Houseplants are a cheap and fun way to seriously style up your home. Find the plants to suit your style with our top tips…
The basics
Styling
Like any interior design project, you need to consider some simple rules. When choosing houseplants, think about grouping complimentary heights and textures together, like architecturally strong palms (pictured) offset with soft trailing indoor ferns. Pick your containers as deliberately as your plants - matching or strongly contrasting pots add a real element of chic. Look out for textured pots, or if you are going for a modern look – a metallic finish is a real winner.
Care
Some houseplants are quite hard to kill, even for those of us without green fingers, but others like orchids (pictured) and some ferns, require more care. Read the instructions carefully before you buy and note how much light, humidity and watering is needed and if there are any special feeding requirements. Be honest about your level of commitment, are you more of a cactus sort of person?
There are some ways to save on time and effort – you could re-pot your plant in moisture retaining compost and purchase some plant food sticks which slowly release nutrients over time. Don’t ever leave houseplants standing in water and make sure the leaves stay clean and dusted. If it’s mild enough, a top tip is to put your plants outside - most houseplants love sitting in the rain for a couple of hours.
Lighting
Plants really benefit from uplighting. It can transform them from looking like granny’s begonias to feeling like you are in a boutique hotel foyer. You can pick up battery-powered spotlights in many DIY stores, which will give you more flexibility and no unwanted cables. You could even decorate your plants with pretty fairy lights on special occasions.
Styling with houseplants
Low maintenance
If you struggle to keep a supermarket herb pot alive then this is for you. There are some houseplants out there that really are as tough as old boots yet will create a stylish finish for your home. Less is more if you are time poor so go for one or two dramatic plants of a larger size, which will also create the illusion that you’ve had them for years.
Palms like the Kentia Palm require little attention and will add a smart finish to any living room. Go for a neutral bamboo or wooden container to fit the theme of the plant. It sounds obvious but another good option is the humble cactus (pictured). It is one of the most varied houseplants you can buy and they come in all shapes, sizes and colours to match your décor. Or try a money plant, they have a beautiful shape and are claimed to bring prosperity to your home even if you forget to water them!
Colour
Houseplants can be used to great effect to add colour to your home. Anthuriums have very long-lasting large waxy flowers in red, white or lime green. Use one as the focal point on a sideboard to match the accent colour of your room.
Or go for a more dramatic look by placing three orchids in similar but slightly different shades in a row. For true flair place them in identical pots. Bulbs make a short-lived but beautiful centerpiece in the middle of the dining table, especially in spring. Hyacinths (pictured) in particular will fill your home with fragrance and colour for weeks and you can plant the bulbs out in the garden afterwards.
Architecture
You only have to look at an interiors magazine to see how important plants are for architecture both in and outside the home. If you have an open plan staircase, try positioning a small lucky bamboo on each step for a sharp designer look or place a row of identical plants in identical stainless steel pots in front of a straight window. The Mother-in-Law's Tongue (pictured) or Snake Plant has cactus-like pointed leaves and a very architectural shape reminiscent of the desert. Or invest in a large standard plant, (one that has been grown to look like a tree) such as a weeping fig, and place it in a textured pot to create a focal point at the end of a hallway.
Edibles
Whether it’s in the conservatory, the dining room or the kitchen, houseplants can be used as a practical as well as a stylish feature. Chilli plants (pictured) come in many colours from black to mixed oranges and reds and make a stunning feature on a kitchen window ledge. If you have limited space you can even put them in a hanging basket.
Herbs are an obvious choice. Place them in the middle of the table in a wooden crate and allow guests to help themselves to garnish their meal. If you have a conservatory you can be even bolder with indoor miniature citrus fruit trees, perfect for creating a Mediterranean garden look.
What houseplants do you keep at home? Share your experiences in the comment box below...
