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So you want to take your bedroom to the next level? We’ve got you covered. There are some great ways to up your interior design game, especially when it comes to your bedroom. A lick of paint here, a picture frame there – simple changes can be key to making a big difference if you know what you’re doing. We’re going to reveal some hacks to help you get your dream bedroom on any budget.

Headboard

Something as simple as a headboard can help you achieve an amazing look in your bedroom. Whether it is against a statement wall (more on that later) or you want your headboard to be the statement, this one is easy to achieve. Some of the headboards you can choose from are:

  • Metal: Most commonly iron, the metal headboard can add a vintage, antique feel to a room
  • Wood: This is one of the most versatile headboards, thanks to you being able to paint or stain it
  • Upholstered: This one adds an elegant vibe to a room. The fabric also brings new textures to a space
  • Leather: If you opt for a full-grain leather headboard, it’s the highest quality and is very durable.

Frames

Hanging pictures and quotes around your room can help bring character and life to a space Pictures are a great cost-effective way to add some flair to your room, and it’s also easy to mix it up when you want a change. Use neutral frames which will go with many colours, then all you will need to do is replace the pictures inside any time you want to mix it up.

Statement wall

A statement wall is designed to be striking and pop as soon as you enter the room. It will be the first thing people notice when they walk in. Ideally, it should be where the bed sits as that’s usually the main part of any bedroom. You can paint the wall a striking colour, add some bold wallpaper or even hang a tapestry against it. Whatever you decide, you should also choose the right bed and whether or not you want a headboard featured.

Storage

Storage is just as essential as your bed. There are so many options when it comes to deciding what storage to have in your bedroom, built-in wardrobes, shelves, the possibilities are endless.

Smaller rooms: Built-in furniture is always a great option for small rooms as it can make full use of the space from the floor to the ceiling – nothing gets wasted. You can also look at practical storage in the form of your bed. Divan Beds Centre demonstrates up how divans are a great storage solution, with the choice of traditional drawers to sliding storage if you don’t have enough room for drawers to open fully. Get rid of the clutter and your room will instantly be better.

Larger rooms: You can still use built-in storage, as they’re great at utilising the space. But you can also add floating shelves or bookcases to use up those wide open walls. Bedside tables with drawers or shelves are also great for adding little touches such as lamps and flowers – creating surfaces that can offer you the space you need for these stylish little touches.

There are some easy and affordable ways to elevate your bedroom’s interior! Experiment and have fun.

Of course, you love your home no matter how small it is but, deep down, chances are that you dread living in the crumpled space. You would love more space for more fresh air, easier movement, and for increased functionality. Besides, it is a proven fact that limited spaces can have adverse effects on your mental health and general wellbeing. The good thing is that you can always increase space in your home regardless of its size.

Creating more space in your home can be as simple as creating additional storage, decluttering, choosing the right furniture, repurposing wasted areas, replacing standard doors with sliding doors, multi-purposing rooms, or getting rid of the TV stand.

If you are craving for more space in your home, here are 7 surprising ways to achieve your goal.

1. Build extra storage areas

If you are like most people who keep acquiring new stuff, you probably have run out of space to store them. Your family has also probably outgrown the currently available storage areas.

Build more storage areas to accommodate the extra items. Here are a few ways to achieve this.

· Add more cabinets to the rooms. To make your work easier, consider investing in ready-to-assemble cabinets. They come with a manual for easy installation. You probably will need little carpentry skills to get the job done, but you don’t have to be an expert.

· Make use of high ceilings by building a loft to serve as an extra storage area. You can also install floor-to-ceiling shelving or hanging units.

· Stack storage containers with rarely used items under the bed. Alternatively, install under-bed drawers to store the extra items.

2. Declutter

The alternative of building more storage for your extra items is getting rid of those things that you rarely use. Get down to thoroughly doing an examination of your home starting with books, clothes and furniture. If you can’t justify why an item is in your home, the best thing is to remove it.

Use the opportunity to donate those that can be reused, or sell them to make an extra dime.

3. Make rooms multi-functional

Having separate rooms for every function feels great. However, if you want to create extra space, you might need to rethink combining a few functions into one room. For instance, your home office can be turned to an extra bedroom, while you take your work to the master bedroom. You can also invest in a sofa bed that allows extra sleeping space at night. Your living room can serve as the kids playroom. You only need to ensure you have a place to neatly store the toys after use.

4. Convert the attic

Most people ignore the attic and let it waste away over the years. Surprisingly, this wasted space can provide the extra space that you so much want.

Consider converting it to a useful room such as an extra bedroom, study or home office. Sure, it will cost you a few coins, but the investment will be worth each and every one of it.

