Can plants truly transform your space? Absolutely! Using plants to decorate is a growing trend that combines beauty, practicality, and well-being. From home greenery that purifies the air to inexpensive home decor ideas that elevate any room, plants bring life and style into your space.
In this post, you’ll discover creative ways to style your rooms with plants, expert plant tips, and answers to common questions like “How do I style my living room with plants?” and “Can fake plants still look amazing?” Let’s dive in and explore how greenery can make your home feel calm, chic, and inviting!
Can Plants Be Used for Decoration?
Using plants to decorate is an excellent, versatile, and inexpensive choice. Beyond their beauty, they provide essential health benefits, making spaces more comfortable, breathable, and uplifting. Whether you’re styling with large plants in the living room or scattering smaller greenery throughout, the addition of plants will transform your home into a natural sanctuary.
Aesthetic Appeal: Natural Beauty for Every Style
Plants immediately enhance any room no matter the decoration style. From lush and leafy vining greens to compact succulents, greenery adds warmth and cheer to your home.
Large plants in the living room like Fiddle Leaf Figs or Rubber Trees—act as statement pieces, anchoring a space and creating an immediate focal point.
Hanging planters are perfect for bohemian or small-space designs, drawing the eye upward and making the most of vertical spaces.
Small potted plants and herbs bring charm to kitchens, desks, and shelves while requiring minimal maintenance.
Health Benefits: Mental and Physical Well-being
The benefits of home greenery go far beyond aesthetics. Scientific studies have shown that plants positively impact mental and physical health:
- Stress Reduction: Indoor plants create a calming atmosphere that helps reduce stress and anxiety.
Dr. Virginia Lohr, Professor of Horticulture at Washington State University, highlights this in her 2004 research:
“Having plants in the home can reduce psychological and physiological stress, improve mood, and enhance focus and productivity.” - Improved Air Quality: Many plants, such as Snake Plants and Peace Lilies, act as natural air purifiers by removing toxins and producing oxygen.
Eco-Friendly and Inexpensive Home Decor
Unlike other decor elements that may become outdated or unsustainable, plants are a timeless and eco-friendly solution.
Additionally, plants are an inexpensive home decor choice as many varieties are not only affordable but can be easily propagated. Creating new plants for free.
Large Plants for Bold Statements
For a striking visual impact, large plants in the living room are a top choice.
Tall indoor plants, like the Monstera Deliciosa or Bird of Paradise, fill empty corners beautifully and bring height, scale, and personality to the room.
Adding large plants to your living room adds a flair that is both subtle and dramatic. The best indoor floor plants for a statement piece are artificial olive trees, monsteras, and fiddle-leaf fig trees.
Pairing large plants with stylish pots or baskets helps tie together the entire space.
Lots of Plants in the House: A Growing Trend
The indoor jungle style with lots of plants throughout the house is quickly becoming a major trend, with no signs of slowing down.
This idea of using plants as decoration is closely connected to the biophilic movement which has gained popularity recently. Biophilic design connects the indoors with the outdoors through natural finishings, plants, and calm and organic environments.
To Find out more about Biophilic design have a look at our post, Biophilic Design For Your Small Urban Home
How to Decorate a Room with Plants: 5 Practical Ideas
Decorating with plants is a simple and beautiful way to bring life and character to any room. Whether you’re looking to fill up an awkward corner or make a bold statement, using plants to decorate gives you endless possibilities.
From using the best indoor floor plants like monstera or snake plants to an organic living wall greenery can transform your home instantly.
For larger spaces, placing large plants in the living room adds elegance and drama. While smaller plants bring charm to surfaces and shelves.
These 5 practical ideas offer inspiration for a naturally inspired aesthetic for every room.
1. Using Plants To Fill Empty Spaces
Floor plants are the best ideas for filling in indoor spaces. Perfect for empty spaces like corners or walls they elevate a room by creating a cohesive and stylish look.
2. Create A Living Wall
Perfect for compact spaces like bathrooms or hallways. A living wall can easily be an inexpensive option for home decor by using potted plants. Alternately many interior design studios and nurseries have options to purchase a prelade living wall.
3. Succulents & Potted Plants On Shelves And Tables
Style tabletops and shelves with small potted plants and succulents. These small plants are perfect for a dining table centerpiece or scattered on shelves.
4. Decorate Using Plants & Macrame Hangers
Hang plants using macramé plant hangers for visual interest and height. ALthough macrame are mainly used in boho and rustic aesthetic, greenery in macrame fits all interior design styles.
