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We humans evolved surrounded by plants, no wonder we think they are so easy on the eye. No home or office interior is complete without at least some plants, only two or three small indoor plants can make a difference to all interior spaces and some larger potted plants in elegant pots can completely transform a room.
Houseplants are an interior accessory back in vogue. There are many new potted plants now available, as well as the old favorites, giving a confusing choice of size, shape and color to complement any design theme.
If you start your design from scratch, think about plants and containers early, as plant screens are relatively inexpensive, they can be used to replace more expensive items such as artwork and help with your budget. Coordinating the color of the containers with your overall color theme is also worth considering at an early stage.
Plants work with all interior design styles. The introduction of plants can soften and “warm” minimalist patterns without making them look cluttered and detract from the overall theme. Plants like the funky-looking ponytail palm (Beaucarnea recurvata) are excellent in this regard. Elegant palms such as Kentia palm (Howea fosteriana) or Areca palm blend well with more classic interior styles.
Foliage can fill the dead space with living sculpture. For example, a large surface of smooth wall can be a design challenge – but this provides the perfect visual foil for plants such as the architectural Dragon Tree family (Dracaena). The Dracaena variety “Janet Craig”, with its large dark green fleshy foliage and upright habit, is a particularly good example.
Dense leafy plants such as Ficus “Amstel King”, placed in a row, can be used as sound-absorbing visual screening (for example around a computer workstation).
Indoor plants can also be used effectively to hide or conceal ugly features such as pipes, electrical wiring or an awkwardly shaped wall.
Flowering plants can be used to give a hint of vibrant color, the bromeliad family works especially well for this. Trailing plants such as Wandering Jew (Tradescanthia) provide visual interest in storage furnishings and shelves. If you have space, a large specimen plant makes a fantastic design statement and a real place to talk.
Plant placement is important, but provided there is some natural light, there is an indoor plant that fits all spaces in the home. Full sun is not necessary for most houseplants and there are many that thrive in deep shade. There are specialist websites where expert advice is available so that you can be sure of getting the right plant in the right place.
Indoor plants do not have to be hard work. Modern self-watering plantings take most of the hassle out of caring for plants and are also very attractive – provide the perfect design foil for your plants and ensure that the plants’ water needs are exactly met.
Good design is largely about creating feeling. New psychological studies have shown that people feel more relaxed and less stressed when plants are present. For this reason, real estate developers usually use plants in their decor to create a “feel” that helps with a sale.
Breathe life into your interiors with houseplants. Plants remove pollutants from the air, absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen. In this regard, “mother-in-law” (Sansevieria) is a good choice for bedrooms as it unusually releases oxygen overnight.
The possibilities of using plants for an almost immediate make-over are endless – just bound by your imagination.