5. Use sliding doors

If you dread squeezing behind an open door, or your door opening half way, then it is time you got rid of the standard door.

You may ignore the space it takes, but it can go a long way in making a room spacious.

Go for the sleek sliding door, as it will only take minimal space.

6. Choose the right furniture

Oversized furniture will most probably appeal to you, but if it is going to take up a large space in your small apartment, then it isn’t ideal.

Choosing the right furniture for a small space goes a long way in freeing up a lot of space. For instance, having a dining table in a small kitchen will take a lot of cooking space. On the other hand, using bar stools will free up this area for your maneuverings. You can also opt for folding chairs that you can stack away after use.

7. Ditch the TV stand for a wall mount

You might love your TV stand, but, have you ever assessed the amount of space it has taken? It may seem insignificant considering your sentimental value to the stand, but it is enough to make a crumpled area spacious.

Thankfully, there are alternatives that take no floor space. Consider mounting the TV on the wall. In addition to adding space, it will be safer especially if you have kids running around.

Conclusion

The list is endless; there are many ways to create more space in a home. The above 7 ideas are just a starting point. Besides, the challenges that come with creating more space in a home can force us to be innovative to think clever ways to achieve a spacious home.

At House of Coco, we are fiercely proud of the skin we are in. So we are excited to hear about jewellery brand Daisy London’s new VITA collection.

VITA is a series of sculptural pieces that capture different angles of the female body, from the face to the torso. They offer a tactile reminder that we should embrace ourselves for all that we are.

The collection comprises three pendant necklaces, a sculpted bust signet-style ring and a pair of charm hoop earrings. Each piece is a bold celebration of the beauty, strength and resilience of the female body.

Daisy London collaborated with several inspiring women to celebrate VITA including body positivity advocate Natalie Lee and Berlin-based curator Alexandra Tischenko. Check out their visual interpretations of the collection in these stunning images.

Each piece is available in 18ct gold-plated silver and sterling silver with prices starting from £59.

To find out more, visit www.daisyjewellery.com.

While #TeamCoco may be safely self-isolating at home, we’re still on the hunt to find new ways to inspire you even in lockdown. We know you’ve probably been living in pyjamas for the better part of two months weeks (heck – so have we), but there’s also nothing wrong with dressing up and cosying up in style too.

With the often fleeting but very welcome arrival of the British summertime, this edition of the Lockdown Edit focuses on easy, breezy pieces so you can be the style queen of your own back garden.

1. Gold Leaf Motif Earrings by Swarovski https://www.swarovski.com/

2. Terracotta Cleo Swimsuit by Three Graces https://threegraceslondon.com/

3. Beige Jelly Sandals by Melissa https://www.melissa.com.br/uk

4. Navy Chiara Top by Three Graces London https://threegraceslondon.com/

5. Navy and White Filippa Trousers by Three Graces London https://threegraceslondon.com/

6. Striped Blue Shirt Dress by Paul & Joe https://paulandjoe.com/en/

7. Brown Croc Effect Mini Venice Bag by Demellier https://www.demellierlondon.com/all-bags

8. Gold/Orange Parker Sunglasses by Finlay London https://www.finlayandco.com/

9. Gym and Tonic Orange Cropped Jumper by Quantum Courage https://www.quantumcourage.com/

10. Praia Scarf by Victoria Ragna https://victoriaragna.com/

11. Primrose Hill Nightgown by Myla https://www.myla.com/

12. Printed Block Heel Sandals by Repetto https://www.repetto.com/uk/

13. ‘Lemon’ Eau de Parfum by Dolce & Gabbana https://www.dolcegabbanabeauty.com/perfumes/

14. Printed Trousers by Fresha London https://freshalondon.com/

Placing indoor plants around your home can greatly improve the atmosphere and aesthetics of your property. Plenty of interior designers and decorators recommend using tasteful plants to ramp up the beauty of your hallways and rooms. If you do not have a garden to grow crapemyrtles, there are still plenty of option for indoor plants that you can choose from. However, lots of people that find using plants as a decoration interesting are also quite confused about how to best arrange plants inside their home. Knowing how to arrange Houseplants properly, but also how to properly take care of them might be a confusing situation for some. Whether you already have plants in your home or are planning to buy them, the best is always to do some research beforehand so you can be prepared. Hence, here’s everything you need to know about arranging indoor plants.

Choose the Right Plant for Indoor Arrangements

There are countless plants available that thrive in indoor settings. However, not all these plants are aesthetically compatible with the interiors of modern homes. It is essential that you choose types of plants that have great synergy with the interior design of your home. You want a plant that will add to the atmosphere rather than detract. Hence, you will have to carefully choose between a wide variety of different indoor plants to boost the overall atmosphere inside your house.

