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Plants in Interior Design: How to Make Your Home Flourish

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

Plants in kitchen interior design by Decorilla designer, Christian G.

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. 

Not sure where to start with adding plants to your interior? Then, schedule a Free Online Interior Design Consultation for help getting started today!

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

Delicate indoor plant design by Decorilla designer, Christian G.

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

Living room design with plants by Decorilla designer, Amy C.

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

Interior decorating with plants by Decorilla designer, Tiara M.

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 

Bedroom with indoor plant design by Decorilla designer, Christine M.

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.

Sweatheart Plant Care: Happy in low to medium sunlight, the sweetheart plant needs weekly watering.

2. Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree 

Scandi interior decorating with plants by Decorilla designer, Darya N.

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.  

Fig Tree Care: Place your plant in a sunny spot and water once a week or more when it’s dry.

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. 

Monstera Plant Care: Water your plant once a week and ensure it lives in a shaded area. 

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.

Palm Plant Care: These sturdy greens need partial to full sun and weekly watering.

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.

Snake Plant Care: It can survive in most conditions but grows best in indirect sunlight. Water your plant infrequently, allowing the plant to dry before its next watering. 

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.

Air Plant Care: Air plants need full or indirect sun, but fluorescent light will also keep them alive. Mist your tillandsias weekly. But if it’s dry, increase misting to every five days, or lower to every ten days for humid conditions. 

Faux vs Real Plants in Interior Design 

Open plan indoor plant design (left) and romantic bedroom by Decorilla designer, Rehan A.

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

House plants for interior design by Decorilla designer, Mary Ann R.

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

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. 

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.

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.

Draw Backs of Faux Plants

A part of the joy of caring for living plants is to watch their growth. Seeing something you’ve nurtured thrive is very rewarding. Plus, being ever-changing, live plants won’t become dull but grow into their pot and fill up a space over time. 

Unlike the real thing, faux plants won’t improve indoor air quality or humidity. 

Faux plants often don’t age as gracefully as their living counterparts. They tend to collect dust and fade over time. 

Real Plants in Interior Design 

Relaxing plants in interior design by Decorilla designer, Shofy D.

Interior decorating with plants is even more attractive once you hear the benefits of the real thing. However, like fake plants, living greens also come with drawbacks. We list the main features below. 

Benefits of Real Plants

Indoor plant design can uplift your mood. Lively green hues can reduce anxiety and stress and increase relaxation and focus. In turn, this can lead to more positive feelings. 

Plants in your home office or study can improve concentration and memory retention. Our work accuracy and performance tend to increase simply by being around a natural element.

Alive and breathing, some plants absorb toxins from the atmosphere and release oxygen in return. This is all thanks to photosynthesis. They can rid the air of numerous pollutants, like benzene, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide. 

Draw Backs of Real Plants

All living house plants in interior design need some level of maintenance, ranging from daily to monthly routines. Care can include watering, trimming, providing feed, and rotation as the season changes. Some plants are toxic and need to be placed out of reach of pets and children.

Like pets, your plants will also need a plant-sitter if you’re going on a getaway longer than five days. Most plants need at least a weekly watering to flourish, or else they might dehydrate and die.

As plants grow, they will shed old leaves. Depending on the species, this can amount to shedding a few leaves every other week or a daily fall. In addition, when plant care is insufficient or a plant goes into hibernation, it can look dull and droopy.

Placement for Perfect Indoor Plant Design 

Indoor plant design by Decorilla designer, Jessica S.

Indoor plant design starts like every other form of design – with inspiration and a plan. Once you know where is best for your plants, you can put your ideas into practice. But keep in mind that all living plants will need some light even if it’s from afar. 

Green Pops on Shelves

Interior decorating with plants can be so simple. With beautiful pots and fitting plants, you can add pops of color to your interior. Place one or two pretty plants on open shelves – one higher than the other – for a pleasing asymmetrical look. This can work in any interior style. 

