Plants make a space come to life. I strongly believe that no home can be complete without plants, but this is even more true for minimalist spaces. Aside from their known health benefits, plants provide texture, interest and drama. They bring the outdoors in and soften any space, making it feel so much more inviting.
There is no right or wrong way to decorate with plants, but I’ve suggested a few of my favourite ways to introduce plants into your home below. Before I get into that, bear in mind that when choosing plants for your home ensure you pick plants that work in the conditions of that space and are suited to your plant parenting skills. A plant that needs light isn’t going to thrive in a dark bathroom and a plant that needs a lot of care isn’t going to last if you’re a novice plant parent.
It’s also worth adding that by plants I don’t mean just potted plants and trees, but large branches and foliage placed in vases work just as well and you can easily have a combination of the two, depending on your space.
6 ways to decorate with plants
be intentional with planters
The planters you choose matter just as much as your plants so be intentional when choosing them. Go for vessels that work with your decor and colour scheme. Aged terracotta planters always work well in warm minimalist spaces as do concrete pots, if you want something even more minimalist. Alternatively, planters can also be an opportunity to add more texture to your room by placing plants in woven baskets or by opting for textured ceramic pots. In a modern minimalist space, you could also try antique plant pots which create a beautiful contrast against a contemporary backdrop.
cosy up an unloved corner
If you’ve got an empty or awkward corner in any room and have been wondering how to style it, a tall plant could be the answer. Opt for a slim one if space is on the tighter side but if space is plentiful you can make a statement with a huge indoor plant or indoor tree. I’m a big fan of olive trees when there’s enough space but if not, a tall cactus plant is a great option for narrow spaces as they look almost sculptural in appearance. Whatever you choose, just remember to pick the plant according to the lighting conditions in your corner.
create a vignette
A vignette ,which is a small, curated arrangement of objects, can add interest to any room. You can create a vignette simply by grouping a few small plants together whether on a side table, a bookshelf, a windowsill, a mantle or just about anywhere. Alternatively, you can add a single small plant to any vignette you already have. The key to making it look visually appealing is to stick to the design rule of three (where you group an odd number of objects together, usually 3 but sometimes 5) and to vary the height of the objects and plants.
place plants on an open shelf
Got some open shelving in the kitchen or living room? A great way to add life to the display is by adding a cascading plant. That pop of green can really bring a shelf to life. And you don’t have to stop at just one. Try placing a few at varying heights in between your other decorations or on top of a pile of books.
make a room look bigger
Though plants are so much more than just decor, many established design rules still apply to them. Case in point: a tall plant draws the eye upwards and can make a room look bigger. Equally, a large plant in a small room will have the same effect. The key here is to work with the proportions of the room and to avoid overdoing it meaning just one large plant in a small room will usually be plenty. This can always be complemented with smaller plants dotted around the space.
consider hanging plants
If space is tight, whether that’s floorspace or countertops, consider hanging a plant from the ceiling or from shelves. When hanging more than one plant vary the height and the types of plants to keep it visually interesting. I especially love hanging plants in a tiny home office that’s just a corner of a room or in a small bathroom where there is no other space to place one.
image credits: all images via entrance makleri, fantastic frank, alvhem and Stadshem
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