Decorating with plants is a surefire way to add a sense of warmth and comfort to your home. The versatility of form that plants bring, being sculptural while simultaneously free-flowing, is what adds an interest factor to any room. Similar to artworks, furniture and decorative pieces, plants add a different dimension to your home. Where plants 'win' is in their ability to add character to a space without stealing the spotlight from other, statement pieces. For example, a colourful painting can instantly become the centre of attention in a room but runs the risk of overshadowing other pieces that you may have chosen for their interesting design elements. Plants are subtle yet striking accessories.



Plants work especially well in tight spaces that can be potentially wasted, such as hidden corners, stairwells, and corridors. If you're struggling to figure out what to do with a corner in a room that is too small to fit a piece of furniture yet still looks bare, consider popping a plant into the space instead for an instant boost.



When it comes to decorating with plants, the sky is the limit. They are so easy to incorporate into any space and aesthetic. They can be mounted on a shelf as a hanging garden, as verdant art pieces, or even as sculptures. They can be used singularly or collectively. The incredible thing about decorating with plants is that they never overwhelm the space or grandstand, and yet manage to accessorise a room the way traditional adornments would. Since plants don't require a huge investment, you can constantly play around with the look and feel of a room by adding or removing them, thereby also customising the look of your space, however, you want.



Grooved Urn Vase





How to get the Look

If you are considering using plants, small, colourful cacti and other succulents serve as complementary pieces on coffee tables or side tables. For those awkward corner spots, the snake plant with its vertical leaves, or even tall cactus, are options to consider. Leafy plants can become cumbersome and look messy, if not tended to very precisely.

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For a hanging garden, colourful air plants are ideal because they create a sense of visual interest with their colours and shape. If you would like to add some Zen vibes to your bathroom, eucalyptus is not only easy on the eyes but also has a soothing aroma. For greater liveliness, orchids also serve as a good alternative.







It is important to keep a few things in mind if you decide to incorporate plants into your home decor:

Think of the container as well as the plant itself the way you would any decorative accessory or piece of furniture. This means investing in a good-looking planter, and regularly maintaining the plant inside it - dead leaves and messy stems are a no-no!

Group similar plants together if you intend on getting more than one, i.e. succulents go together, whereas leafier plants like the money plant should be grouped together.

Location, location, location. Placing the plant in an area where it gets the light it needs to thrive is very important, but so is seeing where it will add the most value in a room. Given that plants usually end up making the most of the tiny corners or 'dead' space in a room, use that to your advantage, while still ensuring that the plant has sun if they're sun-loving, or adequate shade, if they're that way inclined.

Award-winning, Mumbai-based interior designer and stylist Shweta Kaushik shares her tips on bringing plants into the home. "Incorporating plants as part of the decor is the perfect way to make your space feel like its living and breathing. They add warmth and a natural vibe to spaces. I prefer using plants in symbiosis with a decorative element. For example, hanging macrame pot holders, glass and metal terrariums or even easy to maintain small flowering cacti."

Do you have any special tips for bringing greenery into your home? Tell us more on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, @DiscernLiving.

Contributed by Jabeen Syed. Find her on Twitter @jabeensyed.

