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!