ACCENTS

Planting ideas

Brightening your home with the use of plants and flowering plants throughout each room is a great way to energize your living space. It is always nice to bring some of the outside in. There are countless choices for indoor plants and flowers that will add color, vibrancy, freshness, and life to any room in the home.

When adding indoor plants to your home’s décor, there are some things to keep in mind. First you want to select from plants and flowers that are not toxic to humans and pets. Dogs and cats have been known to chew on and even ingest many types of plants. It is best to conduct a search online to see what plants are toxic to pets so as not to bring those into the home. There are many nontoxic indoor plants that are harmless to pets, however your domestic cat or dog might end up chewing on and destroying the plant. Many pet owners can attest to this. We don’t know for sure why pets like to eat and chew on houseplants, but toxic plants can cause various gastrointestinal issues and in worse cases, death.

Also consider when selecting indoor plants how well a plant will thrive in the room. There are some plants that can do well in low light and others that require some sunlight. The sago palm, pink anthurium, African violet, snake plant, and bromeliad can thrive without much sunlight and are beautiful to look at. You should also consider how much maintenance a plant or flowers are going to require. Daily watering can easily get away from us when life happens. However, there are some people that find caring for houseplants relaxing, satisfying and even therapeutic. Many indoor plants can go a couple of days without water, so choose which ones you like accordingly.

Plants dress up and breathe life into any room in the home. Home offices really get a boost from an indoor plant because of the nature of the space. Offices can be associated with stark white, boring rooms with unflattering lighting, but throw in a lovely hydrangea plant and the room is transformed. Living rooms and family rooms are also perfect spaces to showcase indoor plants and flowers. Living plants can enliven a room and act as a focal point that offers a taste of nature. The bathroom can be dressed up and fitted with a potted plant or two on the vanity or on top of the toilet tank. When you introduce a plant into a restroom, it brightens things up and offers a more organic look.

Don’t forget that the plant’s pot or planter box is also a part of your décor and the combination of a lovely plant in a stunning pot is unbeatable. Once you have determined the level of commitment you are willing to undertake with your houseplants, you can decide on your favorites that you, your family and maybe your pets can enjoy. p