Decorating with Plants: Bringing the Outside In

Published by: Elizabeth Gormley
Published on: 2010-01-10 15:26:13

It turns out that real live houseplants have real live health benefits. Decorating your home in Connecticut with a healthy, thriving plant will naturally cleanse the air, emitting oxygen as they do outdoors, and creating a generally relaxing vibe. When redecorating virtually any room, don’t forget to pick out a potted plant or two and follow some simple guidelines for optimal growth and safety.

When you want to use plants to incorporate different looks in various parts of your home, realize that some rooms are more suitable for one type of plant than another. When plant shopping, take note of whether a plant is low-light or high-light, and think of which areas of your home get more sun, or less. It is often the case that higher-light plants require more water. If there are pets or children in your home and you want a low-maintenance floor plant, a snake plant is a much safer choice than a cactus. Always ask when shopping whether a growth is poisonous, and avoid them if you have animals or toddlers that might unwittingly try a bite. In that case, it’s best to decorate with high hanging plants, or perhaps an indoor tree like a ficus bejamina, with leaves out-of-reach.

It's wise to select plants with a look that compliments the interior design of your Connecticut home. A more modern interior would do well with a funky marginata or colorful bromeliad. A country kitchen would be lovely with a hanging ivy or pothos, and an Asian-themed living room would be suitable for a collection of bonsai. Always take into consideration that plants grow. Choose a pot that will give the roots plenty of space to spread. Large plants like tropical trees and exotic palms must be in big potters, or else they are liable to topple onto the floor—or worse, perish.

Designing with plants gives you the option to cover up areas of the home like stained carpet and damaged walls. You can brighten a splintered windowsill or unsightly radiator with a small orchid. You can liven up an unused fireplace with a collection of warm ferns. All plants usually do best when stationed in one area, as they become used to the same temperature and sunlight factors, day in and day out. It’s best not to move them or shuffle them around unless absolutely necessary. Flowering plants tend to wilt around heating vents or close to a stove. Try to keep your houseplants in an area with the most consistent surroundings, and even one slightly humid.

Be careful of overwhelming your space with plants. One single tree is usually sufficient as a warm focal point in a living room or large entry. The bigger the foliage, the more oxygen it gives off, so a considerably leafy plant may be good in the bedroom to help you sleep better.

Have fun decorating with plants. Be cautious and creative—your new plants just might last for decades.

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