Indoor Plant Ideas – Bring the Beauty of Nature Indoors!

I like to think that each and every one of us has some passion for plants and a “little florist” secretly hiding within us. I love plants, and I enjoy orchestrating indoor and outdoor plant arrangements, and I find that caring for plants gives me just as much satisfaction as enjoying their presence. While many of you are probably just getting started with your outdoor arrangements this spring, I wanted to provide you with some inspired indoor plant ideas!

Regardless of the season, indoor plants can have such a positive impact on our well-being. For their ability to add to the aesthetics, color scheme, and design motif, indoor plants deserve to be applauded, not to mention how they help purify the air and even provide wonderful aromas! If you’re looking to add some floral inspiration to your home, this blog is for you!

Indoor Plant Ideas – Where to Get Started?

I have touched upon this subject in past articles; biophilic design is a passion of mine. To briefly recap what biophilic design means, it’s the concept of bringing elements of nature from outside the home to inside the home. Doing this helps create soul-replenishing spaces that help people get back in touch with nature and clearly benefit from this method of design. 

But where do you get started with bringing plants into the home? What plants need little-to-no attention, and which ones will need regimented daily care? Which plants will work well in my home environment and region? These are great questions, and you should begin by asking yourself how much time you feel you can dedicate to plant care and which rooms of your home need floral presence the most. This way, you can accurately judge how much space, time, and effort you’ll need to allocate to keeping your indoor plants flourishing! 

Here are a few basic indoor plant species you should know to start narrowing down your plant search and not feel lost when you’re at the garden center!

Succulents: These plants are great for beginners and require very little oversight. They have engorged leaves that retain water for long periods of time, making them great for arid climates and dry soil. A succulent plant won’t hold it against you if you forget to water it by accident! 

Ferns: It’s hard to dislike a fern, as they are luscious and yet understated plants that do not have flowers or seeds, for that matter. They’re characterized by a love of shade and the ability to thrive on minimal sunlight. They have large leaves with intricate and soft threads of spores running along each stem. 

Lily: Lilies are the houseplant of choice for those who love vibrant pops of colors. They are flowering plants known for their large pedals and tropical-like color variations. 

Air Plants: These plants don’t sit in saturated soil but rather thrive in arid climates with lots of sun. Because they aren’t rooted in potting soil, they present unique design opportunities. Air plants look wonderful when placed in hanging terrariums! They’re more popular in the Southwest and Westcoast regions due to the dry climate. 

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Make a Lasting Impression With The Right Exterior Paint Colors for Your Home!

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Indoor Plant Ideas – Some Design Suggestions to Work From!

For a room with light-neutral color schemes:

If you have rooms in your home dominated by light neutral colors like whites, greys, light blues, or creams, it’s wonderful to add a little floral color with the help of Asparagus ferns! These ferns accommodate well, as they don’t need direct sunlight and can add a striking vibrant light-green accent color to a sterile feeling space. I love how ferns and other large leafy plants look on top of light wood, so if you have light oak floors or furniture, the bold greenery of plant life will create a wonderful contrast, highlighting lush fertile greens against collected and calm wood surfaces. 

A pop of the tropics all year long – citrus trees

While this may not be for novice plant owners, it’s inarguable that caring for an indoor citrus tree is a rewarding experience. Yes, you CAN keep a small orange or clementine tree indoors and enjoy all its beauty, smells and tastes! A small clementine or orange tree looks wonderful as an accent piece in an office or even a mudroom, and best of all, they don’t need constant sun! A citrus tree can thrive with the normal amount of sun that it would receive throughout the day by placing it next to a window. You’ll enjoy the beauty of the waxy, glossy leaves and the vibrant pops of orange, yellow, or pinks from the fruit! 

Hanging potted plants

I love how a hanging potted plant looks in interior spaces like libraries, studies, offices, and bathrooms. A hanging plant can help create a sense of height, scale, and natural canopy in any room. It’s almost like there’s a primal sense of being in the forest when I enter the spaces with hanging plants. 

What will you see more than anything around my home? Large plants with either bright or colorful leaves in dark green and deep purples. The plants add a natural or organic feeling to your design. The larger leaves move slightly and pick up lighter colors while in the sun. I love how they add life and movement to an otherwise still space. 

Let’s not ignore the pottery that your plants are living in; pottery allows you to add color or make a statement in the design of your room. Are you using earthy pots in neutral colors or bold colors from ceramic pots? When you are thinking of the colors of your room, include the pots as an opportunity to add color to your home!

What Do You Like To Do With Your Plants?

So tell me, how do you arrange your indoor plants? Do you have any species you love more than others? As a color expert and plant lover, I’d love to hear about your favorite indoor plants and why you chose the ones you did to add to your space!