Dangling from the Ceiling

Eclectic living room design with plants by Decorilla designer, Wanda P.

Whether you have a small or big room, interior decorating with plants doesn’t have to take up any space. Kokedama and hanging baskets, for instance, hang from the ceiling via C-hooks. So they’ll be out of the way but still bring the pleasure of refreshing greenery. You can install these in the bathroom, bedroom, study, or wherever you need to keep surfaces clear. 

As Wall Art

Through contemporary design, plants can even sit happily on a wall. This can be geometric wall mounts for air plants or even a vertical herb garden depending on your space. You can make the arrangement as elaborate as you want. What’s more, walls make great surfaces for house plants in interior design as they take up next to no space.

Complementing a Statement Light

Vines combined with a pendant light can make a beautiful statement. In fact, you can turn an ordinary space into something memorable. Simply add a plant, like Devil’s Ivy, a sweetheart, or a climber air plant, by wrapping its vines around the frame of a feature light. This can be above a dining table, sofa, or bathtub. 

Green Room Divider

A living room design is so much more fun with plants. It can go beyond mere decoration and into functional design. For instance, instead of a panel or screen, large potted palms and fig trees can double as a divider. 

Want to include plants in your interior design?

Not only can you perfect your indoor plant design, but you can also create your dream interior with professional online design services. Want to learn more? Then schedule a Free Online Interior Design Consultation today!

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11 ways to display house plants |

(Image credit: Mary Wadsworth / Future / Kitesgrove / Marc Bolton )

Decorating with plants is a wonderful way to bring life and vitality to interiors. There's nothing like lush greenery to brighten up a living space, plus the positive impact plants have on our health and wellbeing is well documented. 

With such a huge variety of indoor plants available, from dainty string of pearls to large bird of paradise plants and indoor trees like figs and citrus, the scope for decorating with plants is endless. 

Whether you're looking to liven-up the kitchen or bring calm to the bedroom, there is a house plant for every room and situation, so before you start decorating be sure to familiarise yourselves with the best indoor plants. 

To help inspire your plant choices, and how to arrange them, we've rounded up an array of botanical home decor ideas along with some tips from the experts.

Decorating with plants – the benefits

Decorating with plants has become hugely popular in recent years as we seek to reconnect with nature and bring its soul-nourishing, calming influence into our homes. 

Available in a host of shapes, forms, colors and textures, from large leafy palms to small shapely cacti, not forgetting flowering varieties, indoor plants make versatile decorating ideas and are used by interior designers as living forms of art.

'Plants have a sculptural quality, they are always changing and have such intricate details, and complement every type of decor style,' says Eli Manekin, founder of house plant store Loop Living . 'There really isn't any other design element like them, and they bring out the best in every interior. In short, they demand attention, which is what I think great art does.' 

Plants work well in all rooms of the house; for instance bathroom plants can really enhance this often overlooked room.

(Image credit: Future / Brent Darby)

As well as being beautifully decorative and scented, plants bring a wealth of health benefits. Not only can plants help purify the air, the activity of indoor gardening can be extremely mindful, plus carefully positioned Feng Shui plants are said to increase the flow of positive energy around your home.

However, before you leap to fill your home with house plants, be sure to pay attention to their care needs first. Different plants have different habits so choose plants suitable for the area you are decorating and position them in places where they will thrive.

Alternatively, for those that aren't green-fingered there's always the option to decorate with flowers, plus there are plenty of artificial plants available for an everlasting display.

1. Fill your shelves with house plants

(Image credit: Future / James Merrell)

For many interior designer and stylists, plants are a must have when it comes to decorating shelves. 

'Plants will bring an element of softness and freshness to any shelf, especially those that trail,' says Simon Temprell, interior design manager at Neptune . 'Succulents have architectural style and demand very little attention, so they can be useful for filling the gaps where objects feel a little too rigid.'

