Decorating with Plants

Areca Palm

Also called a butterfly palm because of its long, leafy fronds that can exceed 3 feet (1 m) in length, or a golden cane palm due to its towering, bamboo-like stems that can reach up to 8 feet (2.5 m) tall indoors, the areca palm (Dypsis lutescens) creates a fresh focal point for the living room. Keep in a brightly lit, humid area, avoiding direct sun. Support healthy new growth by watering liberally in warmer months and reducing the amount in cooler ones (and never let stagnant water sit around its roots).

Fiddle-Leaf Fig

One of the most popular indoor trees, the fiddle-leaf fig (Ficus lyrata) may be beloved for its bold, architectural style, but its wavy, paddle-like leaves offer an added benefit: they absorb sound. Keep this multifunctional foliage happy by positioning it in a bright space away from direct sun and allowing the soil to dry out between waterings. Turn to Ficus ‘Alii’ for another fabulous member of the fig family.

‘Lisa’ Cane Tree

Meet Dracaena fragrans ‘Lisa’, a strong candidate for almost any low-light room in need of drama. With its long, shiny leaves and staggered green trunks, the cane tree adapts perfectly to average home conditions and needs little extra attention to thrive. Light shade makes for great growing conditions—an east- or west-facing window is an ideal spot. Keep the soil evenly moist, reducing watering in winter but never letting it dry out completely. For a dracaena with patterned leaves.

Umbrella Tree

The schefflera plant is commonly called either the umbrella tree or octopus tree, which gives a clue to its character: its unusually shaped leaves radiate out from its stem like spokes or tentacles. Generally undemanding additions to the home, both Schefflera actinophylla ‘Amate’ and the dwarf umbrella plant (S. arboricola; pictured here) favor bright light, which will ensure that they retain their fullness. To keep the foliage of S. aboricola dense, pinch off the top few leaves to promote new growth at the base.

In this modern, masculine living room, a few well-chosen plants add life and warmth, creating a space where people will feel at ease. A formal, symmetrical pairing of towering foxtail palms in matching industrial planters flanks the couch, with a coffee table (topped with a nerve plant) centered between the planters and little else in the way of adornment, emphasizing the bold cleanliness of the design.

There’s more to a well-balanced space than the physical arrangements of the objects in the room. You want to balance the feeling of the space as well. Though the size and placement of the foxtail palms telegraph strength and power, their curved stems frame the couch to create a canopy that softens the look and adds much-needed coziness and comfort to the room. Similarly, the dark colors of the couch and metal planters needed to be offset with some lightness: elevating the plants provides negative space and lifts the “weight” off the floor. Finally, a repeated triangular pattern woven through the room’s design (in the lattice of the metal coffee table, the artwork, the leaf shape of the foxtails, and the knitted throw) ties the whole look together.

The beauty of an asymmetrical look like this one is the way a viewer’s eye moves gently across the scene, from the oversize fiddle-leaf fig on the left to the intricately patterned specimens under the coffee table to the yucca peeking out from behind the couch. There’s a rhythm to it all—and a balance. The arrangement is anchored by the center “unit” of the couch, coffee table, and set of art prints. From that foundation, the height of the fig on the left is offset by the relative mass of the plants on the right. More greenery and decor were then easily added to this well-balanced design.

The whole scene is unified by a common palette: the pots are made from natural materials (wood, rattan, and marble), and many of the plants themselves have a similar dusty pink hue, which adds a touch of femininity to the space. For a complete list of plants featured in this room, go here.

Plants, Plants Everywhere!

For a layered design, tuck plants into unexpected places. Here are a few tips.

• Create a backdrop. Use the space behind a sofa to display floor plants or plants set on a table or plant stand.

• Add interest close to the ground. Place a plant next to or slightly under a table, for example, or at the corner of a bookcase or couch.

• Think beyond the plant stand. Create a tower of books and use it to lift a plant to just the right height.

The coffee table is a key complement to your couch, perfect for resting teacups or your stocking feet on. This is a high-traffic space, and real estate on the table is precious. When adding a plant, it’s best to keep things simple. Here are a few options.

Keep It Low

For a low-profile plant that won’t topple over, place a draping specimen like this ‘Hope’ peperomia in a large, shallow bowl. Let its waxy leaves gently tumble over the edge of the container and table. Here the peperomia’s root-ball is wrapped in moss, a practice called kokedama. Once a week, soak the moss in water and gently squeeze out the excess before returning the plant to the bowl. (For more on kokedama.)

Stack ’Em Up

Succulents like this Devotion echeveria are often found at grocery store chains planted in simple terra-cotta pots. Rather than repotting it or tucking it into a cachepot, why not simply stack the terra-cotta container on top of other decorative bowls? This quirky styling trick comes with a bonus: the bowls will prevent any excess water or moisture from damaging the table, and they can even be repurposed as temporary coasters for your drinks!

