Incorporating Greenery into Your Space
Over the course of a project, we really get to know the likes and dislikes of our clients. We learn the colours they love, the textures they hate, and the patterns that remind them of their grandma! By the time we reach the accessories stage of the project, there aren’t too many details left to reveal, so the accessory-related Q&A is fairly cursory. There is, however, one polarizing subject that demands no assumptions; a question we pose and then hold our breath awaiting the answer…“How do you feel about having plants in your home?” The prospect of caring for a living home décor accessory seems to elicit a strong response, which reminds me of the reaction I used to get a few years back when first proposing wallpaper to a client. If said client had any previous experience with removing wallpaper, they recoiled in horror at the mere mention of their old nemesis. The neophytes (God bless ‘em all!) were delighted at the prospect! Similarly, we find that those who have little to no experience with keeping live houseplants are always game, but those who have been down that road before are understandably a bit more wary. We love incorporating organic elements into our designs and have found great solutions to suit all our clients, from the most optimistic houseplant enthusiasts to the blackest thumbs! We particularly love the impact of large-scale floor plants and find that when a space or composition calls for a tall element for balance, a plant or tree has the potential to create visual interest in the space that a piece of furniture or lamp never could. Below are a few tips for incorporating large-scale, real, or faux plants into your space that bring a little of the outdoors in!
Pro tip: Scale & balance are everything
Attention to scale should not be limited to the height and footprint of a plant. The scale and texture of a plant’s foliage can also play a big part in the overall composition of a design. For instance, the delicate leaves of the Shefflera in our #IHBriarHill residence living room help to balance the large masculine furniture pieces and the strength of the steel-clad fireplace. Alternatively, the spiky leaves of the Yucca Palm in the living room of one of our more traditional projects below create a little drama, juxtaposing the soft curvy lines of the furniture, traditional fireplace, and wall panelling.
Pro tip: Turn awkward spaces into showcases
Indoor trees and plants provide colour, texture, and visual interest, and there is nothing better for filling awkward spaces! Sometimes odd, leftover spaces created by architecture, like angled eaves or a staircase, can appear conspicuously empty, creating an imbalance in the room. These spaces are often not conducive for furniture and call for decorative items meant to be enjoyed but not necessarily interacted with, such as sculpture or a large graceful floor plant. Similarly, plants placed in composition with special or sentimental items can add necessary volume creating an eye-catching focal point that serves to enhance the object without adding visual clutter.
Pro tip: Pair naturals with neutrals
Sometimes a large scale plant can be the ideal addition to a space that is designed with a subtle colour scheme, whether it is bright and airy like the #IHPropertyBrothers living room project below or dark and moody, plants can provide that pop of colour and punctuation needed without contradicting the soft, tonal feel of the space.
Pro tip: It ‘s all about proportion control
Sometimes, corners created by furniture call for a plant that either has a small footprint or a main trunk with foliage at the top, like the Fiddle Leaf Fig tree that we used in our #IHRosedaleResidence and #IHPropertyBrothers projects below. This will ensure the bulk of the foliage is up above the furniture and not blocking conversation or sightlines. If the space where you wish to place a plant is either unconducive because of light conditions or the space is awkwardly shaped, you may want to consider a high-quality faux plant instead. Faux plants are created with heavy gauge wire in the branches and leaves, which allows you to physically manipulate the shape until it fits perfectly in your space!
This blog series is called Tips & Tricks, where we’ll be sharing some of our team’s favourite design advice! In the meantime, follow along and stay up to date with the In House team on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook.
