Decorating With Plants

My home just doesn’t feel complete without plants. I love how they (literally) bring life to a space and the organic shapes are a beautiful contrast to the clean lines of furniture pieces. I have over 40 (!!!) houseplants now, and over the years I’ve learned how to incorporate them into my decor while also keeping them alive. Today I’m sharing my tips for bringing plants into your home too!

Work with your Plants

This may be obvious, but I think it bears mentioning: plants are alive! You can’t just put them anywhere and expect them to thrive. I certainly know the frustration of thinking a plant would be the perfect thing for styling a certain spot, only to realize that there just isn’t enough light there. I like to choose plants with a variety of light needs so I can pepper them throughout my home. I actually have a blog post with my favorite easy care plants if you’re just getting started! Keep in mind though, there’s no such thing as a plant that doesn’t need light; that’s where faux plants come in! No shame in adding some faux plants; I have some in my windowless kitchen and bathroom to keep the jungle vibes flowing throughout my space.

My living room is blessed with a big southwest-facing window, so I place my most sun-craving plants directly in front of it: my huge bird of paradise, burro’s tail, string of pearls, and other succulents. I love having plants styled throughout the room rather than just in one cluster, so I have plants that need full but not direct sun pulled back from the window, like my dragon tree, rubber plant, and Chinese evergreen.

Tip: Use S hooks to attach plant hangers to your curtain rod! Easy to move around, and I like to rotate them every so often so all sides of the plant get sun.

Pepper Plants Throughout the Room for a Cohesive Look

I love adding plants to any and all shelves as well to add life and interest, provided there is enough light. When styling my shelves, I pick spots for the plants first and then style my other items around them. My alocasia doesn’t like direct sun, so I placed it on a lower shelf. There’s some trial and error when it comes to finding what works for your plant and your decor, but just make sure to pay attention to your plant to make sure it’s happy in its new spot!

Tip: you can use baskets as plant pots, just keep your plant in the plastic nursery pot it came in and put a lid or container inside the basket to catch the water!

I really like my home to feel like a jungle, so I vary the sizes of my plants and place them at different heights in the room, as you can see in the two photos above of our bedroom. In the little terrarium on my vanity, I have a couple of air plants. It’s the perfect spot for them since it keeps the cats out and the humidity in!

Tip: If you want plants on your windowsill but are worried about them getting knocked over (looking at you, cats), use double sided tape! I taped my cactus pots to the windowsill and they haven’t budged!

Have Fun with Planters!

Another thing I love about decorating with plants is of course all the gorgeous planter options! I love mixing different types of planters: handmade ceramic, modern, baskets, and basic terra cotta (which are easy to dress up with a little paint). Adding plant stands is also a great way to both style your space, and boost a plant up if it needs more light, like my philodendron above!

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