Shadowy Show-Offs

In the right light, a sculptural plant like this sago palm creates exceptional patterns on walls, floors, and tables. This can be achieved with either direct sun from the window or a lamp strategically positioned to spotlight the leaves. Shine some light on the geometric leaf holes of the Swiss cheese vine or a strappy ponytail palm for two other intriguing shadow patterns.

Sheer Beauty

Some plants’ leaves, like those of this ‘Escargot’ begonia, are even more marvelous when backlit. This moody combination of a warm, brassy wood table, dark walls, and the begonia set in a wooden bowl makes for a sumptuous scene. The sheer, speckled leaves of caladiums also interact beautifully with light, and the patterns of thicker marbled leaves of bromeliads and veined alocasias are enhanced by a bit of sunshine.

Fireplace Foliage

Whether it’s fired up or left cold, a fireplace is a prominent feature in any room lucky enough to have one. From a beautiful marble mantelpiece to a simple wood-burning oven, the hearth makes a dramatic stage for a collection of plants.

Country Haven

To create a “mantel” for this rustic, unfinished fireplace, a large lichen-covered branch was hung from the ceiling with fishing line. Lichen is a living combination of algae and fungus: mist now and again to keep it alive. A stool propping up a container of spike moss (left) and some grape hyacinth blooms (right) completes this eclectic, woodsy tableau.

Modern Verdure

A sunny chartreuse print and bright green foliage enliven this striking all-white fireplace setup. On the mantel, a prickly but lovable ‘Dinni Yellow’ crown of thorns plant is balanced by a trio of candlesticks. Inside the fireplace, the patterned leaves of a prayer plant complement the herringbone tile—a far cheerier addition than a stack of logs!

The principles of feng shui call for nine healthy plants to be placed on or around your fireplace, as their life force is seen as a necessary balance to the surrounding fire energy. Though finding space for nine plants around your hearth all at once may be a tall order, here is a cast of characters you can rotate throughout the year.

Early Spring Blooms

Whether you’ve grown them from bulbs or picked up a pot of ready-to-bloom specimens, paperwhites provide a pop of fragrance and beauty when little else is growing. For a longer-lasting display, tuck in an air plant (such as this Tillandsia xerographica).

A Burst of Citrus

Create an ephemeral display for your mantel by gathering a bundle of seasonal fruit still attached to its branches, like this citrus, and placing it on a tray. Since they aren’t in water, the leaves will dry in a day or two (and eventually the fruit will shrivel—unless you eat it first!).

A Rustic Combination

The rich, autumnal colors of these plants (from left to right: ‘Red Ripple’ peperomia, creeping wire vine, and mum) need little in the way of added decoration. Simply wrap their grow pots in brown paper and twine and drop them into a waterproofed wooden container.

Winter Wonderland

Create a “snowy mound” of Spanish moss and top with snowflakelike succulent cuttings and air plants. (Succulent cuttings are the snipped heads of grown plants.) This low-maintenance display will last through the season, depending on the succulent choice (some, like this ‘Lola’ echeveria, can survive a month or more).

Create a jungle of plants around your entertainment center to keep the TV from dominating your living room. The key is to set the scene, not steal it. You want to be able to clearly see and focus on the television when it’s on, so your plants should frame, but not overlap, the screen. Though there is a lot going on here, the backdrop is so full and the foliage and pots sufficiently unified in palette that it all blends into a pleasing wall of green. Big, colorful blooms or lots of empty spaces on the wall would fight for attention. Click for a complete list of plants featured in this room.

Use shadow boxes to display and frame plants. Get in close and watch the leaves of this resurrection plant (in the glass box)unfold when it’s watered.

Create a special corner in your home that is all about you—a place to nourish your body and mind. What do you want to see and how do you want to feel when you’re sitting there? Do you yearn for a cozy nook where you can sit quietly, beside a plant or two? Or do you crave an open and airy space to instill a sense of calm? Here are a few styles to choose from.

1. Sleek

An iconic Eames lounge chair calls for an equally architectural plantscape, like this pencil cactus in a simple concrete pot (left). Because we’re more comfortable seated in a space with a protected back—open spaces behind us leave us feeling vulnerable—the alpine schefflera behind the chair creates an increased feeling of security and adds needed height to the display.

2. Tranquil

Everything about this spare look says “breathe”: the soothing colors of the chair, the smooth shape of the beige vase, and the translucent, flowing curtain (which also provides the filtered light necessary for the elephant ear plant). The upright stems and beautiful fan-shaped leaves of the elephant ear look as though they’re ready to cool you off. Ahhhh.

3. Mod

Travel back in time with this candy-red couch, geometric pillow, and out-of-the-ordinary fishbone cactus hung from leather straps in a repurposed birdcage stand. This elevated arrangement is perfect if you have limited floor space or want to create a vertical garden without making holes in your wall.

