You already know houseplants are a great way to soften a space while introducing color, texture, and visual interest. You can just set a plant on a table, but purposefully styling your space with plants makes your home feel curated and professionally designed. Well-styled plants make the most of your space. Follow these houseplant design tips to make your space feel welcoming and inviting and look expertly styled.
1. Smooth the Transition From Outside to Inside
Place large houseplants near a door to ease the transition between outdoors and indoors. A big leafy Monstera or Aglaonema makes a stately appearance and brings nature into your home. Be mindful of drafts near exterior doors, especially in climates with cold winter weather. Locate houseplants near the entrance but not in the direct path of gusty wind when the door is open.
Mimic this design outside by planting hedges or featuring planters to grow outdoor plants near the entry. The consistency of plants inside and outside sets a soothing tone and makes your home feel like a welcoming oasis.
2. Introduce Texture
Foliage provides plenty of texture, but add more with plant pots. There are many things to consider when selecting a plant pot, but be mindful of the look and texture. The perfect plant pot will align with your style and fit the space while also serving as a nice home for the plant. Get creative and use worn wood boxes or vintage ceramic bowls as a cache pot to add warmth and character.
3. Make Bold Pairings
Eye-catching decor, statement furniture, and breathtaking artwork must be partnered with equally stunning houseplants. A large Fiddle Leaf Fig or a highly variegated Pink Princess brings their own drama and matches the intensity of a high design aesthetic. Integrate houseplants that coordinate with bold design choices so a statement piece does not overwhelm the space.
4. Add Levels
Display plants at varying heights to add dimension. Several plants on a tabletop are boring and can look cluttered. Use a small plant stand to elevate one pot slightly, an overturned basket or box, or set one plant on a stack of books (select a plant in a cache pot so the books are protected when watering). Displaying plants at different heights keeps things interesting and ensures big plants do not block small plants. This trick works even with different-sized plants because it makes the tablescape visually engaging and avoids looking like you just set a bunch of plants on a table.
5. Strength in Numbers
Fill a shelf or table with an assortment of small plants to make a big statement in an area with limited space. Charmers like the Calathea Rosy, Lemon Button Fern, and Bonnie Spider Plant are compact houseplants that add color and texture. Grouping various plants will add varying colors and textures, making a small space feel cozy and expertly styled. Try to mix houseplants with an upright growth habit with vining varieties to create the sense of a big plant presence.
6. Expand to Other Rooms
Houseplants are common in living and family rooms, but every room is potentially a good spot for a houseplant. Bring greenery into your kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, or any other room to expand your houseplant design. Displaying houseplants throughout your home introduces leafy consistency in the overall design and vibe.
Look around and test out some new locations throughout your home. You can always relocate the plants if things don’t work out or look into making a not-so-great spot the perfect home with grow lights.
7. Get a Sansevieria
When in doubt, get a Sansevieria. Its tall foliage is effortlessly sleek and instantly adds style and simplifies houseplant design. Bird’s nest varieties are tiny, adorable, and ideal for small nooks, while a mature Laurentii is like a giant art installation. Expect the best results when a Snake Plant receives bright, indirect sunlight, but these plants are team players that can handle less light. If you’re okay with a slow-growing Sansevieria taking even more time to add height, locate the plant in a medium-light area desperate for greenery.
Start Styling with Houseplant Design Tips
Styling your houseplants puts the finishing touches on your home, making the space feel inviting and comfortable. Figuring out how to style your plants can be daunting, but you can do this. Borrow any or all of these tips to style your houseplants and set the right tone and feel in your home.