Decorate with green, and bring life to your home.

As we all grew into adulthood and got our first “place”, there were several ubiquitous things that appeared in our décor.  One item was a bookshelf made of wood planks supported by cinderblocks, and the other was a plant; the larger the better to fill in the empty spaces. 

Fast forward to your life now.  Your décor is probably a bit more sophisticated, but are there any plants in it?  I’m not referring to the pathetic philodendron plant you have stashed in the corner.  I’m thinking about something more dramatic; say, a palm tree or a banana plant about 6’-8’tall!  Now that would make a statement!  It would also provide health benefits for you and your family and enliven (no pun intended) your décor.

Style to Fit

Plants come in so many different shapes, colors and sizes that it is possible to select the proper plant for your decorating style.  Suppose you have very dainty furniture and a small room.  Obviously a large plant with giant leaves would look out of scale.  Something with the feathery look of an asparagus fern would work much better.

Should your taste run to large sculptural items or simple graphic prints, then plants with a few, but very large leaves will complement your décor.  Conversely, a plant with small leaves and a small growth habit will brighten up any small corner that might be otherwise empty.

Maybe you like lots of color.  If you have a very sunny spot in your home, consider purchasing a flowering tree or potted plant.  If there isn’t much available sunlight, there are many plants with colorful leaves that don’t need direct sun.  A polka dot plant with its pink speckled leaves or a variegated ivy with white and green leaves is perfect for small table tops.

Size to Fit

Consider your needs as you select the perfect plants for your home.  Do you have high ceilings and a large blank corner?  Then the aforementioned palm tree or banana plant will be perfect!  The size alone creates interest, and the sculptural shape is always eye catching.  A great way to create a focal wall in a room that lacks interest is to use two banana plants on either end of a wall and hang a colorful painting in between.  Add a console table topped with a few accessories beneath the painting and you’re done. Keep in mind that the large scale nature of the plants will require large scale art and furniture.

Maybe you have high ceilings, but the empty spot you need to fill is in front of a window, and you don’t want to block the view.  A low plant that spreads out horizontally will work beautifully.  Consider something like a Xanadu philodendron.    Its beautiful dark green leaves with curly edges can be quite elegant.  Conversely, this particular plant will also fit well in a casual decorating scheme.

Perhaps you have some tall bookcases, and you want to soften the look.  A vine type plant with trailing leaves will do the trick.

Indoor/Outdoor Plants                                                          

If your family is like mine, you spend as much time as possible outdoors in the warmer months.  You might as well enjoy a prized plant that can move outdoors in the summer, yet thrive indoors in the winter.  Flowering hibiscus trees are relatively hearty, and whether indoors or out, will flower year round with enough sunlight.  Another great plant that can thrive in both environments is a croton.  The croton’s colorful leaves and larger size will brighten any corner.

Keeping Your Plants in Top Shape

Even if you don’t possess the greenest of thumbs, you do have options.  Many areas have plant services that will care for the plants you “rent” from them.  When the plant needs a bit more TLC, the service will bring a replacement plant to your home and take the other plant back to the shop for rehab.  Many of the restaurants use services such as these.

There are also “plant-of-the-month” clubs that ship plants which are in tip-top shape  My personal favorite is an “orchid” service that provides beautiful orchids that are in flower.  When the blossom dies, you can return the plant for one that is in bloom.  The orchid shop then provides the returned plant with the perfect temperature, humidity and light to force the plant back into flower, and out the plant goes again to enhance another home’s décor.                                                                                                                    

Even if you do not have a piece of furniture of “provenance”, a beautiful plant specimen can last for many years, and properly cared for, can provide beauty for any home.   How do I know?  Check out my beloved hibiscus tree.  My children gave it to me for Mother’s Day over 20 years ago, and it now occupies a spot in my office during the winter and graces the deck at home during the summer.  Visitors rarely comment about the office layout or the fabulous view from the deck at home, but they always comment about the hibiscus.

Collaboration blog with Randy Trainor...interior decorator and home stager from New Hampshire. CRTINERIORS.Com....or call 603-520-5040