If your living room has a bookshelf, turn it into an open display case that communicates who you are and what is most meaningful to you. Alongside your books, heirlooms, baseball trophies, and family photos, sprinkle in some plants that give you as much joy as these mementos. It adds up to a sense of place that makes your house a home and your living room a room for living. Here’s how to pull it all together.

Pick favorites. Identify one piece you love and go from there. The leather chair here influences all the other details in this corner, from the stitching detail along the rim of the succulent dish (on the side table) to the rivet details on the large brass cachepot holding the rubber plant (far left).

Choose a color palette. Using your main piece as a guide, select a few key colors for your space and repeat, repeat, repeat. Leathery browns dominate here, from the dark rubber plant (far left) to the coppery color of the begonia (second shelf, right) and the copper vase with the maidenhair fern (bottom shelf).

Intermingle plants and objects. Your collection will look more unified if your chosen artwork and ephemera are interacting with the plants (like the ferns “growing” out of the vintage mushrooms on the second shelf, left). Or turn your plants into objects for display by putting them under a cloche (as in the miniature ‘Needlepoint’ English ivy on the third shelf).

Create an engaging composition. The glory bower (draping from above) and begonia (second shelf, right) interrupt the “lines” of the shelves and help guide the eye up and down the display.

A Green Room Divider

A 360° View: Remember, the plants and objects on your divider will be seen from both sides. This bonsai ‘Partita’ begonia was carefully pruned from all angles so it looks good from any vantage point. If you position a plant so that it is facing in one direction, place another so that it faces in the opposite direction. This way, you’ll get a unique, attractive view from each side.

Living rooms come in all shapes and sizes. If yours is open and a bit cavernous, up the cozy factor and create two rooms in a flash with a modular bookshelf decked out with plants. The divider shown here provides some privacy but is still airy enough to keep the whole space feeling connected. The best part is that both the shelf unit and the plants are easily movable if your needs change or your style evolves.

To keep things open, add low, drapey plants that allow a view through to the other side of the divider. A glass terrarium and neutral-colored pottery help keep the shelving unit looking spacious. Click for a complete list of plants featured in this room.

The variegated leaf patterns on the plants next to the couch and those on the shelving unit help tie the two spaces together.

Some windows look out on glorious rolling hills, others onto bustling streets and skyscrapers—but whatever the view, those glass panes are your home’s connection to the outside world. Accessorize your outdoor scenery with a planted “frame” to bridge the gap between outdoors and in. The alcove of this bay window is a study in how a grouping of plants can add up to more than the sum of its parts: The variegated African candelabra cactus (left) and a small fancy-leaf zonal geranium (center) make for a fine pair in their coordinating pedestal stands, but they’d look lonely if they were the only greenery in this large alcove. A modern planter (in a similar style and complementary tone; right) holding two aloe plants as well as a draping begonia and an olive plant adds some needed weight to the right side of the alcove, and the scene is finished with a hanging ‘Attar of Roses’ pelargonium that is just the right size for the central window. For a simpler framing device, seek out an arching potted tree. Place it so the trunk fills one side of the window and the branch curves along the top, creating a simple frame to draw the eye to the view outside.

If your window looks onto a less-than-picturesque scene, a rowdy mix of eye-catching plants is just the thing to draw attention away from the not-so-great outdoors. Put a lot of plants on display with a tiered plant stand—position those that require the most light on top, transitioning to shade lovers on the bottom. Grouping plants also has the added benefit of creating humidity for those that require higher-than-average air moisture.

Consider each plant in relation to the whole grouping, combining a mix of colors and textures. Here the purple-and-white flowers of the tiny dancing Cape primrose (middle tier, right) are accented by the bright yellow strapping leaves of the kiwi dragon tree below it, and the bold leaf of the showy medinilla (floor, center) next to the finer details of the Ming aralia (foreground, left) make for a composition where each plant stands out instead of blending into a tangled mess. Here are a few more lessons to be learned from this collection.

Twirl a lazy Susan. This kitchen standby is super handy as a plant stand: here it holds a showy medinilla and is rotated regularly to encourage even growth.

Go lightweight. Plastic pots are much easier on the back, and thanks to a new crop of designers, they’re easy on the eyes, too, with a wide range of colors and appealing shapes and styles. They’re especially useful as a counterpoint to “overweight” and awkward plants like this Napoleon’s hat (right).

Repurpose. Hang a vintage birdcage and grow a jasmine vine inside it. Or conceal an ugly grow pot in an ordinary canvas tote.

Incorporate your watering can. Keep your watering can handy to make caring for your plants a snap. Choose one that’s stylish enough, and you’ll be happy to have it as part of the scene.

Embrace happy accidents. Be careful when potting a burro’s tail (hanging, right) or baby burro’s tail (hanging, center)—the tiny succulents’ leaves tend to fall off with the slightest nudge. The upside to this is that you can root the fallen leaves—simply set them atop a pot of soil and keep in moderate light; with patience, they’ll begin to sprout.