Ever browse Pinterest or see beautiful rooms on TV and wonder why they look so pretty? First, they probably do not have a lot of clutter (the hard part). Second, they most likely have plants in every room (the fun part)!
What should I put on my shelf?
A plant.
What about this empty space in the corner of my living room?
I would suggest a plant.
How do I create interest and height in my room?
Hang a plant. Or get an indoor tree.
Okay, but what about my bathroom. It seems like it’s missing something!
Yep, still a plant!
My basement needs an element of nature, but there are no windows!
Get a plant, and a light 🙂
Too Many Small Decor Items, Not Enough Plants
For years, while I was trying to create stylish spaces that felt cozy and calm for my family, my formula was to add photos, then add some vases, add some fake floral, then step back. Think it doesn’t look great, so then add some more trinkets, extra frames, and maybe some more fake floral.
Add.
Add.
Add.
Even as a math teacher, this does not add up. 🙂 We have to have balance and subtract sometimes!
I would get to the point where I thought it looked “OK” but never great. I could not figure out why, but I was worn out from trying, so I settled with good enough. Too much stuff. No large statement pieces.
No plants.
I know, sad.
(Notice there was no subtraction, which is an important part of math…and design 🙂 !)
What is the Secret to these Rooms I Loved?
I started to pay attention to what it was about the rooms I was drawn to. I began noticing the one thing in common in EVERY beautiful room…plants!
Try it! Flip through a magazine next to you, or search “living room ideas” on Pinterest. Guaranteed there is some sort of greens in the image. Greenery makes us think of the outdoors, God’s creation, beauty. It brings life, interest, and something living in our rooms in our homes.
How do we do it?
One plant and one space at a time. Before you know it, you will have plants in every room!
If you have a room you are already working on, figure out where you can add a plant. Do you have a shelf that gets (at least) some sunlight? Put a plant there! Do you have a bare corner? Put a plant in a cute basket and make a statement! Are you trying to figure out how to style a mantle? Keep it simple and try one plant in a pretty pot. Let it be the star.
Don’t limit your thinking to shared spaces. Plants add so much life and character to bedrooms and bathrooms too. Add one to the top of your dresser, or on a shelf. Hang a plant from the ceiling to add dimension to your room.
The possibilities are endless.
Your visitors will be green with envy 😉
Wait, we do not have any visitors. Well, once we can be around people again, our plants will probably have grown so enormous they will have taken over all of our spaces. In the meantime, we will enjoy watching them grow.
Goal: One Plant Per Room
A great place to start is to have a goal of one plant per room. Don’t limit yourself to your main areas! Plants in my bathroom and bedroom make me so happy every day. Kids’ spaces need plants too! Just make sure to put them a little higher 😉
Next time you are at the grocery store, home improvement store, or driving by a garden center, pick up a new plant. Your home will feel stylish, cozy, and alive. You won’t regret it!
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