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Arranging Plants in Your Bedroom

Arranging plants can seem intimidating at first, but it doesn’t have to be! With a little bit of practice and the following tips, you’ll be styling your bedroom like a professional in no time at all.

Stick to odd numbers

When styling a space — and putting together floral arrangements — a common rule of thumb is to always work in odd numbers. Even numbered items tend to pair up together to give a formal look to a space, while odd numbers leave more of a spontaneous feel to a design.

The classic combination is a grouping of three, but it should look great as long as you stick to an odd number in the group.

Pair plants of different sizes

Always try to mix plants of different heights so they stand apart from one another. Add at least one plant into the group that is considerably taller than the rest. When everything is the same height, it will make the plants blend together.

Think about leaves

When it comes to the leaves, take a few minutes to think about both the color and texture. If you’re going for a cohesive look, choose plants that have the same color leaves and similar textures. If you want the plants to be an accent piece, choose plants in varying colors and textures.

Choose plants with interesting leaf textures like peperomia or zebra haworthia to keep a minimalistic design from looking one-dimensional. If your room already has textures from rugs, pillows, etc., add plants with smooth, glossy leaves to balance out the design.

Use leading lines

A plant’s leading lines are a perfect way to draw attention to specific features of your bedroom. An easy way to do this is to use ones with leaves that trail down or point upward.

Use plants like a snake plant that point upward to draw your eye to an interesting architectural ceiling or specific art on the bedroom walls. Plants with trailing vines like philodendrons or pothos can be set atop mantles to highlight a fireplace or placed on a shelf above furniture you want to highlight.

Use containers as another decor element

Similar to your plant colors, you can use containers in one of two ways when arranging plants. Use pots in similar colors with similar finishes to pull together a cohesive look, or combine different materials and colors to create an eclectic accent to your bedroom decor.

Try to have a commonality

When grouping plants together, you want them to look natural with one another. The best way to do this is to find a commonality, such as their primary hue or how their leaves spread out (e.g., dense or open and airy).

DIY Hanging Plant Ideas for Small Bathrooms

Bathrooms are a fantastic place to add humidity-loving plants that may struggle to grow in other, drier rooms of your home. They also add peace and tranquility to the space, creating a relaxing, spa-like feel.

Even small bathrooms can accommodate plants — you just need to get creative in arranging them so you don’t overwhelm the room. And one of the best ways to do this is to use vertical space and hang plants instead of setting them on counters, plant stands, or the edge of the bathtub.

Creative ways to hang plants in a small bathroom

Whether you want to hang plants above your tub or the sink, you can suspend an old wooden ladder horizontally from the ceiling. Then hang plants from the rungs of the ladder at different heights.
If you have a window in your shower, and you’re always looking for a way to let the light into the bathroom but keep your neighbors from seeing into the space, use plants to create a privacy screen. Hang them from the ceiling, the curtain rod, or install an expandable rod inside the window casing to cover parts of the window. Plants like philodendrons and pothos make excellent screens.

Install a second curtain rod for hanging plants for bathrooms with a fully enclosed shower. To create a unique display, turn the second curtain perpendicular to your main shower stall opening, situated closer to the back of the shower. Hang plants of various sizes and lengths to accent a plain wall.
Small bathrooms always benefit from multi-purpose items, so you can use this to your advantage. Install a long strip of vertical coat hooks on a wall with enough space for plants and towels.
Instead of confining items to the kitchen, take a pot rack and hang it in the bathroom for your plants. You can install it on the ceiling or hang it vertically on a wall.

Tiered rope or macrame plant hangers let you hang more than one plant vertically, maximizing available space. To create a lush display, fill the hanger with vining plants that drape down along the wall.
A simple way to hang plants in your bathroom is to install S-hooks in the ceiling and then use a chain or rope to suspend plants from the ceiling. You can hang multiple pots from each hook to add more plants to a small space.

DIY Creative Bedroom Plant Stands

When decorating your bedroom with plants, there are many creative ways to display them beyond the typical plant stand that you can purchase at your local home decor store. You can build your own if you are handy with tools or even repurpose used items and turn them into interesting plant displays.

What can you use for a plant stand?

With a bit of creativity, almost anything can be used to make, or turn into, a plant stand. People commonly use wood to build their own stands because it is easy to customize the size and design, which can then be stained or painted to match your aesthetic. You can build multi-tiered stands, ladder stands, corner stands, or simple stands that elevate single plants.

You can also take thrifted or used items and up-cycle them to create unique plant displays. Chairs, baskets, stools, and even vintage books can be used, opening up limitless options for your bedroom!