Featuring a mix of cascading ferns, spider plants and potted pelargoniums, this abundant display creates a feeling of an indoor jungle in this family living space.

2. Soften partition shelving

(Image credit: Future / Mary Wadsworth)

A selection of different indoor plants can make the perfect finishing touch to a room divider in an open-plan living room.

As well as providing pops of vibrant color, plants with sculptural, organic forms are a fabulous antidote to the strong architectural lines of contemporary partition shelves. 

Styled with a mix of plant species placed at different heights (from top: Devil's Ivy, Snake plant and Philodendron), these shelves help subtly zone this living and dining space while maintaining a light and airy feel throughout.

3. More is more

(Image credit: deVOL)

When it comes to decorating with plants don't hold back, as abundance is the key to a successful botanical theme, says Helen Parker, creative director at Devol . From shelves and windowsills and even hanging from the ceiling, think creatively about how you can use them to create an immersive and magical feel. 

'Just popping a couple of plants on your windowsill isn’t enough, they need to become part of the room,' she says.

'Abundance is important, the more you commit to the botanical theme the more impressive it looks, walking into a foliage-filled room is uplifting,' adds Parker. 'It is high maintenance but really worth the effort when they flourish and your room is ever-changing with new growth.'

4. Layer plants at different heights

(Image credit: Loop Living)

Layering plants is a lovely way to bring life and interest to a white living room. Choose a variety of forms and shapes and display them at different heights, either raised on stands or hung as part of a gallery wall, for an indoor jungle feel.

'Plants with variegated leaves and strokes of pink are great as decor elements because of their dramatic contrasts. They literally look like an artist created them,' says Eli Manekin.

'I always recommend potting in white planters in simple shapes, as these don't compete with your plant.'

5. Decorate with indoor trees to create a focal point 

(Image credit: Future / Paul Raeside)

If the indoor jungle look is too much, just a few carefully positioned can be enough to elevate a space. When decorating with plants, homeowners are increasingly searching for large statement plants to create a focal point say the experts.

'We are seeing a trend for people to use house plants not as accessories for a room but as an integral design element, treating plants the same way they would treat furniture or art pieces,' says Hollie Newton, chief creative officer of Sproutl . 'Using plants architecturally as part of a design scheme can instantly transform any space.'

For plants to make a statement try the banana tree, elephant's ear, pygmy date palm or indoor trees like citrus or fig trees. This weeping fig tree really makes the most of this high-ceiling Georgian dining room and helps lead the eye upwards to the beautiful architectural coving. 

6. Place plants on the windowsill

(Image credit: Leaf Envy )

The windowsill is the perfect place to display light-loving house plants. However, when it comes to how to care for house plants in winter, be careful about keeping them here – while they will appreciate the daylight, some can be damaged by the drafts and fluctuations in temperature.  

‘Be mindful of extremes – flowing air vents, fireplaces or proximity to exterior doors. Plants thrive in a consistent environment, where possible position plants away from areas that fluctuate frequently,’ advises Emily Wight, co-founder of indoor plant store Foli .

7. Arrange plants around the bed

(Image credit: Paul Raeside)

As places of recuperation and relaxation, bedrooms are the perfect place to embrace biophillic design – the practice of using nature to bring harmony. By placing the best air cleaning plants near your bed, you can help create a healthy environment for sleep. 

'Your bed is likely to be the centrepiece of your bedroom and can easily be freshened up by surrounding it with air purifying plants, which will help encourage relaxation and aid a good night's sleep,' says Beth Chapman, founder of Leaf Envy .

'Not only will clustering plants near your bed create a beautiful display, but they will also eliminate airborne toxins from your room. Try mixing medium size plants, like the Calathea Orbifolia, and pair with large plants that have arching fronds, like the Kentia Palm.'