Thankfully, there are lots of resources available that can help you find an indoor plant that is perfect for your home. Plenty of gardeners, botanists, and other experts have shared their opinions regarding which plants are best for interior design purposes. Using the advice of experts, you should not have much issue finding specific types of plants that have fantastic synergy with your current home arrangements. You certainly do not want to go to the trouble of procuring a wide range of plants only to find out that they look odd when placed inside your halls and rooms. You should put as much effort as possible into the specific types of plants you choose to buy.

Proper Indoor Plant Arrangement is All About Placement

Once you have found the perfect plants for your hallways and rooms, you will need to develop a greater understanding of suitable placement. Where you place your plants is incredibly influential regarding boosting or detracting the overall aesthetics of your house. Hence, you should never arrange these plants in a nonchalant manner. There is plenty of information available about what kinds of placements work best, especially in a variety of different settings. Ultimately, you will have to find an indoor placement arrangement that is most compatible with the current interior design for your home.

Lots of blog posts and videos are available that feature many different styles of architecture that are boosted through using indoor plant arrangements. You should investigate these posts and videos to find one that matches the current interior architecture and design of your home. Make sure to take notes about what types of plants are generally most compatible with the design of your property, otherwise you will end up with something that has bad compatibility. If your home has a particularly unique design or style, it is even more important that you take the time to research what kinds of plants are best for your current situation.

Understand Practice Makes Perfect for Indoor Plant Arrangements

Although finding the right placements for your indoor plants is important, you will never perfectly be using plants as a decoration without practice. You will find that no matter how many blog posts or books you read, you will not achieve perfection without trial and error. When arranging indoor plants, you will need to try out a range of different suitable placements to see which ones work best. You will find that some arrangements sound good in theory but do not look exceptionally good. Hence, you can never get any guarantees about what types of arrangements are best without trying them out first.

You should try as many different suitable indoor arrangements as possible. Throughout the weeks and months, you should subtly change the positioning of some of the plants to see whether they change the dynamic of your home positively. As you change some of the positionings, you will notice sometimes that the new arrangement detracts from the overall mood and feel of your home. Other times, you will be pleasantly surprised as a small change in positioning will greatly boost the aesthetics of your interior. At the end of the day, it is important to always try new things in the world of indoor plant arrangements.

Share Your Plant Arrangement Experiences with Others

As you try out a range of different indoor plant arrangements, you should also share your findings with the rest of the world. You will notice that there are lots of experts in interior design and plant arrangements that can help you out with advice and recommendations. There are lots of active communities online that are based around indoor plant arrangements. Hence, as you share what you have discovered, you’ll have the opportunity to get valuable insights from many others that are following the same pursuit as yourself. Using the power of these online communities, you will find that that improving your indoor plant arranging skills will be incredibly easy. Even better, you might find that you will build connections with some incredibly talented interior designers and plant enthusiasts.

Counted among the most prominent ancient Chinese arts, Feng Shui means “wind-water” which is often referred to as good health and good luck. In other words, it can be said that a home that is designed in accordance with the principles of Feng Shui, is likely to feel more peaceful and harmonious to one’s senses. These ideas are associated with the welcoming of good vibes in your home, and so, following these Feng Shui tips for home decor can give a new life to the appearance of your sweet home!

Decluttering is important!

The whole concept of Feng Shui revolves around the creation of good energy throughout your home or premises. It is associated with welcoming good health, wealth, and luck. Decluttering has an important role to play here. It is not just simply isolating your stuff, but you should also take care of the bookcases, closets, and all the outdated items that cannot be used. Keep only those items that are either useful or the ones you love! You can also consider discarding or donating the stuff which you haven’t used for a long time.

Organize the flow of air and light

Make sure that you soon maintain a constant flow of good energy throughout your home. To establish this, make sure you have an organized flow of wind and light to make it look vibrant and feel happening. You can also consider creating a dark corner or space with a little brightening and illuminating lamps on various spots. This will add charm to the look of your bedroom.

Do not forget to add some greenery!

A consistent and regular flow of air is a must to keep your bedroom green and healthy. Keeping plants in your home keeps a clean and healthy environment and also attracts vibrant energy with a good life force.

Choose vibrant and delightful colors

You can put certain colors and combine them with the main parts of your home. Always go for vibrant and delightfully fresh colors as it will breathe life and energy into your home space. Whereas, a dim and old painted wall is likely to make you feel old, tired, and dim.

