There is something that I consistently use time and time again when I am styling client projects as well as my own home… I guess the title of this post is kind of a spoiler alert right? Today I want to talk about different greenery options and share some tips on how to use them to style different areas in your home.
No matter your style, or whether you consider yourself a minimalist or maximalist, I believe that no room is complete without some greens or flowers. This post is not just for all those green-thumb #plantladys out there…as a matter of fact, I am looking at you my fellow plant lady’s in training! There are so many real and faux options available and at differing price points, decorating with plants couldn’t be easier, even if you have a black thumb!
Greenery Options
Live Plants
I don’t have the best track record with real plants, as a matter of fact when my kids were small, I pretty much killed every plant that came through my door! I attribute that to the fact that I was doing such a good job keeping my tiny humans and also our fish and dog in good health! A few years ago I bought a snake plant from IKEA on a whim and had great success with it. I swear you barely need to water those things and they just kinda thrive! The perfect beginner plant as they are almost impossible to kill!
From there I have slowly added more real plants to my home and have had enough success that my confidence is slowly growing! I am particularly proud of these two!
Faux Plants
While I love the real deal, I also use faux plants and stems often, both for myself and for clients. If you know real plants just aren’t an option then I suggest investing in a realistic and good quality faux version. I recently decorated and styled an Airbnb rental property and this is a perfect example of a time when faux greenery makes sense- check out these project photos – all the plants are faux!
You can see how all of the faux plants above added life and interest to the home, without the hassle of watering and clean-up. Faux plants mean never having to say “I’m Sorry”, lol!
Dried Flowers
Dried flowers are are having a moment in the design world, and I am here for it! It’s another great, low maintenance and budget-friendly way to introduce an organic element to your home. I trimmed some stems from our hydrangea plants in the late summer and placed them in a pot to dry. I love this arrangement so much, it takes center stage in my office!
Cut Flowers
I know buying cut flowers might feel like a bit of a splurge, but a simple arrangement from the grocery store brings such color and joy, especially during winter time. I find it hard to resist a pretty $5 bunch of tulips, anyone else?
I almost never leave Costco without buying a bunch of hydrangeas. It’s $11 for 4 or 5 gorgeous full stems and they last quite a while! Here is a photo of a recent Costco Hydrangea bouquet:
Faux Flowers
Another option are good quality faux flowers. I think it’s safe to say that faux plants and flowers have come along way and it’s worth paying a little bit more when it comes to the faux version. It might seem like an investment up front but I have had some of my favorite faux plants for several years now and continue to love and appreciate them. For example I purchased some faux peony stems, I’m going to say 3 years ago now, and I still love the softness and color they add to my decor.
How to Use Greenery to Style your Home
Now that we have covered the different greenery options let’s talk about some ways to incorporate them into your home decor. Let’s look at the different places I style with plants and flowers:
On a Fireplace Mantle
I love styling fireplace mantles, and I always incorporate some greenery and/or flowers, as you can see below…
Built-ins and Bookshelves
When we moved into our new home late last summer, I was so excited to style our Living Room built-ins, but once I got down to it, I was a tad overwhelmed as I had 16 squares to fill…that’s alot of stuff! I quickly realized greenery was going to be really essential to nailing the look I had in mind.
Same goes for my bookcases in our family room…I splurged on these gorgeous bookcases and have been taking my time styling them. As soon as I put these plants on the shelf I knew I was headed in the right direction!
Coffee table
I love adding something organic when I am styling a coffee table. Whether you go for something floral or a plant, you can see below how it’s a fail safe styling item.
Blank corner
A larger plant in a cool planter or basket can fill up a blank space in a room when furniture isn’t the right fit or add some life to a boring corner.
Bathroom counter
Bathroom counters see a lot of action and I don’t like to add alot of styling items here, but a simple plant off to the side is a beautiful touch!
Entryway
Your entryway is the first thing people say when they visit your home, and you know what they say about first impressions! Having some greenery or florals on a table, if you have room for such a thing, is a soft and stylish way to decorate this part of your home.
Kitchen Counter/Island
I love seeing greenery or flowers in a kitchen, and I made sure to incorporate flowers and greens when I was staging a recent Airbnb project.
I treat myself to a monthly flower subscription from a talented local florist. It is just the best surprise ever when a beautiful arrangement shows up on my front door!
Office
I hope I have inspired you to add some greenery to your home or given you some new ideas on how to display it! If you have any questions, drop them in the comments below! For more decorating inspiration, follow me over on Instagram!
Thanks for reading,
Kerri
Kerri Hansen is an Interior Decorator living in North Vancouver, BC. Having 3 kids and 2 dogs, Kerri understands how to create both beautiful and functional family spaces for her clients. She also loves styling and photography and shares regular inspiration on her blog. When she is not working, you can find her hiking the beautiful trails of North Vancouver with her dogs.