8. Create a bathroom oasis

(Image credit: Future / Brent Darby )

Bathrooms can easily be overlooked when it comes to decorating with plants, but as humid spaces they make the perfect environment for many indoor plants, plus will help bring a magical, spa-like feel to the space.

'When selecting what plants you would like to add to your bathroom, consider the lighting in the space to ensure it’s suitable for your plants to flourish in,' says Leaf Envy's Beth Chapman. 'Dedicate windowsills to plants that require that extra bit of lighting, and for bathrooms with low lighting, opt for plants like the Boston Fern that loves humidity.'

9. Think about the container 

(Image credit: deVOL)

When arranging indoor plants think about the pot or container they are displayed in and choose a vessel to match your decor. Terracotta pots will bring rustic charm perfect for farmhouse kitchens while a woven basket would be perfect for bringing texture to a Scandinavian living room.

'I find potting plants up in old terracotta pots and vintage garden urns makes them feel more special and cohesive,' says Helen Parker of Devol.

Whatever pot or vessel you chose ensure it have good drainage – leaving house plants sitting in standing water is a recipe for failure!

10. Group plants on a table

(Image credit: Future / Carolyn Barber)

Whether part of your entry table decor ideas or displayed on a table by a window, clustering plants together is a lovely way to create a decorative focal point. For best results pick a variety of different leaf shapes and forms, and stagger the heights, placing the tallest at the back and small pots at the front. 

11. Brighten up a corner

(Image credit: Kitesgrove)

It can be tricky to know what to do with an empty living room corner, but adding a large houseplant will instantly bring purpose and brighten up the space.  

'Incorporating plants and greenery into a space helps it to feel layered and welcoming, adding natural texture, organic shapes and a pop of color to the room,' says Katie Lion, senior interior designer at Kitesgrove . 

'Here, we have added a fig tree into the corner of the room to visually soften the space and enrich the green tones within the room palette. Plants offer a sense of wellbeing and calm to a space, bringing the outdoors in for a balanced interior that you want to spend time in.'

How do you decorate a room with plants?

There are endless ways to decorate a room with plants. For maximum impact, layer plants of different shapes and textures – from trailing varieties to big leafy palms – and display them at different heights, to create an immersive, indoor jungle feeling. Alternatively, select a few statement plants to create focal points within a room. 

Plants are a brilliant tool for softening living spaces, particularly those with strong angles and architectural features, and look particularly effective incorporated into bookshelf ideas or grouped as part of your mantel decor ideas. 'Remember plants and greenery will add life to your shelving, so be sure to include them to bring a sense of the outdoors in and help ground the space,' says Emma Deterding, founder and creative director, Kelling Designs .

However, before you decorate a room with plants, 'the first thing to consider is the environmental needs of your houseplants: do they need plenty of direct sunlight? Or prefer somewhere dark and cool?' says Sam Hood co-founder and chief creative officer at Amara . 

'If this extra care sounds like too much work, faux plants or dried stems like pampas grass and eucalyptus look just as natural and can be homed in stylish vases and planters.'

(Image credit: Future / Paul Raeside)

How should I arrange my living room with plants?

There are many ways to incorporate plants into your living room from incorporating them into your living room shelving to hanging them as part of your wall decor. 

'Mixing different sizes, styles and textures of pots in complementary colours is a sure way to create an individual style and identity to your home space,' says Beth Chapman, founder of Leaf Envy.  

'Groups of three work well, in varying heights. If you like a more minimal style, try placing a favourite plant cutting in a propagation container as a feature and enjoy watching it flourish.'

(Image credit: Future/Paul Raeside)

Pippa is Content Editor on Homes & Gardens online contributing to Period Living and Country Homes & Interiors print issues. A graduate of Art History and formerly Style Editor at Period Living, she is passionate about architecture, creating decorating content, interior styling and writing about craft and historic homes. She enjoys searching out beautiful images and the latest trends to share with the Homes & Gardens audience. A keen gardener, when she’s not writing you’ll find her growing flowers on her village allotment for styling projects.

