9 ways to decorate with plants

Plants never clash. Nobody’s ever looked at a jungle and thought it looked a bit busy. So mix them up as you like.

If you want drama, mix up heights, leaf shapes and colours. If you want a sleek, sophisticated look you could go for all dark-leafed plants, e.g. zz plants, ficus, rubber plants. 

For a relaxed look, arrange plants in odd numbers. It makes the eye move around, which makes a space more visually appealing.

Arranging in even numbers creates a more formal look. You might want that in certain places - two identical plants either side of a front door looks smart - but in a living area it can feel a bit cold and unwelcoming.

Sounds simple, but make sure the plants you want to use will live happily in your room. You can use the filters on our site to find plants for bright, medium and low light.

Group plants that enjoy the same conditions. Your room will look its best when all the plants are thriving.

Plants make a space relaxing. It’s in our DNA to feel calmer when we see greenery, so put plants wherever you spend a lot of time.

A plant on your desk, on your bedside table, or next to the sofa will create a little moment of calm whenever you see them.

Not all plants need to live on the floor. You can use them to decorate bookshelves, bedside tables, windowsills. Anywhere, basically. 

You don’t even need any floor or surface space at all. Suspend hanging plants from the ceiling to draw the eye up. 

If there’s something in your room that you love, plants can help bring attention to it. For example, cover a fireplace with plants and you turn it into something extraordinary. 

Put plants next to a favourite artwork or photograph to accentuate it. Surround a favourite chair with tall plants to make it a cosy reading area.

Plants are a brilliant way to bring life to those awkward areas of your home. A snake plant makes a gloomy hall cheerier. A group of tall plants can hide a messy area. A trailing pothos can make the top of a cupboard suddenly beautiful.

Whatever your weird spot, as long as it gets a little light there’s a plant that will live there.

Any plant you choose will cheer up a space, but you can choose them specifically to enhance your look. 

If you’re the minimal type, plants with simple, sculptural leaves, like a coconut or a cactus, will keep things clean. 

If you like traditional interiors, plants like a Kentia palm or Boston fern, which were popular in Victorian times, will fit perfectly. 

Enjoy yourself by being a bit over-the-top. A fiddle leaf fig tree in the bedroom looks delightful. Even a tiny bathroom becomes a luxury oasis if you fill it with steam-loving ferns.

The brilliant thing about plants is that if you try something and you’re not sure, you can always move them.

We always love seeing how you’ve used plants in your homes. Tag us on Instagram and inspire others with your interiors.