My secret to elevating any space…
The humble plant
Like many others I have a real thing for an indoor plant. For me there’s something inherently happy about having a beautiful living thing sharing my space, especially as you see it grow and thrive. I also feel very lucky to live in a climate where we have the opportunity to spend so much time outdoors and place such an emphasis on seamless indoor/outdoor living.
Fill a corner
Plants are a great cost effective way to fill a space. In fact you are likely to spend more on the pot you put it in than the plant and potting mix. Depending on the space you are filling you can choose a plant with height, such as fiddle leaf fig, or something dramatic like a trailing Devil’s Ivy for a shelf. Another good option is placing a plant on a table or a plant stand. You can pick up beautiful vintage plant stands second which adds character as well as height. Grouping plants of various heights and in different size containers can also add interest.
Create a mood
Plants are truly amazing, from their various colours and textures to their different shapes they can create different moods and evoke memories. One of my favourite aspects of travel is observing differences in the natural landscape and local gardens. I have vivid memories of visiting a quaint historic town in Atlanta, GA with old timber cottages dotted down the street. Many of these had front verandas with rocking chairs and large baskets of ferns hanging from the rafters. This evoked a nostalgic and somewhat haunting feeling for me that I loved and I have since included in my own home. There’s something so impressive about the way these plants cascade from hanging baskets.
Soften your space
Having interesting plants in your home creates another point of interest and softens the space. In the hot Queensland climate I also feel that having lots of plants around you makes the space feel cooler. Personally I find no design is complete without the addition of some form of organic inclusion, whether that is a live plant or a dried arrangement. Perhaps it’s a certain sense of randomness or ‘movement’ that they add but a room without an organic element seems cold and sterile to me.
Zanzibar Gem
One of my favourites. These guys have beautiful succulent, glossy green leaves and an interesting sculptural quality. Best of all they don’t require too much love. They tolerate shade, so they are well suited to indoor areas, and they don’t need too much water.
Devil’s Ivy
If anything I have too much of this in my home because it is so easy to propagate. This plant likes a well lit area but can tolerate low light - it will just grow leggy instead of luscious. It will grow well in small containers and trails long tendrils so I like to use it on shelves and in hanging pots.
Boston Fern
I already mentioned this one in relation to my memories of Atlanta but it’s a firm favourite. Provided they get good water at least once a week (more in summer) this plant will thrive in bright, indirect sunlight, making it less temperamental than many other fern varieties.
Fiddle Leaf Fig
Another winner, this small tree provides height and the leaves are large and glossy. Provided it has enough light and water it will thrive with and tolerate a relatively small pot for its size. Fiddle Leaf Figs can also be cut back when they get too big and will resprout.
