I'm a huge fan of using plants indoors to liven up a home. It's a relatively inexpensive, yet often overlooked way to instantly add that final layer to a room and it immediately breathes life into any space. Case in point, our fireplace below. We're lucky enough to have a really beautiful fireplace in the London home we're renting, but sadly we can't light a fire in it. (Cue, pile of fairy lights). I added a selection of plants - which are constantly in rotation by the way, depending on who's doing well and who needs a bit more light and heat - and it lifts it to another level. Imagine it with no plants. Really boring and plain right? Now it just needs a pop of colour, maybe an electric blue candle or two and some nicer plant pots and we're on our way.
Another example is this corner of our bedroom (that used to look like this when Heart Home magazine did a shoot here a few months ago). I've turned my street find dresser - probably intended as a dining room sideboard - into a dressing table of sorts. It looks perfectly fine like this...
But to me it looks so much better like this (below), with the addition of a few more plants. It's that pop of green that somehow transforms it, don't you think? The art's a bit wonky and it could use a few more pieces, but it's a start.
Speaking of art, there are so many ways to create inexpensive art at home. I'm sure we'd all like to have something fabulous, maybe a Cy Twombly or a Jackson Pollack - but in the meantime ( ha ha), you can always frame a favourite piece of fabric or even pages from magazines and books that catch your eye, as I've done here. When you put them in decent frames (in this case good ol' Ikea), and group them on a wall, they look like more than the sum of their parts.
What do you think? Do any of you have green fingers/thumb when it comes to houseplants or do you shy away for fear of killing them, as a lot of people seem to?
Another post! Grand! House plants do add so much to a space and when in doubt, just ask your local nursery. I have one that needs almost no sunlight and tolerates a drought now and then! And though I'd love to be able to freely spend on artwork, almost everything on our walls comes from local thrift stores - swapping out prints (sometimes with a gorgeous napkin) when the frame is lovely. It's so nice to read a blog that imparts great, practical ideas -that are stunning at the same time.
ReplyDeleteHi Janet - what a great compliment!
DeleteYou're right, framing a napkin or hanky is a great idea too.
Thanks!
I really love images of plants in homes, and being in homes with plants. My favourite was walking into a big atrium in a house, full of light and plants...but somehow I just am not that successful with them in my home. I live vicariously through pinterest and have a board ''green inside'' that keeps me going until I have the energy to buy my own plants.
ReplyDeleteThanks Andrea! Since moving back to London from sunny LA, I've had to adjust to a different climate where plants don't just thrive all on their own! Maybe you could try some succulents?
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