my rooms somehow feel a little incomplete. I adore how much colour and life plants bring to my home and how they seem to soften a space, giving it a more relaxed vibe. As you know, I love a bit of glam in my interiors but adding a bunch of plants takes a little of the stuffiness out of the glamour.
I thought today we can talk a little bit about how to use plants in your own styling. I’ve used plants in my home for so long now and so I thought if we had a look back on some of the variations of ways I’ve used them, you might gain some inspiration for using them in your own styling too.
Styling Plants On Shelving
I love dotting a few plants on any kind of shelving. I tend to use my smallest plants for this but trailing plants work really well too. When you are styling shelves, I tend to start with my biggest items first – so things like books, boxes or items that carry the most visual weight and then layer in plants. The smallest items can be added in last to fill in any negative space although you don’t want to clutter up every single last available spot. Give your plants a little breathing room to allow them to shine.
For my kitchen seen above, I’ve used faux plants, simply because they don’t get a whole lot of sunlight inside the shelves but I may swap them out to some smaller plants that can tolerate lower light levels over the summer. Even a pineapple can be used to add some additional greenery – you can get creative when it comes to your styling – anything that adds a bit of an organic touch is fair game.
These were my old office shelves and while I recently replaced this unit, I have realised there aren’t any plants on it. I think after looking at this photo, I need to add a few back in! The touches of greenery just give the whole scene so much life. Now, if I can figure out how to keep Maidenhair Ferns alive, I’ll be all set.
On my bar cart, I always add a little bit of life (you can see my post on styling your bar cart here) but on the shelving above, a few wee plants always look great, just punctuating the other items on the shelves and adding some colour and life.
To Add Height to a Vignette
Another way I use plants to style in my home is in vignettes. I change up my coffee table probably once a month or more but there is almost always a plant on there in some form or another. You can see my post on styling a coffee table here but one of the elements you always want to include is something with a bit of height. So a nice tall leafy number is great for that.
Styling Plants to Draw the Eye Up
One other way I like to use plants is to draw the eye upwards and you can do this in three different ways.
Plants in High Places
First, consider putting a trailing plant on top of a shelving unit, a wardrobe or on top of your kitchen cupboards. Plants are a little more unexpected in these high places so they’ll naturally draw your eye upwards, creating more height in a room.
Hanging Plants
The second way to do this is with hanging plants from your ceiling or your walls. They’ll naturally make your ceilings look taller – just don’t do what I do and forget to water them!!
My trailing philodendron as seen below sadly hasn’t survived the winter so it’s been replaced with a string of pearls which I’ve been told are a bit easier to care for. I’ll let you know how I get on with that one!
Using Large Plants and Trees
And the third way to draw the eye upwards is to use a really large plant to add visual height to a room. My fiddle leaf fig is my pride and joy in my living room because it’s just so large, it really makes quite a statement.
I somehow managed to kill this Kentia Palm but I’m actually considering getting another because, my goodness, they are just pretty beasts. I am determined to have another go.
Styling Plants in Groups
And finally, I love to group them into a little jungle. One thing you might want to bear in mind when doing this is to use plants of different sizes and leaf shapes so they contrast against each other.
This is also the best place to add a few fauxs in because it’s difficult then to tell the real from the fake so don’t be afraid to mix them up a bit.
So those are my top tips for styling plants! Do you find yourself using plants in your own styling at home? What’s your favourite way to style them up? Go on and share in the comments!
Love the Fiddle Leaved Fig. Where did you get it?
Such great advice in this post. Totally useless to me though as I seem to have the blackest thumbs known to man! I am terrible at remembering to water, if I do I go overboard and drown the darn things! I recently got a string of pearls from Bloom & Wild, determined to keep it alive, but nope, the binmen took it this morning. RIP little plant.
I think I am just going to embrace it and go all faux – especially with a baby on the way I know I am not ever going to be able to prioritise plant care the way I should. I just hope I am more successful with growing children! :-) xx
You’ve inspired me to go plant shopping. For real plants this time. I’ve killed so many maiden hair ferns though I think I’ll just leave them be. x
Such a fab post Kimberly! I really need to add some greenery to my home. Any tips on the best places to source – both real and artificial? Would make another great post topic I think.. xx
Lovely! Names on ones to go for would be great, and agree on places to source….I see all these amazing plants on blogs (partic the likes of EH) and I just wish I knew what they were all called/where to get them??). Thank you!
It’s good to have someone recommend real plants for a change. I am getting slightly bored with seeing the same ‘faux’ plants on instagram!
Gorgeous post Kimberly!! I’ve not got any plants in the bedroom but that’s my next place
I knew I was going to love this post even before I read it! 😃🌿💚 You style plants beautifully 👌.
I love your fiddle leaf plant! I’ve just done some spring plant shopping too, although I got one of those lovely ferns you’ve got and it died, sob! x
Pot plants and I have an unhappy and unhealthy relationship – I’m much better with growing things outside. I’ve bought a few faux plants recently, which have made quite a difference, but I need nicer pots for them. Slightly off track, I was working with a construction company yesterday, where the environmental manager had organised a ‘bring a plant to work’ day today – how brilliant is that? It made want to have a proper job again!
I’ve begun to love having plants in the house. We have a little palm in the living room and I love the splash of greenery it adds x
LuxeStyle
Yeah yeah yeah. PLANTS!!
They’re the ultimate styling tool and only require a teeny bit of thought really. Most people I know overwater their green babies. Let me know how you get on with the String of Pearls. That’s on my list. Maidenhair Fern, that IS NOT. Gawd, that was so hard to look after.
Love your pics Ms D!xx
I do love a good plant post, and there is nothing better than seeing real plants. Weeping figs, Peace Lilies and Boston ferns are easy to look after all they need is a bright room, and watering well through the summer but sparingly through the winter. I keep trying with the Maidenhair Fern, it’s beautiful when I first buy it than it goes down hill fast. I also love to see cacti, they come in so many different shape and sizes, you can but them in any part of your home.
Kimberly what is the hanging plant you have got in your bedroom It looks good xxx
I’ve realised that I have absolutely no greenery inside my house whatsoever, after reading this I’m inspired to get some although it’ll have to be faux – I have no green fingers at all, hence the absence!
Loving this post! And yes would love your advice on sourcing – garden centres and B&Q around us all seem to have the same 3 types of house plant!
Beautiful pictures as always. Styling with plants looks soooooo good. Glad to hear I’m not the only plant killer though and at least now I know which plants to avoid. I’d like to hang some plants from my ceiling next as I’ve run out of surfaces to put them on now. Need to look into trailing ones I think!
Love this ! I’m moving in to my new place today (eek!) and really excited to go plant shopping – do you have any recommendations for beginners (/plant killers!)? Rx
oh I do love plants and I think they make such a difference and add so much more depth… However I kill all my plants and I’m always travelling, so for now faux plants will do :) A x
After discovering your blog for a month. I have to say that you are so professional Kim. Every corner seems shining through your photos.
I want to have a green area (garden) on my terrace. How can it be possible ? Please help me if this is even possible ? I always wanted to have a garden on the terrace of the first floor of my house.
Hi Andy, of course it’s possible! You’ll just want to look at using pots of course. You can also use wall hanging planters to add some greenery, hang a few plants from above if it’s covered and plenty of potted plants on the floor or on side tables, etc – you can even use things like artificial turf to create a little ‘lawn’ (some of the recent advances in the way they make turf is incredibly lifelike). Everything is possible ;) xx
Stunning!
Would be great if you could let us know where you usually heading for a plants.
Thank you!