National houseplant week is here again. If you didn’t even realise that it was a thing, then you have already learnt something new, so let’s tell you a little bit more about the day and why houseplants should feature in your interior design plans.
From the 9th – 15th of January plant lovers from across the UK recognise the positive impact that plants have in their homes. It's the perfect time for both new and experienced plant owners to show some love to their leafy friends and remind those who aren’t as green-fingered to get the watering can out and give their indoor foliage a spruce up.
The reason that indoor plants have gained so much popularity in recent years is continuing to grow, and the ‘power of plants’ is something that more and more people are becoming aware of, with qualified Interior Designers, in particular, recognising their ability to completely change the aesthetic of an area as well as brighten up living spaces. Couple this with their potential to purify the air and produce oxygen, every house should have at least one.
Below we have listed our top 5 reasons that you should use plants in your interior design plan and a few ideas for places within the home where they can be utilised effectively.
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Bring the outdoors inside
Plants can bring natural beauty and serenity to any room. Whether you decide to use hanging ferns or a decorative bonsai, the benefits of adding a natural element to any space go much further than just being visually pleasing. Recent studies have found a connection that links plants with improved concentration, attention span, memory, relaxation and even increased creativity and productivity.
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Complimentary Colours
Houseplants come in a spectrum of incredible colours and various shades which alone is amazing, however, their superpower appears to be that they rarely clash with other colours being used throughout your space. Regardless of your style and the fact that plants for the most part are almost always a shade of green, they just seem to work anywhere. Just make sure you consider the style of the plant and where it will be placed.
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Low maintenance
Given the benefits of houseplants, the amount of work required to take care of them can be quite low with some plants not requiring even weekly watering many houseplants are capable of surviving with minimal attention from their owner. This makes them an excellent choice for Interior Designers who are mindful that the project they complete doesn’t become an unexpected responsibility to maintain for their client.
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Space-saving hack
Have you ever looked at an empty corner, a blank wall or a coffee table with nothing but a couple of coasters and thought “Something's missing!”? You’re probably right, and the issue could almost certainly be solved with a houseplant. The blank wall would be transformed with a large potted plant or small indoor tree and that empty corner would undoubtedly be softened with the addition of some hanging flora.
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Pick ‘n’ mix!
When considering houseplants, the selection available to you is huge, and they can enhance almost any interior space. They come in a variety of colours, sizes, textures, and forms with no plant ever the same as another, even those of the same species. They bring an element of versatility to an interior designer’s bag of tricks, giving them a tool that offers sculptural qualities in a constant state of growth. The plant will continue to change throughout its life and in turn, has the potential to alter its space further over time.
So where can you use them?
Now that you have seen a few reasons to use houseplants throughout your Interior Design project, the chances are that you’ll now be asking yourself, where are the best places to use them? Keep reading for a few ideas on types of places that benefit most from the addition of an indoor plant.
Windowsill
Flooded with natural light a windowsill is the closest a plant can get to being outdoors and in most cases is an environment that will allow the plant to thrive. Keeping a plant on the windowsill ensures that it remains visible but stays out of the way so that it is not easily disturbed. Make sure you choose the right plant however as some prefer to be kept out of direct sunlight.
Tables
It’s very easy for a table to look bare, regardless of its size. Whether it’s a coffee table, entry table or dining table, the size of the space will determine the type of plant you need, you don’t want something so large that it impacts the usability of the table because it needs to remain functional. Equally, one that is too small will get lost.
Bathrooms
For the most part, bathrooms consist of an abundance of smooth polished surfaces, whether it’s the suite, the taps or the tiles, many interior designers seem to favour minimalism in the bathroom as such indoor plants provide interior designers with a cornucopia of textures and colour options that offer some much-needed contrast against the backdrop of a room that often lacks elements such as soft furnishings.
Just to recap
Hopefully, this article will have given you plenty of food for thought and has highlighted houseplants as a useful and creative way to accessorise your space along with the many benefits of utilising them indoors. The options available to you can only be described as a spectrum with a kaleidoscope of colours and shapes as well as sizes ranging from palm-sized to ceiling height. There really is a plant for every space.
If you’re passionate about creating amazing spaces and would like to gain the skills and qualifications you need to become a qualified Interior Designer, we can help. We have a selection of Interior Design courses for you to consider. You can study and qualify completely online, around your existing lifestyle, and without even paying a deposit to enrol. Give our Course Specialists a call on 01202 006 464 or chat with us online.
