Since we’re surrounded with technology in work and play, we are looking to nature for balance. We all know the benefits of a life surrounded by greenery. Plants suck the bad stuff out of the air – and even the colour green is calming to our souls.
Getting green indoors might be simpler than you think. Find out how you can celebrate the uplifting and simple power of plants.
When it comes to indoor planting don’t restrict yourself to a few small pots. Be brave and fill your home with lush greenery and tall, striking cacti.
Floor show
Plants don’t have to be confined to tables or sideboards, – experiment with other surfaces too. A big planter (or two) on the floor, can look fabulous. Or try a pair of plinths topped with urns.
Indoor jungle
If you’re the kind of person who is happy to look after plants, take a maximalist approach and create your very own indoor greenhouse. A mix of trees, wall-mounted planters and evergreens will make your rooms feel lush and verdant. Be sure to mix different shades of green to create density and contrast. Think Axel Vervoordt.
Contrast is key
In your choice of both foliage and materials. Go for a vibrant mix of succulents, jungle leaves, small trees and shrubs displayed in a combination of large metal buckets and distressed terracotta pots.
Cosy corner
A conservatory or any corner really, is the perfect place for a table of trailing greenery. The key is to have a mix of plants with plenty of height as well as smaller varieties to create an arbour-like feel. An olive tree is a great starting point, as it can easily be grown in a pot.
Cool cacti
Invest in some cacti and create a green view – succulents come in all shapes and sizes that you can use to create a green sculpture garden. They’re also great for narrow spaces.
Reflected glory
Hang a mirror opposite a green space and you can instantly bring your outdoors in. This trick works brilliantly on indoor walls with large windows opposite, or on a small terrace to make it feel bigger – just place the mirror where it will reflect the garden in all its glory. It’s like a living artwork.
Treat plants
as a living part of your architecture by trailing vines along walls and hooking them to pegs on the ceiling. Designers like Axel Vervoordt has climbing palnts that have entwined themselves around old beams overhead.
Green screens
Think about colonizing a wall with living ivy as a striking alternative to wallpaper. There are systems available that allow you to grow climbing plants using simply installed modules, that work as well indoors as exterior walls.
Plants aren’t the only way to create a verdant feel in your living room. Build up a collection of pictures that show gardens and landscapes or even just images in a green colour palette and attach them collage style to your wall. The result can be almost as beautiful as areal garden (no watering required!) It’s important to place plants where you will see them often.
