25 Indoor Plant Display Ideas: Part 2
Give shelves a lift
In addition to serving as a great storage solution and an excellent way to make the most of wall space, shelving units are also great for displaying plants. Add some color to your shelves by mixing plants of different shapes and sizes; choose from uprights, trailing plants and small potted beauties – there is no shortage of options to experiment with.
Stay on top of a few simple tips to make your display look like a true designer. A unified look can be achieved by choosing similar-shaped pots in a single colour. Be sure to maintain higher shelves so trailing species have ample space to tumble. If you wish to display upright beauties such as mother-in-law’s tongue, make sure they remain within the overall shelving ‘grid’ to get their maximum impact and avoid them looking untidy.
Cultivate a terrarium
Spend some time in the mini landscape and reduce your stress levels. Among the tiny succulents and air plants that make up a terrarium are the intricate shapes that can be mesmerizing, and the gravel and pebbles can make a terrarium calming and relaxing to look at.
Put it in full view – on a coffee or side table – so you can admire it while enjoying a quiet cup of coffee. When buying a glass lantern or dome, make sure it has an open top or side, so succulents can get plenty of air.
Highlight a true beauty
A simple statement can say more often than not – so be brave and allow a stunning plant to take center stage. Make your side table or stool the focal point of your room with a plant that stands out.
Make sure the surrounding area is clear and bright and use downlights or spotlights to highlight. A lava rock has been trained around the roots of this exquisite Schefflera, giving any space a zen-inspired feel.
Create a hanging display
Looking for something a little different? Then, put some trailing plants together and create a feature from them. You can display their soft shapes and lush foliage by hanging them on a light fixture or in a stairwell.
Hang glass globe planters from a pan rack (like this one from Wayfair) with barely-there glass globes from Amazon. You could frame them within a metal plant stand with an added wire grid for a more dramatic effect.
Show off trailing beauties
There’s no denying that trailing plants are at their best when they have plenty of space to, well, trail. Display them over shelves, overhanging a mantlepiece, or even on high stools or side tables all on their own so they can spill over their containers and charm with their graceful and often unusual forms. Make sure the pots you use are taller than they are wide to highlight the tumbling shape of the plants.
Display on different levels
Put a trio of tall plants in a corner of your living room to create a coziness. An ideal filler for an awkward corner or a space between seating, these plants will add a nice touch of greenery to the decor while adding a sculptural element. The effect can be achieved by selecting three different varieties of staggered heights. Use the planters to add height by repeating the same kind of plant in each container.
You could use additional upturned pots as plinths or find container sets that come in a range of heights to create the illusion of tiers. Its striking effect is enhanced by plants like horsetail, Sansevieria, and even cacti, which are vertical plants.
Nurture a living wall
Planting a living wall will transform any room into something spectacular. Closely packed together in order to conceal the growing system, these dramatic walls of foliage will catch anyone’s attention and introduce a mass of contrasting and textured foliage.
Although they require regular maintenance to remain in tip-top shape, the benefits are well worth the effort. It is possible to get help from plant specialists to design and create installations with appropriate plants, but there are also DIY systems you can install on your own.
Plant a sculptural feature
Would you like to give your room an instant boutique style? Find a container with a bold shape that you can then fill with plants. If you are looking for a way to add impact to a prominent spot such as a kitchen island or sideboard, adding custom molding could be an excellent choice.
It is best to choose a large and simple pot or vase with smooth sides so as to create a bold, modern silhouette, and plant up with several similar plants at the same time.
Getting a small peace lily, for example, looks lush (and fits the low light houseplant description too) because it is compact and low-growing. A delicate appearance can be achieved with maidenhair ferns, or consider carnivorous pitcher plants for an added touch.
Play with shapes
The way plants are displayed in the home has a lot to do with how they make an impact. It is true that a plant needs to be in the right place to thrive, but it also needs to match the decor of the room. The eye-level view plays a huge role here, so think carefully about how to show off the best sides of your plants. All lined up at eye level on a mantelpiece, shelf, or console table, a row of knobbly, bulbous cacti looks fantastically quirky.
Add colourful foliage
Create a beautiful, living artwork on a low-level tabletop, windowsill or shelf with a group of foliage plants. Using the same plant type in its many colourful variations can create a wonderfully eye-catching and unusual feature that can be used in any room.
You may want to consider low-growing varieties that have beautifully patterned leaves – ivies, Tradescantias, and Fittonias work very well. This is best displayed in neutral or monochromatic containers since they highlight the varying leaf color. Arrange the plants in simple rows, rings, squares, rectangles or circles according to the dimensions of your display, and then relax while you watch it flourish.
Try a no-soil grow
Hydroponics is not a new concept after all the technology has been around for over 300 years, but it certainly makes for a stunning design element. Perfect for adding interest to mantles, side tables, and bathroom shelves, they look chic and ultra-contemporary and watching the roots grow is charming.
The roots will grow faster if you put a mature plant, clean of its growing compost, directly into a glass filled with water, or if you take a few leafy stems and watch them grow. Many plants such as Philodendrons, African violets, trailing Tradescantias, and colorful Coleus can be found flourishing in this climate, including Clusia rosea ‘Princess’. Choose a location where there is no direct sunlight and replace the water every few days. You can prevent scaling of the glass by using mineral water.
Revitalise your bathroom
In bathrooms, there is often a lot of light and humidity, which makes indoor plants thrive. Provide your sterile and hard-edged room with a leafy boost by filling it with leafy delights. It is easy to pop many houseplants onto windowsills, bath ledges, and even around basins because they are small and compact. With the addition of an over-sized green giant, bathing will feel more like a jungle experience, and a hanging display over the tub, you’ll feel like you’re in the jungle.
Create a plant gallery
There’s more to plants than just how you display them, and if you happen to have a sunny corner, why not arrange a little gallery? Choose hanging pots and plant stands that are striking, and place them in varying heights to fill the space. Combining floor-standing plants with hanging plants is a wonderful way to create a relaxed, appealing atmosphere. Mix up the leaf shapes and colours, and encourage trailing plants to grow to one side so you can still see the container’s outline.