Small spaces can be challenging to style. You must balance function and aesthetics and do it all with limited room. The right houseplants can make the space cohesive and create a warm, welcoming vibe. Here are houseplant styling tips for small spaces.
Identify the Purpose
The first step is to identify the space’s purpose. When you have a purpose, you incorporate function. Are you designing a living room, home office, or bedroom? The space can have multiple purposes, like a guest room that also functions as a home office or a corner nook in a larger room that you want to use specifically as a seating area or reading spot.
Blank Slate
Empty the space as much as possible to start with a blank slate. Large, unwieldy furniture can stay put, but keep an open mind when reimagining the space. If you’ve lived in the home for a while, don’t feel compelled to keep furniture in the same spot just because that’s what you’ve always done. Removing everything in the space forces you to start fresh.
Pick Your Furniture
The furniture you bring into the space must function and match the look. A cozy chaise lounge is ideal if you want to kick back with a book, but it may be in the way if the space doubles as a home office. Consider large pieces of furniture that make the space feel cozy, but also consider the flow and how people will use and navigate the room.
When designing a small space, you may feel less is more, but voids make the area feel empty. You certainly don’t want to cross into hoarder territory, but too many small items can feel cluttered.
Use the Entire Area
When working with a small footprint, use all available space. Add a bookcase or wall-mounted shelves, or include hanging plants to increase your usable space. Baskets or macrame hangers are great for adding greenery without taking up limited or non-existent tabletop space. Displaying plants at varying heights also draws the eye, creating a more spacious feel.
Understand the Space
Evaluate the space in terms of the environment for houseplants. Understand the light and humidity, but also consider window treatments and how they will impact available sunlight. Set yourself up for success and select plants that will thrive in that space.
A low-light hallway can support a Sansevieria, but the plant will grow slowly. That same low-light area would be a horrible spot for a sunlight-loving Croton. You can always add grow lights to make a naturally less-than-ideal spot the perfect home, so plan to incorporate grow lights as necessary when designing the space.
Houseplant Selection
Choose plants that fit your space in terms of the conditions and the look. A mature Sansevieria laurentii or Black Coral adds height and makes a beautiful floor plant. Snake Plants don’t spread, so they fit nicely in a narrow spot for easy houseplant styling.
Trailing houseplants look lush and add drama when the vines cascade down. You can also use a trellis and train the vines to climb.
Don’t be afraid to go big. Displaying a large Monstera in a small area may seem counterintuitive, or you may worry the plant will overwhelm the space, but it may create a cozy vibe. In the worst case, if the plant overwhelms the space, you can relocate it to another area of your home.
Create a Cohesive Look
Use houseplants to complement decorative objects. For example, feature vining plants on either side of a piece of artwork or choose a flowering plant in a color that coordinates with the couch, your favorite throw, the curtains, or anything else in the room.
There’s No Place Like Home
When decorating any space, ensuring it feels comfortable and works for you is essential. Houseplants make a space feel welcoming and relaxing. Following these houseplant styling tips can help you style your small space like a pro.