Decorating With Plants: 8 Ways to Use Plants in Decor

Plants are low-cost interior decorations that can bring nature into the home. Interior designers use houseplants to fill empty corners, create warmth, and add a touch of personality, texture, or color. Additionally, it’s simple to swap out plants in a room any time you want to change your decor or give a room a refresh.

Decorating with plants can be an easy way to liven up any room. Here are a few houseplant decorating ideas:

1. 1. Add air plants. These small, rootless plants absorb moisture from the air, making them a perfect bathroom decoration. There are dozens of ways to display your air plants, including wireframes, glass planters, and ceramic sculptures.
2. 2. Arrange plants on stands and shelves. Plant stands come in all shapes and sizes and can be a unique and architectural way to display a handful of potted plants.
3. 3. Assemble a terrarium. Perfect for small spaces like a studio apartment, these mini indoor gardens grow in glass containers and often contain succulents, air plants, rocks, and moss. Display your terrarium on a shelf or windowsill, or hang it from a wall hook.
4. 4. Create wall decor. Succulent walls and test-tube plant walls are great for houseplant beginners. This low-maintenance decor provides a pop of color without taking up any floor space.
5. 5. Design a plant cart. Transform a bar cart into a plant cart. Pot each plant individually and then arrange them however you see fit. A bar cart on wheels makes it easier to move the plants in and out of direct sunlight.
6. 6. Make centerpieces. Plant decor can be as simple as placing a houseplant on your dining room table or coffee table. Indoor plants, such as cacti and orchids, also make for beautiful fireplace mantel decorations.
7. 7. Use hanging planters. A traditional route is to hang your potted plant from a hook in the ceiling. For a more boho vibe, use a macrame plant holder or hang a DIY plant shelf. Even more unconventional are magnetic pots that you can attach to a wall or suction-cup pots that you can attach to your kitchen window. Good options for hanging plants include ivy, ferns, and trailing succulent plants.
8. 8. Utilize large potted plants. Large plants and trees can brighten up your living space. Leave the plant in its original pot and lower it into a decorative flower pot to avoid a messy transfer. You can cluster these plants for impact or use a single one to make a different kind of statement.

Several houseplants can serve as home decor in your space. Whether or not you have a green thumb, here are several low-maintenance plants for your consideration:

1. 1. Aloe: Hardy succulents, aloe plants (Aloe vera) need lots of bright light to flourish. While you won’t need to water them often, soak the plant thoroughly when you do. Allow the soil to dry just as thoroughly before the next watering. Aloe plants grow best in well-draining potting soil formulated for cacti and other succulents. This plant is toxic to cats and dogs.
2. 2. Bird’s-nest fern: A lush fern, the bird’s-nest fern (Asplenium nidus) has bright green fronds. These plants like humid environments, making them a great fit for bathrooms so long as they get enough indirect light. Water bird’s-nest ferns regularly so the soil stays moist but never soggy. Watering around the edge of the plant and not directly in the center will also help prevent root rot. If the green leaves turn yellow, it’s a sign you’ve been overwatering it.
3. 3. Fiddle leaf fig: A large-leafed plant, the fiddle-leaf fig (Ficus lyrata) is a slow-growing ficus. When you take care of them properly, fiddle-leaf figs can reach as tall as ten feet, making them a popular choice for entryway, home office, or living room decor. Water fiddle-leaf figs when the topsoil is dry and place them in a spot with lots of bright, indirect light. During the growing season of spring to fall, these plants need a monthly dose of high-nitrogen fertilizer.
4. 4. Philodendron: With twisting, vibrant foliage, a philodendron (Philodendron bipinnatifidum) has leaves that are generally solid green, papery, and emerge in a heart shape. Philodendrons thrive in bright indirect light. Their origin as tropical plants means they appreciate misting and other artificial humidity. They do well as indoor hanging basket plants. This plant is highly toxic, so keep the philodendron out of reach of children and pets.
5. 5. Pothos: A tropical ivy, a pothos (Epipremnum aureum) looks great in a hanging basket and comes in various foliage colors. These plants require a low-light environment. Water when the top inch of soil is dry and fertilize it once every few months. In large quantities, pothos leaves are toxic, so keep this plant away from children and pets.
6. 6. Snake plant: The dark green, sword-like leaves of snake plants (Sansevieria trifasciata) can feature yellow borders and light green streaks. Snake plants make excellent indoor plants, in part for their air purification qualities: They absorb pollutants like formaldehyde and benzene. They need bright, indirect light, well-draining soil, and fertilizer once a year. The leaves of the snake plant are toxic to pets.
7. 7. ZZ plant: With shiny, green leaves, the ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) has long, arched stems. Water these houseplants every few weeks and fertilize once every few months. As long as ZZ plants receive plenty of indirect light, they can reach up to three feet tall. The leaves and stems of ZZ plants are toxic, so keep them out of reach of pets and kids.

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