Winter is a great time to make your home come to life with these Plantscaping Tips
– by Designer Maxwell Alexander, Editor in Chief, Hudson Valley Style Magazine
Planters are more than just containers. Plants are a powerful but underused tool in interior design. Their green, leafy bodies can add life to even the coldest rooms and they are versatile enough to be able to be included either as a major feature or as a last minute detail. But as living creatures they are, plants can be tricky to work with since they need good lighting, settings, and the right planters to look their best. So make sure you keep these tips in mind to breathe style and nature into your home’s interior.
Plants and planters go together like two peas in a pod. Rather than just being containers, planters can make a statement of their own and add personality to a room by varying in shape and size according to a particular theme. When picking a pot’s color, it’s always a good idea to look at the surrounding objects palette to guarantee it fits into the design.
Use different leaf textures and shapes to make a statement
Rooms would look boring if every texture used in them were the same. You can avoid this by using bold leaf textures and shapes to break patterns and create an interesting mix of figures. For example, you can use high cascading plants to break the blocky look that tall pieces of furniture give to living and dining rooms. Likewise, you can also breathe personality onto empty corners or long walls using small, tree-like plants such as palms.
Chose the right leaf colors for your project
Leaf colors can add variety and life to a room. When picking between colors, use them like a chef uses spices to add subtle flavors to his creations. You can go for the classic green-over-white look or vary your palette according to the season: green for spring, teal for autumn, etc. Color options are limitless and include many variations of green as well as more exotic ones like white, silver, purple, and orange.
Use spotlighting to highlight the plants
Don’t let your plants blend with the rest of the props. Instead, use spotlights to bring attention to beautiful plants and accentuate their role in a room. Take advantage of their uniqueness as the only living pieces of décor in a home to create an aesthetical ambiance that is both natural and pleasant to the eye.
Placement can be used to channel traffic or attention in a space
When resting on the floor, plants can act as portable walls, helping to subdivide a room into more intimate spaces or simply channeling traffic through large areas. This is ideal for larger rooms, as it makes people comfortable and creates visual depth. Plants can also be used as frames to draw attention to a particular area or object, like a window or a door, by putting two identical ones on either side.
Rotate blooming plants to maximize their visual impact
Blooming plants, such as bromeliads and orchids, add an exotic touch to a home and bring a sense of life to even the darkest days. But with their average lifespan being six to eight weeks, you’ll need a trusted source of blooming plants and frequent rotation to ensure your clients can enjoy their view year-round.