Creative ideas for displaying plants in your bedroom

Flip an old bureau drawer upside-down for a unique stand. You could distress the finish, change out the hardware, or even add legs to customize the look.
A discarded entry or hallway bench can be refinished or painted to your liking and then used as a plant stand against a wall or at the foot of your bed. Set it under a window for extra sun exposure, or leave an open spot, so you have a place to set and tie your shoes.
Add legs to wooden crates to raise your plants off the floor. Depending upon your plants, you can set plants inside the crate’s opening or flip them upside-down and use the bottom as the stand. Group numerous boxes of different sizes and heights to hold multiple plants and other knickknacks.

Look at local thrift stores for inexpensive lamps with unique frames inside the shade. You can strip off the shade and use the top or bottom circular frames to hold plants. Depending on the frame, you can flip it upside-down to change the look.
Buy a handful — or armload — of thick vintage books and stand them horizontally to create a one-of-a-kind stand. Opt for a mishmash of bright colors to complement your decor, or go with deep rich colors to create a classic, luxurious feel.

DIY Living Room Terrarium

Terrariums are a low-maintenance way to bring plants into your home in a beautiful, creative mannner. They were trendy in the 1960s and ’70s and are finding their way back into homes again.

Putting together a terrarium is a great way to customize something to your wants and likes. You can add the plants and features you want instead of purchasing a pre-constructed one.

Two types of terrariums

There are two different types of terrariums: open and enclosed displays.

Open terrariums have a glass display with an opening that allows moisture to escape, so it has less humidity. This type is typically used for succulents or cacti, which require less water.
Enclosed terrariums are what most people think of — glass structures that are sealed to create a high-humidity environment. The moisture continuously recycles itself, providing water for the plants, and can go months before you need to add water.

Terrarium supplies

Base: These materials form the bottom foundation that you’ll use for planting and include growing media, bark chips, moss, sand, activated charcoal, and some rocks.
Plants: Don’t go overboard. Remember, you’re working with limited space.
Accent pieces: Sticks, shells, figurines — anything to add your personal touch, just make sure they are colorfast.
Planting tools: Funnel, spoon or small scoop, long-handled tweezers, soft-bristled brush. These items will help make placing plants and accent pieces in the terrarium easier.
Spray bottle: One with a fine mist is best for watering plants.

Building the base layer of your terrarium

After pulling together supplies, it’s time to start building. Start at the bottom, and follow this order to make your terrarium.

A thin layer of material (small gravel, sand, or bark chips) creates a collection area for water.
A layer of activated charcoal filters and purifies the water.
A permeable barrier (moss, screen, or paper in matching colors) over the charcoal layer allows moisture through but prevents the growing media from settling.
A thicker layer of your chosen growing substrate to hold moisture and anchor your plants.

Arranging plants and accents

With the base layer in place, it’s time to secure your plants. Start by setting them in the terrarium to determine the best position. Then plant using the spoon and tweezers if necessary, being careful not to disrupt the growing medium.

Once you’re done planting, you can add moss, small gravel, or fine bark chips to cover the visible potting soil. Finish off by placing your accents!

Tips for building a living room terrarium

Choose clear glass instead of a colored glass container. The colored glass can block some light from reaching the plants.
Look for a vessel with a wide opening since it’s easier to add plants and other items when you’re putting it together.
Pick plants or varieties that stay shorter or are slow-growing, so they don’t quickly outgrow the space.
A thicker layer of your chosen growing substrate to hold moisture and anchor your plants.

Best Herbs to Grow in Your Kitchen

If you’re looking to grow herbs in your kitchen, you may be overwhelmed with all the choices and unsure where to start.

Most Commonly Grown Herbs

The following are traditionally grown herbs. They are usually popular because of the frequency they are used in recipes. Most people like having them on hand instead of needing to run to the store at the last minute.

Basil

Rosemary

Lavender

Cilantro

Parsley

Thyme

Oregano

Mint

Sage

Chives

Less-Frequently Grown Herbs

Depending on your lifestyle and taste, there are other fabulous herbs to grow. The following are grown less frequently, but if you use them in your cooking, they make a fantastic addition.

Bay laurel

Lemongrass

Tarragon

Dill

Lemon balm

Stevia

Savory

Chamomile

Marjoram

Catnip

Choosing What Herbs to Grow

How Much Light Do You Have

First, figure out how much sunlight you have in your kitchen, and then choose herbs that will grow well under those conditions.

Most herbs prefer direct light — i.eThe sun isn’t reflecting off another surface but hitting them directly — which makes them great plants for growing on a kitchen windowsill. But they may differ in the amount of direct light they need daily.

Group Plants by Light Requirements

One of the best ways to group herbs is by putting plants with the same sunlight needs together.

Group Plants by Water Requirements

You can also group herbs in one large container if they have the same water requirements.

