This month, we worked with designers and professional organizers to transform a four-bedroom penthouse in the Prospect Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. Here are five plant ideas spotted around the house that we want to add to our own homes ASAP.
By Katie Holdefehr, Real Simple
If your goal is to turn your home into an indoor garden but you don't have an endless amount of time to care for your plant babies, then you're going to want to be strategic about the plants you buy. If you diversify your plant picks and place them thoughtfully (some hanging up near the ceiling, others in large pots set on the floor), you can give your home a lush green look without caring for dozens of plants each week. In the Real Simple Home, you'll find five types of plants the designers used to give the impression that the house is filled with greenery. Follow the ideas below to turn your own home into an indoor oasis.
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Tiny Cheer-Me-Ups (for the bathroom and bedside tables)
The first type of house plant every home needs is those tiny plants that cheer up bathroom ledges, bedside tables, and living room side tables. Small, low-maintenance plants like succulents are ideal in this situation. Order a set of several potted succulents, then scatter them on all the little surfaces around your home.
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A Large Potted Plant
To add interest and dimension, a large floor-standing potted plant is a must in every home. Several small plants can look bitsy by themselves, but one large plant grounds the room and adds a touch of drama. For the one on the side of the kitchen, a basket planter helps soften the look of the ultra-modern kitchen.
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A Faux Plant (Shh...no one has to know)
Most homes have at least one spot that gets absolutely zero sunlight—in the Real Simple Home, it's the pretty patterned laundry room. Rather than move real plants periodically to the window, go the no-maintenance route and invest in a faux plant (or two) that will thrive without light or water, yet will still perk up the space.
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Trailing Plants (for shelves and window sills)
Plants set on countertops and tables are great, but to add more visual interest, invest in trailing plants that can sit on shelves or in a hanging basket. On the shelf above the desk, a dangling succulent looks at home. And in the kitchen at the Real Simple Home, a pothos hangs near the window, where its leafy vine trails down the side of the pot. Ivy, pothos, string of pearls, and spider plants are all great options.
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A Large Plant in an Elevated Stand
Sometimes the best way to get a plant more attention is to set it on an elevated plant stand. In the stylish kid's bedroom at the Real Simple Home, an elevated metal plant stand not only lifts a leafy plant to new heights, but it also adds some sophistication to this playful space.
