Plants bring life to a space, add texture, and provide a softness that most non-living decor cannot. Adding just one Pothos or Sansevieria can change the look of a room for the better. While plant styling is rather simple, the right technique can make things look more pulled together and intentional. Learn how to design a shelf for houseplants to add style to your space instantly.

Balance

Symmetry appeals to the eye. It’s calming and creates a feeling of order that your brain can easily process. Symmetry is also a formal way of designing a space. Placing two identical plants on either side of a centerpiece or creating a line of evenly spaced indoor plants with the same form achieves a balanced effect. You don’t need the same type of houseplant to create a symmetrical effect. Think about the shape and height, as this will give you the same effect.

Get The Group Together

Placing plants together in groups can lead to a few different results. If there is no rhyme or reason to the plant choices, we might end up with a jumble of textures and colors that have no relation to your decor or the plant group as a whole, which is great if this is the look you want. Try color-coordinating the plants to accentuate the hues of the leaves, or choose one color and mix variations within it. Consider a Pink Princess Philodendron, Tradescantia, and a Maranta Red.

Vary the heights of the houseplants to create an upward lift so your eyes can travel through the arrangement and easily take everything in.

Grouping indoor plants with the same lighting requirements is important, so have some fun decorating while remembering to ensure the plants can happily live in the arrangement you’ve selected.

Let’s Hang

Try to encourage your hanging plants to cascade down the shelves for a striking effect, or allow them to climb upwards if possible. A moss pole or trellis can help you achieve upward growth. Long-reaching vines can expertly fill a space. Group several cascading plants to create the look of a single, massive houseplant, or include hanging plants in a group with non-hanging plants for variety. 

Say It With Textures

Mix textures for an unmatched, unique look. The delicate foliage of a Fern, the glossy leaves of a Pothos, and the thick, waxy leaves of a Kalanchoe introduce variety and highlight their differences. Mix different textures and leaf sizes to add a complex visual pull, while being careful not to overwhelm the space. 

Miniature

Just because some plants may be small, it doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t be celebrated. Creating micro moments on small bathroom or office shelves is an excellent way to decorate with mini indoor plants. If we keep them close to where we spend the majority of our time, we tend to pay more attention to them and appreciate them more!

Mixed Media

Try combining objects with your shelf for houseplants. The possibilities are endless as you combine your well-loved favorites, found objects, sculptures, or books with living plants. Mix and match, but mainly have fun exploring the multiple vignettes you can create.