Maximizing Plants in Your Living Space
The experience of nurturing flora is challenging because you can’t always tell what they need. Having their best interest in mind doesn’t always translate into healthy, happy plants. Plants are not outright expressive, as say, children or pets. In the case of neglect, they eventually show signs of too much or too little feeding, watering, or light, signs that can often come too late.
It can be very rewarding though when raising plants is done well, as we often enjoy the fruits of labour; edible fruit & veggie bearing plants or simply blooms in colour.
Plants bring in an immediate natural and earthy sensibility. They are an instant way to connect to the outdoors. We can benefit by their air cleansing properties, yummy scents, the way they soften hard edges in furniture and design, and bring immediate life to a space- literally. Plants do this quietly. Although this can be a downfall for busy bodies, who, in not hearing the reminding whines or cries of hunger, may neglect such silent plants.
It often seems acceptable to simply replace dead or sick plants with new ones without much thought to their prior care. They should be considered a responsibility, as much so as bringing a cat or dog, or other living being into your home. So perhaps you have decided to support a plant and are committed to raising one or two, or many. Perhaps you’ve done some research on raising plants and spoken with gardening enthusiasts, but are now wondering how to incorporate them into your home beyond the ‘plant in a pot’ syndrome?
We have 5 ideas worth considering.
1. A ceiling can be a plants’ best friend. Hanging plants are a great way to incorporate plants into your home without taking up floor or wall space. This is a great option for small spaces and high ceilings. We suggest Macramé holders –stick with black or beige, jute and twine, or subtle wooden beads for earthy, and surprisingly contemporary style. Stay clear of overly ornate patterns and finishes. For retro flair, use colours like burnt orange, and avocado green. Group them alone or with fixtures like lights or mobiles to create interest. Check out the craft sections of your local library for pattern books, or create your own pattern. Here’s one for consideration:
MACRAME PLANT HOLDER (leave the tail off, for a more modern look). Check out next Monday for highlights of our own macramé setup.
2. Ever thought about incorporating plant partitions and room dividers? You can use plants to divide open spaces -like lofts, to define or create rooms, or even as window treatments to minimize or filter direct light. Make custom plant boxes or group in rows to create short dividers that still allow for open space. Try placing plants at the bottoms of bookshelves or on top of sideboards. Here are some examples:
3. Plants make interesting extensions to furniture. Planter boxes recessed into cabinets/credenzas, adjoining parts of sofas and seating areas create organic style. You don’t have to buy new furniture but you will have to customize planter boxes and get creative. Mimic furniture material and shape into the design of planter containers for a seamless flow.
4. Art is in the eye of the beholder. Why not try highlighting plants as living art forms - replacing sculptures with plants, adding a zen, rock or terrarium bio-dome… if you’re green thumb savvy why not create wall art with pruned climbers like ivy or rose.
5. Find an interesting vessel. As humans we tend to accumulate an abundance of ‘stuff’. There are no shortages of holders… let crazed cups and pottery, that would otherwise be discarded, do double duty as plant holders. Try adding a single herb to individual favourite mugs for a custom herb garden. Use glass jars, pitchers, cleaned paint cans or whatever inspires you to create mini-homes for your greenery.
Hopefully these ideas will seed new ideas and creativity when considering plants in your home. After all, allowing plants to become an extension of your living space just means we all benefit.
(room divider photos from "guide pratique de la decoration", selection du readers digest 1972; furniture extension photos from "The Spacemaker Book" Liman-Viking 1977)
Dearest CK,
