Green with Envy

Ever wondered how to add a touch of colour to your living space or workspace without having to spend drastic amounts of money or go through the inconvenience of having to paint? More to the point, do you want to make your living space seem effortlessly luxurious and be the envy of everyone? The answer is simple! Go green. Adding some wisely chosen plants and placing them strategically can completely transform any space.

Before you all think that adding plants is actually quite mundane and can’t be bothered with the upkeep, let’s go through a quick guide to why using plants is great.

1.      They come in all shapes and sizes. You can easily find a type of plant that suits a gap to fill. Be it a small space on a bookshelf, a mantle-piece or an empty corner – long, short, thick or thin there is always an answer. Play around with height and texture.

2.      They come in all shades of colours. Plants are so versatile that they can brighten up even the dullest of environments and even tone down and mute some of the most vibrant ambiences. It’s all a question of balancing and creating harmony.

3.      They can suit any budget. You can splash the cash as much or as little as you wish when it comes to greenery.  From bargain buys to luxury objet d’art. Plants can be dressed up to suit any occasion too, so invest in a beautiful pot or vase to house a supermarket bought plant and the impact is guaranteed.

4.      You don’t have to be green-thumbed. For those of you who shy away from adding plants to your living or workspaces because you don’t think you can handle the up-keep, there’s some great news – you don’t have to. There are a number of plants, like succulents or the snake plants, that you don’t really have to water that much and come in array of sizes, colours and costs.

So what are you waiting for? If we still haven’t convinced you, here are our top ten plants to add maximum impact for minimum effort:

1.      Succulents – Succulents have become really trendy and it’s easy to understand why. They tick all the boxes when it comes to home décor. They can be extremely bright and colourful to an almost muted green. They come in all shapes and sizes, spiky or smooth, and can be really cheap (as little as 60p for the some) but can also cost into the thousands for the more exotic varieties. They also produce some of the most beautiful flowers when in bloom. Finally they can be really easy to keep, so great for beginners or non-green-thumbers.

2.      Snake plants – these beauties are also known as mother-in-law’s tongue – which is why they look great in the corner! All joking aside, these plants are super versatile: they clean the air and are known to promote sleep, come in a great variety of heights and their wavy leaves add a touch of elegant movement to any space you need to fill. This plant can also be a luxury item for an extremely reasonable price. Dress it up in an ornate or minimalist pot and it fits right into almost any home!

3.      Ferns – Ferns are magnificent plants. You can really play around with height and texture and can fill a bare corner of the house or an empty wall space. They can range from vibrantly dark greens to a subtle, almost yellow hue. Some ferns can also add a wild note to a minimalist décor adding a touch of forest to any space. Ferns are great in the workspace too as they are a welcoming and homely plant.

4.      Terraniums – What could be more magical than a garden in a jar? Terraniums really are a god-send. They are elegant and sophisticated yet fun and whimsical. There are numerous guides online on how to make your very own, so they could also be a fun activity to do with the kids or with friends. Terraniums need little to no upkeep and for those of you who use this as a fundamental criteria, we suggest to invest some money and let the experts make them for you. Pop into a trusted florist and get some advice – and the really good florists will make customised terraniums so you can mix and match.

5.      Bulbs – Tulips, gladioli and daffodils. Plants we have all come across as kids, mostly as part of a school project somewhere down the line. But they can also be beautiful additions to home or office décor. Placed in a beautiful glass vase with some colourful stones and a little water, they can really change the look of a place and add an understated elegance. And why not, watching them grow can take us back to being kids.

6.      Bamboo – bamboos are known for good luck and good fortune. With their clean and elegant lines, they are perfect for any minimalist ambience. You can really play around with height and numbers, arranging them in threes or fives in a thin vase or grouping them into bunches to add depth and a rich texture to any space.

7.      Spider plants – spider plants are making a sexy comeback from the 70s. They can be a bargain buy and are the perfect plant if you want to see something grow before your very eyes. Even though they are fun and can fill an empty space, they are not very colourful so try placing them against a vibrant coloured wall or in an ornate pot to really make it stand out. And why not try to mix it up a bit using plants that have the same characteristics as spider plants but are much more stylish. See below for our suggestions:

8.      Ivy – Ivy is just an example for adding any hanging plants to your home or workspace. They are colourful and easy to keep plants that can be placed almost anywhere especially in an elevated position from which they are allowed to gently fall and fill awkward spaces.

9.      Orchids – Most people are afraid of these delicately majestic flowers. The maintenance can be difficult especially for those of us who are not particularly of the green thumb variety. So here’s a great idea for homes – place an orchid in the bathroom. The humid environment is perfect for these plants to thrive and can add that needed touch of elegance to an otherwise bland room.

10.  Aromatic herbs – This is a personal favourite of ours. Herb plants are cheap, colourful, fragrant, versatile, easy to keep and edible! Whilst mostly confined to the kitchen area - for obvious reasons – they can actually be used anywhere in the house. They can really be dressed up or down (depending on the occasion), used as centre pieces (even for the coffee table) and be used to freshen up dark and dank spaces. Definitely a plant not to be underestimated.

Just an extra note. Like all things,  if you have to fake it, it’s not worth it! So try to avoid using fake plants as they gather dust and get really old, really quickly. The same goes for wilted, haggard looking plants – if they’re not vibrant, get rid!

Sabrina Del Vecchio for Giulia Nicole

Photo Credit: Ciara Carroll 

Bernadette Borja 

Sabrina Del Vecchio

Federica Baldinotti