Decorating with Plants: What to Choose,
Ways to Style, and How to Make Them
Thrive by Baylor Chapman, published
by Artisan Publishing, © 2019;
artisanbooks.com.
A DIP INTO DESIGN
It’s essential to find the perfect place to
display that bundle of leafy goodness. When
styling your plant, consider the vessel that
might best fit its personality. Do the color
and material make your plant “sing” with
the rest of your home? Do you and your
newfound accomplice complement each
other’s personality? In order to answer these
questions, consider the architecture of the
plant and the style you are intending to
draw from it. For example, Chapman finds
that “if your home has a natural, rustic feel,
you might want to stick your fern in a log
vase.” But however you go about it, have
fun with positioning and styling, because
you’re conveying your personality and mood
through the space around you.SMALL SPACES? NO PROBLEM
If it seems there’s not enough room for
all the plants you would like, never fear;
with a little ingenuity, the greenery you’ve
always dreamt of is yours for the taking. To
“squeeze in more plants without taking up
valuable real estate,” Chapman advises that
you pack a “smorgasbord” of plants into
one vase, giving your room an explosion
of verdant green you won’t regret. Other
ways you might incorporate greenery into
your home are by elevating plants to grow
downward toward the floor or training
vines by tying them in a shape that fits the
surrounding furniture. Make these quick
alterations, and your room is bound to look
more balanced and composed.AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019 • 121(top) Orchids, ferns and bromeliads, oh my! This exotic combination planter is booming with character and shows off a
wild side. All you need is a lively center orchid, a variety of filler plants and the will to create.
(left) Creating a space that seems larger without the added square footage is a lot easier than it may seem. Simply stack
your beloved leafy plants, letting them grow to the floor or training them to reach for the ceiling.