“A room without plants is like a face without a smile.”
Greenery’s not only eye candy; it’s expression, claim some. If your living room’s flat on life or needs a boost of nature, adding indoor plants to the equation can utterly turn the mood in your room around. Plants don’t offer just eye candy; they clean the air, soften lines of architecture, and offer a tranquil ambiance that manmade objects can’t.
This guide takes you through 25 reflective ideas for decorating with houseplants, from selecting plants and where to locate them to styling tips suited to the lighting, size, and decor of your room. From spacious, open lofts to small, dark apartments, something is in here for you and your plants.
Finding the Ideal Plants for Your Room
1. Match Plants with Your Natural Light
There’s one rule for planting and caring for plants. Sunrooms get a lot of sun, so they’re great for sun lovers, like someone who loves birds of paradise or fiddle leaf figs. Low light lovers, like peace lilies or snake plants, will usually love north facing rooms. Uncertain about your light levels? Start off by noticing where the sunbeams fall throughout a day and then make adjustments with our living room lighting concepts so that your green friends can thrive.
2. Choose the Right Size for the Right Space
Balance is a result of balance. Small living rooms require small plants, such as Pilea, Fittonia, or Echeveria, while large areas can accommodate dramatic floor plants such as Monstera or the rubber plant. For sleek schemes, our scale living room design guide has clever tips on how to position plants without cluttering your space.
3. Choose Pet Friendly Plants (or Tuck Them Away)
If your house has curious dogs or cats, it’s essential to opt for safe plants. Spider plants, calatheas, and parlor palms are some safe choices. Please stay away from philodendrons or pothos unless they’re stored safely out of paws’s reach. Always verify plant toxicity before purchasing to create a calm, pet friendly environment.
Top Indoor Plants for Living Rooms
4. Monstera Deliciosa
Also referred to as the Swiss cheese plant, Monstera brings a dramatic tropical appeal to your bedroom. Its holes are deep and perfect for light spaces. Monstera prefers to have indirect light and watered once every week, and it is therefore a great choice as a dramatic centerpiece for modern or jungle style bedrooms.
5. Snake Plant
This low maintenance, vertically developing drought tolerant plant with huge, stalklike leaves is the minimalist’s fantasy. The snake plant requires minimal maintenance and can thrive in conditions of dryness and low light as well. Make a statement on a shelf or floor, and it adds height and structure while cleansing the air.
6. Peace Lily
Its bright green and white flowers make the peace lily a traditional houseplant staple. It thrives in low to medium light and prefers constantly moist soil. And it is an actual air purifier, though dog and cat owners beware.
7. ZZ Plant
If a low maintenance plant is what you’re looking for, the ZZ plant is your way to go. Its dark green, waxy leaves will remain green in low lighting and need to be watered every other every couple of weeks. Place it as a cool anchor alongside furniture or in an ornamental planter near the entrance.
8. Pothos
Pothos, or devil’s ivy, is that handy indoor plant. Its vines can be used as hanging baskets, bookshelves, or higher shelves. It will thrive in a variety of light conditions and only requires the occasional watering, great for beginners.
9. Boston Fern
Boston ferns introduce movement and texture to a space with their lacy, arching fronds. Boston ferns thrive in high humidity and bright, indirect light. Place them near windows or group them in a wicker basket for a bohemian chic vibe.
10. Air Plants
Always the fashionistas, soilless and soilless, air plants drape elegantly from terrariums, wall pockets, or ceiling hooks. Bright light and a weekly soaking are their delight. These sculptural beauties shine in small or contemporary settings.
11. Rubber Plant
The glossy, heavy leaves of these plants provide a splash of dark excitement to your living room. Rubber plants have moist but well draining soil and medium to bright light. The plants have vertical upright habits and are great corner plants.
12. Calathea
Recognizable by its mottled, white leaves, Calathea is a great choice for infusing texture and personality into your space. Calathea prefers indirect light and humidity, so place it in a location in front of the window or near a humidifier with a collection of others in a well ventilated area.
13. Spider Plant
Spider plants are carefree, quick growing, and pet tolerant. Off white striated and green leaves protrude out, and offshoot “babies” hang down below. Suspend them in baskets or on a shelf for drama and flair.