Best Air-Purifying Plants

Plants add to your home’s decor, bringing in greenery and texture, and they also help clean your indoor air. While they aren’t as efficient as an air purifier or HEPA filter, they do work to increase the oxygen levels within your home and help filter out toxins and contaminants.

During the mid-20th century, NASA researchers discovered this fantastic ability when they were trying to find ways to clean the air aboard space stations while on extended space missions.

How Do Plants Purify the Air?

Plants help to clean the air while they are photosynthesizing. They pull in carbon dioxide from the air around the leaves and convert it into oxygen, which they release for us to breathe. At the same time, when they take the carbon dioxide in, they trap compounds like benzene, formaldehyde, smoke, viruses, and dust in a process known as phytoremediation.

Plant Characteristics to Look For

The Best Air-Purifying Plants for Your Home

Three of the best air-purifying plants are spider plants, snake plants, and aloe vera. These three plants are also relatively easy to grow, so you shouldn’t have much trouble keeping them alive, even if you’re a beginner or profess to have a black thumb.

If you’re looking to branch out beyond those three, don’t worry; plenty of other great plants help clean your air. The following air-purifying plants encompass various sizes, leaf shapes, statures, and colors to accent any decor:

Chrysanthemum

English ivy

Bamboo palm

Money plant

Flamingo lily

Red-edged dracaena

Boston fern

Calathea

Croton

Golden pothos

Chrysanthemum

Parlor palm

Peace lily

Chinese evergreen

Kentia palm

ZZ plant

Dumb cane

Areca palm

Weeping fig

Rubber plants

Best Plants for Direct Sunlight

A home with little natural light is often frustrating for homeowners trying to grow houseplants, who long for rooms filled with bright light. However, bright light streaming directly through windows for hours on end can be problematic for plants too and affect their growth as much as too little light.

Too much is not always better in the case of sunlight because not all plants can handle direct sunlight for long periods or even more than an hour or two. So, if you have a bright, sunny house, you must choose plants that have adapted to grow well in direct sunlight.

What Is Considered Direct Sunlight?

Direct sunlight is typically described as full sunlight streaming through a window that isn’t shaded by houses, buildings, trees, etc. If you held your hand up in this light, it would cast a hard shadow on the surface below with a defined outline.

Cacti for Direct Sunlight

Most cactus species like plenty of sunlight, but they prefer it to be filtered. When exposed to long periods of direct sunlight, you may see them turn light green in color. This bleaching occurs as the intense sunlight breaks down the chlorophyll in the plant.

The following cacti are tolerant of direct sunlight and won’t lighten in color:

Barrel cactus

Moon cactus

Nivosa cactus

Flowering Plants That Thrive in Direct Sunlight

If a flowering ornamental plant needs “full sun” to grow outdoors, it will typically grow well in direct sunlight inside. Some commonly grown full-sun plants include:

African violet

Bird of paradise

Gardenia

Hibiscus

Jasmine

Kalanchoe

Herbaceous Plants That Grow in Direct Sunlight

Areca palm

Begonia rex

Croton

Dracaena

Grapy ivy

Ponytail palm

Sago palm

Ti plant

Succulents That Like Bright Sunlight

Succulents tend to be more tolerant of bright, intense light than cacti, giving you many options to grow in your sunny home.

Aloe vera

Burro’s tail

Crown of thorns

Desert rose

Echeveria

Hens and chicks

Jade

Snake plant

String of pearls

Yucca

Zebra haworthia

Best Plants for Low-Light Conditions

There isn’t any need to fret if your home doesn’t have a ton of bright, natural light — you can still grow houseplants. You just need to be a little more selective when choosing which ones to bring home. Many houseplants, including some that are easy for beginners, grow well in low-light settings.

Be forewarned, though, while some plants will thrive in lower light, they usually grow slower than plants grown in brighter light. They might also stay smaller overall.

What Is Considered Low-Light?

Let’s take a minute and discuss what is classified as low-light. Typically an area is considered low-light if it doesn’t get direct natural sunlight because of shade from neighboring buildings, trees, or fences. Or, a spot is considered low-light if it is more than 7 feet from a window that gets bright light. In both cases, the light bounces off other surfaces to reach its final spot.

If you’re familiar with light measurements, low light is 25 to 300 foot-candles during the brightest time of day. In low light, your hand won’t cast a significant shadow, but you should be able to read a newspaper without a lamp.

Why Do Plants Need a Minimum Amount of Sunlight?

Many houseplants are native to tropical areas, where they grew under the canopy of rainforest trees and were only exposed to shaded or dappled sunlight. But this doesn’t mean you can put a plant in a dark corner and expect it to survive.

All plants need at least some sunlight so they can create the energy they need to grow — a process called photosynthesis. During photosynthesis, plants take water, carbon dioxide, and sunlight to make oxygen and chemical energy, later used for their metabolic pathways.

What Are the Best Plants for Low-Light Areas?

If you have what is considered “low-light” in your home, some of the best houseplants for these conditions are:

ZZ plant

Cast-iron plant

Chinese evergreen

Snake plant

Arrowhead plant

Pinstripe plant

Weeping fig

Swiss cheese plant

Pothos

Lucky bamboo

Corn plant

Spider plant

Ponytail palm

Asparagus fern

Elephant’s ear

Dumb cane

Paper plant

Peace lily

Peperomia

Best Plants for Beginners

It can be intimidating to bring home a houseplant if you’ve never cared for one before. You don’t want to accidentally choose one that is finicky and needs a lot of attention if you aren’t confident in your growing skills.

Don’t worry, though! Many houseplants are great for beginners and will help give you the confidence to take on more challenging plants over time.

What Makes a Plant Suitable for Beginners?

When looking for plants to bring home, you want to choose ones that are known to be hardy and easy to grow. It’s best to start with low-maintenance houseplants, and after you get some experience and feel more comfortable, you can move on to plants that require more care.

The best plants for beginners have the following characteristics:

They are tolerant of various sunlight conditions and adapt to different environments.

They tend to prefer their soil to be slightly drier, so they can handle if you miss a watering here and there or don’t remember to water regularly. Some of them will even tell you when they need watering — when their leaves “droop,” it’s time to give them a drink.

They have low fertilizer needs, but will tolerate fertilizer applications if you do remember to feed them.

They don’t need constant pruning to keep them looking neat and tidy.

They have low incidence of disease problems.

They tend not to attract insect pests, including spider mites and fungus gnats.

Some of the Best Plants for Beginners

There are many fantastic plants to choose from, ranging in size and looks. You can choose from gorgeous vining plants that create long, draping stems, plants with large attractive leaves, or smaller plants that sit nicely on a bookshelf or end table.

The following is just a small collection of low-maintenance, easy-to-grow plants, but they’re a great starting point:

Peperomia

Spider plant

Wandering Jew

Cast-iron plant

Fiddleleaf fig

Madagascar dragon tree

ZZ plant

Parlor palm

Golden pothos

Areca palm

Heartleaf philodendron

Snake plant

Dragon tree

Ponytail palm

Bromeliads

Aloe vera

Jade

Echeveria

Prayer plant

Swiss cheese plant

Polka-dot plant

Best Plants for Bathrooms

We put plants on our kitchen windowsills and use them to add greenery and soften the decor in our living rooms and bedrooms. But many people don’t think about adding them to their bathrooms, which is a shame. The bathroom is a great location to grow different plants and take advantage of the high humidity.

Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis)

Aloe vera is one of the most common succulents worldwide. Many people grow them in the kitchen if they burn themselves cooking, but they are good to have in the bathroom, too, if you are prone to razor burn.

Arrowhead Plant (Syngonium podophyllum)

Also known as a goosefoot plant, the arrowhead gets its name from its arrow-shaped leaves. It needs protection from direct sunlight, making your bathroom an optimal location if it only receives diffuse sun exposure.

Asparagus Fern (Asparagus densiflorus)

Asparagus ferns are members of the lily family and have long stems densely covered in short needle-like leaflets. Their cascading stems grow 3 feet long, making them perfect for a hanging basket.

Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema spp.)

The Chinese evergreen, or aglaonema, is a low-maintenance plant that loves lower light conditions. Its dark-green foliage comes in various colors to suit any decor: plain green, speckled, blotchy, and even variegated.

Ferns

Ferns love moist, humid air, so they are fantastic to grow in bathrooms. Some commonly grown ferns are the Boston fen, sword fern, maidenhair fern, button fern, and bird’s nest fern.

Lucky Bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana)

While lucky bamboo aren’t actual bamboo plants, they are popular in Asian cultures. They are believed to bring good luck into a space, and their pliable stems allow the plants to be shaped into exciting designs.

Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum wallisii)

Peace lilies tolerate lower light conditions and produce delicate white calla-like flowers in spring and summer. Peace lilies are great for the bathroom because they love a warm, humid environment and are excellent at air purification.

Philodendron (Philodendron spp.)

The philodendron comes highly recommended to even those with the blackest of thumbs. Vining types are usually grown in hanging baskets or trained to grow up a support structure.

Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)

Pothos plants have an incredibly laid-back nature, making them perfect for beginners. They tolerate low light and don’t mind if you forget to water them.

Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata)

The snake plant or mother-in-law’s tongue is perfect for bathrooms where natural sun exposure is low. Its low-maintenance needs and striking appearance make it a great addition to your bathroom’s decor.

Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

A spider plant is another great option for a hanging basket or to sit on a plant stand in your bathroom. The naturally higher humidity in the bathroom helps prevent tips from browning, keeping the plant looking beautiful.