Plants Bring Rooms
to Life
Make your rooms
look finished with the
addition of greenery
Every designer has a method of
interior design that suits them.
For some it’s concentrating on
how the room functions and
reflects the occupants’ interests.
For others it’s a way of making
sure all details have been attended
to. One of those designers is
Christopher Lowell. He covers all
the major design elements neatly
and easily in his book “Christopher Lowell’s Seven Layers of Design.” It’s his “Seventh Layer” that I find is most often overlooked in homes. That element is greenery, or plants.
Plants add life
If you’ve had a hard time figuring out what’s missing in the design in your rooms, take a quick glance around. Does it look pretty, but seem sterile or lifeless? If so, you probably don’t have a plant in the room. Plants are the small, yet vital accessory that can make your rooms come to life. They add instant harmony and naturalness to a room. In short, they’re the perfect decorating accessory.
Instant Appeal
When you place a plant on a table, it suddenly looks more natural and appealing. The nice thing, too, about plants is that they can actually add to the décor of a room. Think about all those decorating magazines showing off beautiful kitchens, which almost always have some kind of small plant on a counter, such as a pot of rosemary. A pot of thyme or herbs in a window carries out the kitchen-y feel and creates a Provencal air.
A pot of ivy tucked into a bookshelf, says English Cottage. A beautiful palm in a rich, jewel-toned dining room makes the room more elegant and statelier. A tall cactus harkens to the look of the Southwest. Ficus trees are the chameleons of the indoor plant world, fitting in almost anywhere and looking terrific at the same time.
Plants are healthy
Besides being attractive, plants are good for you. One of the problems confronting Americans today is poor indoor air quality. As homes become tighter and more efficient, they can trap cleaning chemicals and other vapors inside the home, creating breathing difficulties and health risks. This makes indoor plants a wonderful addition to any room because they help to remove the pollutants and clean the air. Of course, they have to be healthy plants to begin with.
Know what to grow – or use silk
It’s important that you place plants in places where they’ll not only survive, but will thrive. So matching the plant to its location is key. Otherwise, you’ll have a dying plant on your hands in a short time. Choose ficus trees if you have high to medium light, or place the tree close to a window.
Select low-light plants, such as peace lily (spathiphyllum) in dark areas of the house. Ivies are usually hardy plants and withstand less-than-perfect growing conditions, making them a good all-around choice. Ferns require bright light, so select your location carefully. Your local nursery will be able to help you select the right plants for your home.
If you have a chronic brown thumb or if your plants start looking bad, then don’t hesitate to buy silk plants instead. These beauties require only occasional dusting; (I spray mine off in the shower about once a year). Silk or real, plants should be attractive, lush, and clean. So pitch those sad, scraggly, withered plants. (Yes, even the one from your Aunt Sally). Otherwise, they’ll detract from your décor and make the whole room look sad.
More plant ideas
Have a “dead” corner? Fill it in with a tall, leafy ficus tree. If you buy one in one of those cheap baskets, take the plant out of the basket and put it into a nice planter, then fill in around the plant with a lush, trailing ivy. Or, instead of the old ficus standby, buy a tall plant stand and add a small palm, filling in around the bottom with some trailing plants. This is a beautiful look that works well with real or silk plants. Whichever you choose, both solve those awkward corner problems. Consider placing an uplight in the planters to shine up at the plants for an even more dramatic effect.
In the kitchen, place a grouping of three plants in the corner of your kitchen cabinets, next to the ceiling. Try to combine three different heights and leaf types, or blend plants with urns or other decorative accessories, to make it look the most interesting. A leafy, flowing ivy is also the perfect accessory for a TV armoire in the bedroom. Try placing something tall behind it, such as an urn, large plate on a stand, or other accessory to make it really show up and have more interest. Don’t forget to vary sizes and types of plants in your rooms; this gives much more visual interest and keeps the plants from looking monotonous.
No matter whether it’s a living room, an empty side table, or the kitchen, there’s always a place where a plant belongs.
© 2007 Kathryn Weber, all rights reserved
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Kathryn Weber is the publisher of the Everydayclean.com Cleaning Calender, that calender that puts you in control of your home by ending the power struggle. For more information log on to http://tinyurl.com/d9rh5.
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©2001-2007 Kathryn Weber
All rights reserved.