14. Fiddle Leaf Fig
This style upgrade plant is dignified, dramatic, and ideal as a sculptured plant. The fiddle leaf fig requires bright, indirect light and the occasional fuss, but its presence will upgrade any living room style from bohemian to minimalist.
15. Chinese Evergreen
A gem for dimly lit rooms and novice children gardeners, Chinese Evergreen has silver pink leaves and does well in artificial light too. As if the piece were a console or tabletop decor.
Styling with Plants
16. Tabletop and Shelf Styling
Dust coffee tables, console tables, or bookshelves with small plants, such as Pilea or succulents. Finish them with candles, trays, or books. For added visual balance and inspiration, check out our professionally styled table decor ideas.
17. Floor Plants as Focal Points
Large plants, such as parlor palms or fiddle leaf figs, will anchor a seating area. Choose an icy planter or woven wicker basket that is in line with your style, and place your floor plant so it will be the focal point next to a couch, fireplace, or reading nook.
18. Hanging Planters for Airiness
Create vertical depth by hanging plants from walls or ceiling hooks. Hang pothos, strings of pearls, or ferns to conserve space as well as to divide the eye. Perfect for minimalist and boho styles.
19. Hanging Plants on High Surfaces
Window sills, top shelves, and bookshelves provide the best surfaces for trailing plants. Their falling leaves form a flowing arrangement that brings together the upper and lower part of your room, creating a sightly gorgeous effect.
20. Create Grouped Plant Zones
Cluster plants in different sizes and leaf textures on a rug or pedestal to form a green spot. Use odd numbers so it balances visually, and follow our rug decorating tricks to anchor the area below.
21. Terarium Decor
Design tiny living spaces using air plants, moss, and diminutive succulents in glass containers. Use them as side table finials, window molding, or element of a placed vignette set with objects and books.
Plant Decor by Style and Function
22. Bohemian Style
Employ macramé hangers, terra cotta pots, and linen or jute fabrics. Mix leafy and trailing plants in overlapping tiers. Boho chic’s secret is mixing pot sizes and textures. Let your plants look ruffled and uncontrolled.
23. Modern Interiors
Less lines, green leafy designs, and trim planters characterize contemporary plant adornments. Fill metal or black planters with plants like the bird of paradise or the snake plant. Swap your lighting units with our living room lighting ideas for an even look.
24. Minimalist Spaces
Minimalist living rooms love restraint. One plant with a plain pot like a ZZ plant or rubber tree is enough to add coziness without overdoing the decor. Choose plants with sturdy shapes and muted color.
Plant Care Tips and Things Not to Do
25. Adopt a Simple Care Routine
Plants yearn for stability. They will survive on water alone if the topsoil is dry, and the most common mistake is overwatering. Kindly pot them in pots with holes, turn the light, and turn the plants monthly to promote even growth and development. For more development, view our lighting tips for houseplants.
Seasonal and Holiday Styling Tips
Plants are seasonally brought into and out of a room. Winter: Top a Norfolk Island pine with soft string lights. Fall: Fill planters with top heavy textured materials, and gourds and earthy tones. Our living room color guide enables you to select colors that harmonize with foliage all year round.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What houseplants prefer low-light living rooms?
Snake plants, peace lilies, ZZ plants, and Chinese evergreens are ideal for low light. - What are the easiest plants to plant indoors?
Begin with pothos, rubber plants, spider plants, and air plants. They’re forgiving and low maintenance. - How do I make table or shelf arrangements?
Try odd numbers, combine different plant heights, and top with a tray or books. Get additional ideas in our table decorating guide. - Are they pet friendly?
Spider, parlor palm, and calathea. They’re okay. Always check first before putting plants in pet zones.
Let Your Living Room Breathe
Plants are no longer a phase but more of a lifestyle. They embrace relaxation, foster wellness, and turn living rooms into living spaces. From adding a single small succulent to building an indoor jungle, your living room can be a green oasis that reflects your personality and serves as a functional space in your life.
For even more ideas, visit our entire living room decorating studio, including lighting, rugs, furniture, and seasonal tips.