How to Liven Your Home with Houseplants
Houseplants are a great way to add color to any home and bring some of the outdoors inside. They’re also affordable and can help increase productivity and overall wellbeing. However, you can’t just add houseplants to any room without thinking about how the plants will look in their new space. Houseplants are an affordable way to make your home look ready for spring, but adding plants to your home might take some thought so you can liven up your home without overdoing it. Here are tips to help you liven up your home with houseplants.
Start Slow
Whether you’re furnishing a rental to stop tenants from leaving or decorating your own home, the key is to start slow and build as you go. Once you’re in a plant store, it can be tempting to purchase tons of plants all at one time so that you don’t have to come back, but you could be making a big mistake. It’s always best to start with a few plants at a time so you can give yourself time to learn how to care for them. If you’ve never cared for plants before, there is a small learning curve. Additionally, depending on the types of plants you buy, there will be different care instructions.
If you want low-maintenance plants, start with something simple like bamboo and always follow the care instructions to prevent them from drying out or getting overwatered.
Be Careful of Pets
Pets might like the smell of plants and try to eat them, so it’s always best to look for pet-friendly plants if you’re a pet owner. Additionally, you might want to keep plants where your pets can’t get to them. Believe it or not, you can also train your pet on what’s appropriate to eat and play with and what isn’t. For example, you can get your cat toys to play with that they will like more than the plant.
Additionally, some plants are poisonous to pets. If you have a pet, do your research before purchasing a plant to ensure you won’t be putting your beloved animal companion in unnecessary danger.
Match Plants to Design
Plants are a great way to improve your home decor, especially if they match your current design style. Of course, you can always buy plants because you like them, but you should aim to buy plants that look nice in your space. If you like the way a plant looks but don’t like its pot, you can always buy new pots and repot your plant as soon as you get home. You can also paint your own pots to ensure a cohesive design style throughout your home.
Use Plants in the Bathroom
Some plants will not thrive in the bathroom, but high-humidity plants will. Plants such as orchids and ferns thrive in humid conditions, so your plant will get a little boost every time you take a shower. Plants can also add warmth to your bathroom and make it more inviting and luxurious.
Use Plants In Your Office
Office plants can make a boring, old space look brand new to help you stay energized and productive throughout the day. Having something to take care of, such as a plant, in your home office can help brighten up your space and give you something to do as a break.
Get Different Sizes
While plants of one size may look nice together, you can create contrast by getting plants of all different sizes to add texture to your space. For example, you can pair a bamboo with a cactus if you’re looking for low-maintenance plants to start and add more plants as you begin to learn how to take care of them.
Try an Oversized Plant
Oversized plants are statement-makers and can liven up any space. Oversized plants take a little more work than smaller ones, but they can make a great centerpiece for any room. Of course, be careful of oversize plants if you have pets. Some dogs may think your plant is a great place to go potty, or they might try to dig in the dirt. If you don’t want to get a big plant right away, get a medium-sized plant that will grow larger with time. This can give you enough time to learn how to care for and report the plant before it gets larger and takes up more space.
Add Color
There’s nothing wrong with only having green plants, but flowering plants can add color to any dull room. Adding bold and beautiful colors can make your space feel more open and lively. You can also choose to get plants with colorful leaves, including Chinese evergreen, that will add color to any room in your home.
Keep it Simple
There’s no reason to get a ton of plants for your home, especially if you’re not sure whether you can adequately take care of them. Instead, aim to get one plant per room based on the amount of light the plant will need. Once you’ve mastered each of the different plants, you can begin expanding your collection. Of course, you don’t have to grow if you don’t want to. Plants can be used to keep your home decor minimalistic while livening up any space.
Try Edible Plants
If you want to start eating better and cooking at home more, try getting plants you can use in your cooking, including herbs. You can grow herbs in your kitchen or on a balcony and use them in just about any recipe you want. Common herbs you can grow at home are basil, oregano, and thyme. All of these herbs are aromatic and will keep your kitchen smelling fresh.
Don’t Forget Outside
When thinking about plants for your home, don’t forget about enhancing the exterior of your home, too. There are many plants, including hanging plants, that can take any balcony or porch to the next level while creating an oasis feel for anyone who loves spending time outside.
Marné Amoguis
Marné Amoguis holds a B.A. in International Business from UC San Diego. She is a contributing writer at 365businesstips.com where she loves sharing her passion for digital marketing. Outside of writing, she loves traveling, playing music, and hiking.