Take care of the proportions

The dining table in your used dining room may suck in your stomach when you walk around the dining table in a small-sized room. If you want to keep a particular order for open spaces to make it feel more restful, make sure that you are maintaining a proportion. Leave enough open space for people and positive energy to flow freely.

Use your beddings wisely

According to the principles of Feng Shui, it is important to leave sufficient space on either side of the bed for a comfortable arrangement. You can also use bedding set with the comforter to enhance the arrangement and make it look more organized. Never let the good energy stop dead in its tracks and go away from your home setting!

Keep healthy spaces clean all the way!

Last but not least, it is important to take proper care of everything that adds more beauty and charm to your bedroom. Especially, your bed should be organized and protected with a nectar mattress protector to keep it safe from any kind of harm or damage!

When you think of organizing or decorating your bedroom, you may come across certain interestingly creative ideas. But Feng Shui concepts can help you to ingress the art of creating a beautiful bedroom environment in your home to make you feel more likely in love with your home decor!

Be it a rented apartment or your own home, there are two essential home appliances that we always need such as television and comfortable bedding. There is no need to invest a huge sum of money as there are diverse types of home appliances and furniture in the market that are rich in features and are budget-friendly too. However, such essential home accessories complete your living space in the best possible manner.

Who does not love to enjoy movies and web series on the big television screen? For this, you need to get yourself a television set for uninterrupted entertainment all day long. There are many types of television such as LCD, LED, Plasma, OLED and many more. The recent innovations have led to the rise of 3K, 4K, 5K, 6K, and 7K HD series range that delivers content in crystal-clear quality along with vivid sheen and vibrant colors.

However, the ideal way to mount your TV unit is by getting a cabinet embedded on the wall for an edgy and classy look. You can even simply mount the television set on the wall but having a separate cabinet would enhance the beauty of your living area, thereby giving it a contemporary touch of luxury and sophistication.

When talking about comfort and personal space, how come we forget about the bedding? Yes, you have got it right as bedding is an integral part of your room, after all, it gives your immense comfort and relaxation while sleeping. There are many types of beds available in the segment such as bunk, single, double, floating, panel, sleigh, trundle, canopy, double-decker beds and many more.

The type and size of the beddepend completely upon your requirements and room space. For long-lasting reliability and durability of your bedding, you should always go for those beddings that are made from premium quality wood along with best-in-class features. To ensure optimum comfort in your bedding, you should always go for soft and high-quality mattresses. In recent times, there has been an evolution of personalized furniture that simply implies that you can get your furniture customized as per your own choice.

You can make most out of your furniture and home appliances by reinventing and re innovating them by ditching the traditional designs and furniture patterns. You can go for the contemporary designs to add a dash of beauty, elegance, and class to your living space. There are ample options to choose from that are designed to match the standards of perfection. However, to make the most fruitful choice, you should always consider your requirement for the product and the space in which you are going to accommodate it.

Be it the television set or the bedding, these two home appliances are of great importance and utility. You just cannot live without them as your living space is incomplete without them. Hence, to make your purchase, a worthy and productive one, you should always go for high-quality products as they deliver an incomparable grace and beauty to your living space.

Whether you’re a new tenant and want to spruce up your rental property, or you’re a landlord who wants to add something unique to their property to entice new tenants to view, there is always something you can do. If you’re not particularly handy when it comes to decorating and adding colour to your property, then we hope this quick guide will allow you to spruce up your home in no time.

Below we have made a quick step-by-step guide, consisting of 3 steps that will help you to decorate more efficiently and quickly than you ever have before.

Step 1 – Improve your Kerb Appeal

Kerb appeal is how the exterior of the property looks; you can truly change the look and feel of a property if you put some love into how it looks from the outside. However, if you’re working with an apartment or flat, then it may be a little more challenging to do this. When you’re a tenant looking for the perfect property to move into, the kerb appeal is something you’re going to look at before you even enter the property, which is why as a landlord this is essential to consider.

Pick out any weeds and mould that is growing outside your property, and before you know it, you’ll have a lovely looking rental property that tenants are excited to move into. Before taking on any extra jobs, try to think about what you’d want your property to look like if you lived there and then aim to make your rental look even better. You could potentially also add some plants and trees to the garden, if you have one.

Step 2 – Keep it Simple – Minimalism is Key

Taking the decorating inside, you must also consider how the furniture is going to work within your rental. If you only have a small space, then efficient storage is going to be your best friend. However, if you’re lucky enough to have a large open plan living area, then you may not need to pack everything away in storage. Minimalism is key to most living spaces, as it’s good for your mind to know everything has a place. Minimalistic homes are aesthetically pleasing to look at and give you peace of mind. