This Summer Think Green

Recently we collaborated with the fine folks at Modernize.com to get your design juices flowing and make your living space the envy of all your friends! Below is a feature on the new home of our contributors Sarah and Brett with some amazing tips and tricks on how to make your home more green. Summer is the perfect time to start bringing more plants into your life, so get that green thumb ready and make sure to visit Modernize.com for more home and design ideas!

Many designers swear by incorporating plants into their designs. There’s just something about a living thing that gives your space more beauty. Unfortunately, some of us don’t know the first thing about plants or how to bring them into our homes. Before spending too much energy overthinking it, read over these simple suggestions. Your home will be meticulously curated with greenery sooner than you know it!

Consider Your Commitment

Before bringing home a new plant for your space, it’s important to be realistic about your level of commitment. Do you have an outdoor garden that you water and care for frequently? Are you knowledgeable about different plant needs? If you’re like me, you’ve killed more green things than you’d like to admit. Even if you don’t have a green thumb, you can still incorporate living things into your decor.

Alys Fowler, on behalf of The Guardian, explains that the snake plant is perfect for those who forget to water it. This type of plant thrives on neglect! Other plants that work well with little to no light are the spider plant or the maidenhair fern. If you do tend to be consistent with plant care, feel free to pick a plant based on aesthetics alone and read the care instructions thoroughly.

Choose a Great Spot

When picking the best spot for your plants, you need to consider their light needs and where they’ll look best incorporated into your home design. Plants work great in spaces that are either plain or monochromatic. A large plant in the corner of a living room, like pictured, breaks up the visual lines and adds a pop of colour.

Utilize the rule of thirds, and avoid placing a plant in every single corner of a room or lining plants up that are the same size and height. A fern in the corner of a living room can add an unexpected decoration. It’s also a great way to add height to a space by placing plants on chairs or by displaying them on top of furniture.

Focus On the Height

Plants come in all different heights. What makes or breaks a plant’s placement in a space is how it relates to its environment. You won’t want to place a really low-to-the-ground plant next to a really high bookcase. Instead, it helps to look through home magazines and online blogs for visual inspiration. Usually, a plant is either a little bit taller or shorter than half the size of what it’s next to. Of course, if you place a plant in the center of a coffee table, like in this photograph, you’ll want it to be about the height of the couch behind it. If you’re still unsure about the height of the plant, go extra tall! Plants can make a statement and going bigger is better.

Group Them Together

Treat home plants just like picture frames or small home accents. When grouped together, make sure you have a variety of colours and sizes. The only exception is if you have a set of plants that are identical in an odd number. When mixing and matching, pick styles that compliment one another and flow with the space.

You can also add other accents like candles, vases, or picture frames. When presented in varying heights, these small decor items pack a big style punch. With just a few plants and some mementos, your space will look like a professional stylist curated the collection for you.

For more design ideas and inspiration, head to Modernize.com.

Photography: Brett Howe

Layout: Sarah Gurevich

Words: Modernize (body) and Daniel Gurevich (forward)