Plant styling mistakes that have sent your home interiors into disarray

Houseplants are one of those home trends that never go out of style. In fact, you may even have heard this season hailed as the ‘garden girl summer‘. Houseplant styling is undeniably in right now. The question is, why can you never seem to get it right?

Far from the lush and thriving forest that’s soon set to take over your Pinterest inspo board, your houseplants could easily look a little lacking. Perhaps you simply can’t achieve the same richness of plant depth, or perhaps even your hoard of plantlings doesn’t hit the right greenery notes. Either way, something needs to change, and you may develop some idea of what that is if you keep on reading to find out about these common houseplant mistakes!

Mistake # 1 – The niggle of neglect

We’re going right in with the big guns because, much as we hate to say it, neglect is the biggest plant styling mistake you can make. After all, houseplants are ideal decor additions because they stand to brighten your space, refresh your home and generally bring a little of the outdoors inside. Are you going to achieve those goals with an unwatered plant that’s barely seen the sun in weeks? Definitely not!

You must overcome this issue to ensure your plants stand a half-decent chance at looking good. Most importantly, you’re going to want to reconsider positioning. This can be a tricky thing to get right – put your plants too close to your windows, and you risk scorching them and blocking your light (neither of which will look good), but plants also need more light than they’ll get from that high shadowy shelf, no matter how great they look up there to start with.

In an ideal world, you should try to place your plants in a bright space that’s away from direct sunlight. Alternatively, look for varieties that need minimal light, such as succulents, peace lilies or spider plants, if you intend to fill dark spaces. That way, you can ensure stylishly attractive plants with no risk of unwanted wilting, or even death, on your hands!

Mistake # 2 – It’s a pot problem

What happens if your plants are fully watered, wonderfully lit, but still struggle to fill your rooms with green joy? Your pots may be the problem! While we often focus on the plants alone when it comes to green decor, the simple reality is that those pots can be just as impactful. Mistakes, including exposing your plant’s plastic pot or choosing an ill-fitting pot, can result in unattractive, off-kilter plant additions.

Instead, you should seek a pot that’s every bit as impressive as the plant it’s housing. You should also match that pot to your broader decor, be that through colours or general style vibes. Your plant should also be a good fit and well-paired to that pot itself!

Luckily, companies like Leaf Envy sell both plants and pots, making it possible to easily match your plant with its ideal pot pairing as you buy. That way, you never need to worry about seeking a third-party pot that’s not a great match, or worse, leaving your plant in its unattractive, faux-terracotta plastic pot until you find the time (or not) to source a new one.

Mistake # 3 – Is bare soil boring?

We’re betting you didn’t even think about this one, but what if we were to tell you that bare, exposed soil simply isn’t in fashion right now? It’s wild, we know, but the interior Gods have deemed that on-display compost may not be the best look for your home. So, where do you go from here?

Well, we’re glad to say that there are plenty of attractive ways to cover the soil and add a real depth of plant-based interest. You’re going to want to find a top dressing for your bare soil, and there are plenty of options. From bark, moss and crushed shells for the natural look, right through to boldly bright aquarium pebbles for a more eclectic home, you can have a lot of fun with this.

One thing we would recommend is to make sure that your top layer also blends well with your pots. After all, grey pebbles would be a bit of an anticlimax if you paired them with a multicoloured pot! Instead, look for top-covers that complement the pot colour or style, ensuring that your plants are well-thought-out, seamless additions to your rooms.

Mistake # 4 – Where’s the plant plan?

Planning is for work, not home, are we right? Maybe not where your plants are concerned! Just like how you have to carefully plan each picture in a gallery wall, thinking in advance about plant positioning can ensure both the best environments for each plant species and also the best-looking finish. Fail to do this, and your plants could start to look more like clutter than a curated collection.

But what exactly should a plant plan look like? Well, you’ll want to ensure that you place every plant intentionally, either to add colour, interest or new textures. You should certainly avoid placing, say, shelf-based plants too close together to avoid overwhelm.

If you want to go all out, you could also have fun thinking about decor groupings, which could see you pairing a striped plant like a philodendron with ornaments that mimic its colours or pattern design. Or, simply pair surrounding decor additions with your plant pot style to ensure a considered appearance, rather than an unruly finish.

Conclusion: Can you become a great plant parent after all?

It’s easy to purchase a plant and assume it will look great at home no matter what you do, but that’s simply not the reality. Instead, plants should be carefully considered, well-styled home additions that receive all the attention they deserve. However, fear not, if you’ve always fallen short as a plant parent until now – avoiding these top plant styling mistakes could be all it takes to finally turn things around for you and your plant family!

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How to incorporate personal style into your home

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Dressing your home to suit your personal style is a key part of bringing personality to your abode. Often just tweaking the colour palette and furniture is enough to change the whole vibe of a room.

If you’re looking for ideas and inspiration, Age Co re-imagined one of the most iconic settings shown throughout Downton Abbey, the library, in a range of different interior design styles. This is a room that’s typically recognised for its impressively decorated features, like the distinct bookshelf that goes across the back of the room, the red velvet sofa and the patterned rug. However, with just a few changes, the room is completely unrecognisable in a completely different style, showing how versatile home décor can be.

Farmhouse interior style

The farmhouse style is loved by many as it gives off the feeling of practicality and comfort. Homes that adopt this interior style put a heavy emphasis on wooden elements and white tones, but unlike its more modern counterpart styles, there isn’t a need for it to be perfectly matched. Antiques, throws, a vintage chair all help add to the look. The raw, ‘organic-ness’ of the interior style is therefore defined by practicality and comfort, and its beauty is in the functionality, decorated with hints of personality and history.

Quick styling tips:

Rather than the usual hinged door, you can create sliding doors using old wooden barn door
Try and find vintage wooden furniture for the aged and worn look, for an added touch of personality, paint in a neutral tone and leave parts of the wood untreated
Pale, earthy hues work best in farmhouse interior styles, however, you can also pair it with an accent colour to add some depth to the space

Scandinavian style

For a functional, modern yet cosy home, many opt for the Scandinavian interior style. This is a décor style that emphasises clean lines, utility and minimalism and is perfect for a modern home. To achieve this look, we would find simple furnishings paired with accessories and décor that play with soft hues or fun textures. To create this look, use neutral tones as a base for the room and pair with modern furniture.

Styling tips:

Use a neutral colour scheme or tonal shades, some colours that can help create the ‘Scandi’ feel include soft whites, naturals, neutral pinks, soft amber, dark or soft icy blues, dark greens, pale putty and moss colours
Choose minimal but functional furniture, many Scandinavian furniture are made out of wood or covered with natural material like linen
With the main foundation of the room quite gentle, patterned soft furnishing can give the room a pop of colour

Mid-century style

For those who are looking to add authenticity into their own home, the mid-century interior style is fresh with a hint of retro. The style has an undeniable timeless appeal, often, it is defined by clean lines, organic shapes and high functionality. A mid-century styled home often combines dark wooden features with all sorts of quiet design quirks, like using materials like marble or gold accents. This interior style is less restrictive than most modern designs and allows more opportunities for different pairings and contrasts.

Styling tips

Antique and vintage accessories and furniture plays a big part in creating the mid-century styled home
You can dress the home with eccentric, high-quality materials like marble and copper or brass
Mid-century colours include mustard yellow, navy blue, dark brown, teal, burnt orange, olive green and rust, add a pop of these colours to the room to create a strong sense of character

And there you have it, unique styles that you can add to your room to reflect your own personality. Simply changing the colour palette, the furniture and the accessories can make a big impact in creating the home that is truly yours.