5. Large Floor Plants In The Living Room
Place large plants in the living room as statement pieces and bring the decor together. High-quality artificial trees can look as lovely as live floor plants.
How Do I Style My Living Room with Plants?
Using plants to decorate your living room is a simple yet impactful way to bring life and personality into your space. From large plants in the living room that make bold statements to smaller accents of home greenery on tables or shelves, plants offer endless versatility. Follow these practical tips to create a stylish, nature-inspired oasis that feels balanced, fresh, and inviting.
Use plants to decorate your living room in a simple yet impressive way to bring life and charm into your space. From large plants in the living room for a bold statement to small accents of greenery throughout the home, plants offer endless home decor possibilities.
Here are some easy stylish tips for choosing the right plants as living room decor.
Think About Light & Space When Using Platnts To Decorate
Consider the lighting and space needs of each plant especially larger plants and trees. Place large plants in the living room near window or well lite corners.
Balance The Layout With Different Heights
Create a balance between large tall plants, mid-sized trees, and smaller tabletop greenery. Doing this helps create a balance in the room with larger plants creating a focal point.
Using Plants to Decorate: Choose Ones That Complement Your Color Palette
Go for plants that complement your living room’s color palette.
The deep green leaves on large plants like monsters or fiddle-leaf figs complement a living room with neutral tones, while the lighter tones in spider plants or other variegated varieties mix perfectly with bold interior design styles.
Add Depth to Your Space by Using Plants to Decorate with Varied Textures
When using plants to decorate, mix up the textures and shapes within the greenery. For example, mix the rubber tree’s broad leaves with the snake tree’s spiky shape, softening it all with the soft leaves of pothos.
Decorative Pots and Planters: Elevate Your Look When Using Plants to Decorate
Match the pots and planters to the room’s aesthetic. For a modern interior style, a ceramic post will fit right in. Woven baskets and terracotta pots blend perfectly in boho and rustic spaces.
Grouping Greenery: A Key Tip for Using Plants to Decorate Stylishly
Cluster plants in groups of three to five for a full and cohesive look. Use a range of plant types, heights and sizes to make the arrangement balance with a sense of effortless style.
Fill Corners and Empty Spaces by Thoughtfully Using Plants to Decorate
Place large plants in the living room or any empty corners and walls to fill dead space. Doing this adds character and charm to any space’s aesthetic.
Layer Greenery Throughout Your Home for Creative Plant Decoration
Mix larger floor plants with smaller plants on stands, shelves and tables. By layering the plants you can create a balanced organic flow through the space.
Decorate With Plants Using Hanging Plants
Hanging plants or macrame hangers are perfect for training plants like String Of Pearls or Ivy. Hanging plants are perfect for small spaces and add height to your home decor.
Placing a trailing or vining plant on top of the furniture is a great way to achieve the hanging plant look.
Make Zones With Plants
In an open-concept living room, larger plants or trees like bamboo, palm or a fiddle leaf lig act as natural room dividers. Using plants to decorate and divide creates a cozy and organic space.
Rotate Greenery to Keep Your Space Fresh When Using Plants to Decorate
To help with even growth and to avoid planting rotate your plants every couple of weeks. This also gives your space a refreshed look.
Add Seasonal Plants For A fresh look
Switch up smaller plants and add decorative greenery or flowers to your home. Add a vase of flowers for a springtime centerpiece or a Christmas garland to the mantle. The options for seasonal plants and greenery id endless.
How Do You Decorate a Room with Fake Plants?
Using fake plants to decorate your home is a great alternative to live plants.
They are the perfect “ low maintenance” option.
Fake plants can still achieve the look of a lot of plants in a house for those without a green thumb or who aren’t home enough. They are equally useful as a way to bring greenery to the areas of your home with little to no sunlight.
Here are some tips for decorating with fake plants.
Go For Quality
Choose realistic quality fake plants.
When picking fake plants, look for high-quality materials like silk or polyethylene. Look for leaves that have natural leaf shapes, color gradients and imperfections. A shaped stem with natural-looking finishers can make a big difference to how the overall plant looks.
Decorate Using Fake & Live Plants
Combine fake plants with the occasional real plant to create a natural balance. Doing this also tricks the eye into believing all the plants are real and luscious.
Fill In The Gaps
Take advantage of the evergreen appearance of fake plants to fill in the gaps of vining plants.
Use Beautiful Pots
Style your plants In beautiful pots, baskets and planters to elevate their look.
As there is no need to water fake plants they can be placed into any type of decorative pit or basket, making them an inexpensive and versatile home decor option.
