Now, I am a plant girl. I always have been. My mother was an amazing gardener, and I have always admired the ability to create life from the ground. While I still have a lot to learn, it is truly a rewarding process to care for your own plants. If you want to start decorating with plants this year, read on to see some great ideas for getting started with house plants.
I always recommend starting with low maintenance house plants such as succulents, philodendrons, ferns, and others. It can be devastating to have a plant die while in your care, but with these plant species you don't have to worry about that as much. Remember to nurture your plants, but don't kill them with kindness. It is easy to overwater your plant if you aren't careful!
Now, onto the list.
1. Floor Plants
If you have a room with too little green and too much empty space, a floor plant is just what you need! Floor plants are large enough to fill a room, but not too large as to make the space seem crowded. When deciding where to place a floor plant in your space, make sure it is in an area where it can receive the proper amount of light. Also, you don't want to end up with a plant that touches the ceiling! Measure the plant AND the planter carefully. Six or seven feet is a good height for floor plants, but you can also go with around three feet if you want a plant that matches the height of your furniture.
2. Long Hanging Plants
Who says your home can't look like a hanging Babylon Garden? Plants that drape from above are an unexpected, yet memorable addition to any room. Just make sure they aren't placed up too high, so that you can still water them!
3. Stress-Relieving Lavender Plants
Lavender aromatherapy is clinically proven to be uplifting, and reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and insomnia. They are the ideal plant for home offices and bedrooms. If you don't have the means to care for a lavender plant, you can always add a lavender candle to your space in order to reap the benefits of the super plant. My favorite way to get lavender in my home is through the beeswax lavender-scented candle available on my online store. Make sure to buy only candles and bath products that contain natural lavender, through dried botanicals or essential oils. Don't be fooled by chemical lavender formulas that can be harmful to your health.
4. Cut Flowers
Cut blooms are a great temporary, low-maintenance option for decorating your home. You can grow your own flowers outdoors, and then cut and arrange them into a decorative bouquet whenever you need a centerpiece or quick style for a guest room or powder room. Of course, flower plants require a lot of upkeep, so it is perfectly fine to get your cut blooms from the store. Some faux floral picks are even realistic enough to pass as the real thing, if you want blooms that won't eventually wilt. The trick to a gorgeous bouquet is how you arrange it. Always add leaf stems to an arrange to get the most realistic look. If you're using multiple types of flowers, vary up the shapes, sizes and colors while still keeping an overall color theme in mind.
5. Vintage Vases, Pots and China Planters
Some people like to use simple, minimalist pots for their plants. But, vintage pots, hand-me-down china and other makeshift planters can make for a great, quirky conversation piece! Dress up your greenery with fun planters to draw more attention to them, and add color to your space.
6. Create a DIY Terrarium
This one is a fun and creative way to decorate with plants! And, it's completely up to you how you choose to design your terrarium. You can keep it simple by filling the base with soil and rocks, then adding small shrubby plants. Or, create a desert theme with sand, tumbleweeds, cacti and succulents. Get creative with faux moss from the craft store, mushroom figurines, shells and more! Most people create their terrarium in a simple fish bowl or mason jar, but be a little daring and choose a more decorative glass container such as this geometric jar. The possibilities are endless. If you want to see my How-To on creating a terrarium in a jar, follow my Facebook page and tune in next Tuesday to watch the live video.