Plants in the interior: tips from designer Ilya Gulyants

Tips

Interior designer. Graduate and teacher of the International School of Design

Interior design is a way of creating and arranging the spaces in which we live and work so that they are comfortable and give us pleasure both visually and physically. And natural materials play a special role here: wooden furniture, stone finishes, animal skins that are used as carpets or for decorative pillows - all this is designed to constantly remind us of nature when we are at home. But perhaps the most important and rewarding way to bring nature into your home is through plants. nine0003

When I work with clients, the question never arises whether a space should include living greenery or not. The answer is always obvious. When it comes to good design, be it private interiors or offices, plants are a must. They not only decorate the home, but also reduce the amount of toxins in the air and improve its quality, not to mention the aromatherapy effect that certain types can have.

As a decor, indoor flowers are absolutely universal. Small specimens will look great on a small table or open shelving, while larger specimens can stand on the floor, filling the visual void (if your room has too little greenery and too much empty space, a plant in a tub is your option). nine0003

When choosing a location for an outdoor plant, make sure it has adequate light. Also, make sure the plant is suitable for its dimensions and the size of your room. So, for example, for attics or rooms with high ceilings, palm trees and other tall plants will be a good solution. But do not think that for small rooms this option is contraindicated. Oddly enough, large plants and small spaces are also compatible : such a "grotesque" solution helps to visually enlarge the space. nine0003

Apartment in Milan. Project by Paradisiartificiali studio.

When you decorate a room with plants, you should also remember that green is far from the only color that is available to you. Flowering plants serve as a bright accent that enlivens the space. So, for example, stylists and interior designers have long used the orchid in their projects, which they fell in love with due to its sculptural silhouette and attractive inflorescences. Wherever you put an orchid, it will always attract the eye, and with proper care, it will delight you with its flowers for a long time. nine0003

Photo
Legion Media

Nowadays, there is a large selection of pots, so that almost any indoor flower can be made a real interior decoration by choosing the right flower pot .

Hatchet Design Build.

Not all of us are experienced agronomists and gardeners: some plants can be difficult and time consuming to care for. But there are a number of indoor plants that are unpretentious and do not require special care. nine0013 For example, cacti or succulents . These desert dwellers do well in conditions unacceptable for more capricious plants: they do not need frequent watering and do not suffer from a lack of sunlight. In addition to their unpretentiousness and longevity, they also have a spectacular appearance that works very aesthetically in interiors with a modern design.

Cut flowers can also be used as a short term solution to add some life to your space . They take less time to care for and may even cost a lot less (depending on how often you change them). A vase bouquet is a great way to change up the look of your room without spending a lot of effort, it's a quick and easy solution to help lift your spirits and add some much-needed splashes of color to your decor.

There are many creative ways to fill your home with plants that combine aesthetics and functionality. For example, you can grow lavender at home or in the office to combat stress, or set up a “hanging garden” with herbs in your kitchen. Using small pots, you can grow many wonderful fresh herbs at home that will not only beautify the space, but also will add freshness and spice to your cooking .

For those who would like to start plants that are as hardy as possible and require minimal care at home, I would recommend paying attention to the following species: zamiokulkas, scindapsus, ficus, money tree (crassula), euphorbia, spathiphyllum, nephrolepis fern .

Well, if you don't have the skill or the luck to successfully handle plants in your home, but still want to feel the presence of nature in your space, there is always an opportunity to pay attention to accessories. Alternatively, to use the herbarium, beautifully arranging it in frames on the wall in trellis hanging .

Designer Ilya Guliyants

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    • Types of landscaping

    Despite the fact that there are many options for decorating a house with plants, landscaping is divided into two main types:

    Vertical

    Flowerpots are placed on vertical racks, shelves, planters and walls of the house. As a result, horizontal surfaces are unloaded, and if the decor is on the walls, they do not take up space. nine0003