Plant Tips: Caring for Your Indoor Greenery
Some of the best indoor floor plants are the low-maintenance ones, as they make caring for plants simple.
The key is to figure out how your plant thrives in Its environment. This can be learned by researching and observing the plant’s behavior. Each plant has its quirks, some may surprise you.
For instance, my snake plant was stagnant for ages. Then I moved it into a dim hallway with barely any natural light. It thrived and very quickly outgrown its pot.
With the right care, the greenery in your home from the large plants in the living room to succulents on a shelf can flourish and transform your living space.
Here are some basic plant tips to get you started.
Watering
Know when and how much water to give each plant.
The best way to tell if a plant needs watering is to stick a chopstick into the soil. How wet and the amount of soil on the chopstick once pulled tells you how moist it is.
In general succulents, even large ones like the snake plant, ZZ plant and also vera prefer to dry out between watering. While palms, fiddle leaf figs, ficus trees and ferns prefer moist soil.
Lighting Needs
Find out what the lighting is for the space you want for your greenery.
- Low Light: this means that the area has little natural light. Like in a room away from the windows. Plants in low light can survive however they grow slower ( except my snake plant) and need less watering.
- Direct Sunlight: a space that has unfiltered sunlight for at least 5-6 hours during the day. Plants like succulents and fiddle leaf figs need this type of light to thrive.
Humidity
Humidity is important to plants. For the best chance at having a home full of greenery and lots of plants, 40 – 60% is the perfect humidity for most plants. However tropical plants need to be in spaces higher than 60%.
As most homes fall into the 40 – 60 humidity range, humidity for your plants shouldn’t be a problem.
Leaf curling and brown leaves are signs of low humidity and high humidity can bring mold and fungal infections.
6 Best Plants For Beginners
- Snake Plant (Sansevieria): its striking pointed leaves work with any home style. The snake plant tolerates low light and infrequent watering, making it nearly indestructible.
- Pothos (Epipremnum aureum): A trailing vine with heart-shaped leaves, thrives in various lighting conditions and can go weeks without water.
- ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia):
- Perfect for a true beginner to plants. This plant is extremely hardy and can survive in low light and requires minimal watering.
- Aloe Vera: A plant with medicinal properties that loves bright light but is ok with infrequent watering.
- Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum): Fast-growing and adaptable, it produces “baby” plants that are easy to propagate. It thrived in indirect sunlight.
Inexpensive Home Decor: Budget-Friendly Plant Ideas
Using plants to decorate is a smart and stylish way to achieve inexpensive home decor.
Plants provide endless opportunities for budget-friendly creativity, from propagating cuttings at home for free greenery to repurposing old containers as pots.
Affordable options like pothos, spider plants, and peace lilies make embracing this timeless, eco-friendly decor solution easy without breaking the bank.
Lots of Plants in the House: Is There Such a Thing as Too Many?
The trend of having lots of plants in the house is moving away from just a trend to a classic and timeless style.
Opting for the “more is more” vibe with home greenery not only adds aesthetic appeal but also improves mood and purifies the air.
If you love the idea of using plants to decorate and want to fill your home with natural beauty, here are some tips to avoid plant clutter.
Tips to Avoid Clutter
- Balance large and small plants:
- Use statement-making large plants in the living room, to complement smaller plants. Having a balance between large and smaller plants creates a styled look.
- Incorporate vertical space
- Elevating your plants with hanging planters or high on a shelf helps prevent clutter by giving them their own designated space while creating an eye-catching display.
- Organize with stands and shelves:
- Elevate some greenery on plant stands or stagger them on shelves to add depth and prevent overcrowding.
Avoiding clutter while incorporating lots of plants into our home helps to create a polished, styled look, transforming a group of plants into a curated display.
Using Plants To Decorate
Using plants to decorate is a simple yet impactful way to turn your house into a calm, stylish, and inviting home. Whether you start with a few small succulents or dive into creating an indoor jungle with lots of plants in the house, the benefits are endless. From improving your mood and enhancing air quality to providing a cost-effective way to elevate your home’s aesthetic, plants truly are the perfect companions for any decor style.
Remember, even the best indoor floor plants like Snake Plants and Fiddle Leaf Figs can thrive in a variety of settings, while thoughtful arrangements of greenery bring charm to every part of your home. With the right plant tips and creative inspiration, you can transform your space into a natural haven.
For more inspiration and practical tips, follow me on Pinterest, where I share everything from creative plant arrangements to home decor ideas.