6 minute read
Indoor Plants for a Stylish & Healthy Home
Indoor Plants for a Stylish and Healthy Home
Up until recently, indoor houseplants were used merely to fill empty spaces and add a little natural color and vibrancy to a room. If you were lucky enough to be blessed with a green thumb, you might be one of the rare people that could grow different plant species successfully throughout the year. If not, you would find yourself among the masses that had to throw out that lovely Palm and replace it every four to five months.
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Over the past few years, indoor houseplants have taken on a whole new meaning – and purpose. Today, the use of indoor house plants is one of the hottest design and style trends in home decor. Not only do houseplants (still) fill empty spaces and add natural color and vibrancy to a room – they help create a healthy living environment for you and your family. The new generation of homeowners have been making healthy home choices a priority, and indoor houseplants have made their way to the top of that list. From creating in-home greenhouse nooks to professionally designed floor plans to access the right amount of light for specific species of plants, the indoor plant movement is making its mark.
According to Angela Cabotaje of Right As Rain by UW Medicine, “Just like walking past trees and greenery outside, interacting with indoor plants may be able to reduce stress and anxiety. Plus, they have the added bonus of helping to purify the air. NASA researchers conducted one of the most well-known studies on the matter in 1989 and they found that ordinary daisies, chrysanthemums and other common house plants were able to remove as much as 90 percent of certain toxins from the air in just 24 hours.”
Healthy and beautiful is the perfect recipe for home decor. And, thanks to modern technology, it is easier than ever to raise and sustain houseplants as well as choose the best plant for different spaces with hundreds of podcasts, social media sites, blogs, and apps available to help you through the process. From low-light to pet-friendly plant species, rest assured that there is hope (and help) out there to assist you in keeping your plants alive and thriving.
Underhill Plants, located in downtown Olympia next to the MIXX 96 building, will do just that – they will help you select the right plants for your specific space and style. According to Alden, owner of Underhill Plants, “We also carry a variety of pottery, macrame, locally made art and ceramics, as well as soil and so much more.”
Keeping them alive is the first step, the fun part is how to successfully place and utilize them in your home. Here are a few simple ways that indoor houseplants are being integrated into hot new home style and design pallets.
Raising the Room’s Focal Point with Hanging Plants
One common design challenge when decorating a room is the dead white space where walls and ceilings meet. Placing hanging plants from the ceiling, in corners, or above windows instantly fills white space and changes the focal point of any room. It is also a multifunctional way to add greenery without it taking up space on your nightstand or dresser. Macramé plant hangers have found their way back into style, which has launched a whole new line of creative ways to get plants off the ground and draping down from above. Ceramic, cork, and metal hangers of all different shapes, sizes, and styles can be found on any accessory page of every major home decor outlet.
Green Walls and Wall Planters
Sometimes the worlds of home decor and eco-friendly living overlap and spark some of the most interesting and healthy design creations. Green walls or living walls are popping up all over the country as homeowners seek healthier options for air quality in their homes.
Jana Raines , owner of Olympia Green Roofs adds, “Green or living walls, both indoors and outside of the home, offer a host of advantages. In indoor applications, a living wall system helps clean the air, reduces dust, reduces noise levels on street-facing walls, and has been shown to have a positive effect on overall happiness and wellbeing.” Jana adds, “A properly installed green wall in the home is also relatively low maintenance. Lighting and irrigation systems are included in the installation to ensure that plants have the growing conditions that will help them thrive regardless of the natural lighting in the space. There are a range of sizes and prebuilt units available but if in doubt about what is right for you, always consult with an accredited green roof professional (GRP).”
With this new fad, there is no need to search out the perfect framed picture or artwork to liven up a dull open wall for that extra pop of color. Green walls are a simple way to incorporate indoor plants into any household, and they are aesthetically pleasing.
If you are nervous about taking the full plunge of adding a true green or living wall to your home, there are beautifully made and designed wall plant hangers and holders that provide similar health benefits and generate the same look and feel.
- Jana Raines of Olympia Green Roofs
If you have a plant lover in your life, you are aware of the trending craze of propagation stations. Propagation stations are welldesigned “homes” for propagating plant stems to grow plant babies. Propagation stations have become just as fashionable as they are functional. They are easy to install, cover a lot of wall space and you can mix and match your propagating species for a fun and festive look. Not to mention, keeping stems alive is a breeze. Propagating station frames can be found in all sizes from a single long-line shelf look to three and four-tiered pieces that fill an entire wall in varied materials from wood to metal and everything in between. With so many options on the market, you can also play with the shapes and sizes of the glass containers to create your own unique look.
Curate a Jungle Vibe with Corner Clusters
For a tropical jungle look, choose a well-lit corner in your home or room and simply combine different lush plants like cacti, palms, and ferns. To create the illusion of a jungle floor, arrange plants in different heights using tall species, plant holders, and different chain lengths in hanging plants for a cascading and flowing feel. If taking risks with color in wall paints or furniture is not your style, this is the perfect chance to play with bold vibrant colors as you mix and match pots and plant holders.
Garden Greenhouse Nooks
Mix together large potted plants, succulents and herbs on a windowsill, and some hanging greenery in bay window spaces, reading nooks, or any unused inlet to create a Secret Garden Greenhouse getaway. This is your chance and safe space to play with different plant species. Pair with Mediterranean or tropical colored pillows and throws, and select plant colors, hues, and sizes that generate a warm cozy oasis feeling.
A plant-filled home can help create the happiest of homes. When it comes to styling your space, decorating with plants allows no shortage of ideas to add color, life, and health for you and your family. Let us help you find the right plant for your space and style. We also carry a variety of pottery, macrame, locally made art and ceramics, as well as soil and so much more.
- Alden of Underhill Plants in Olympia
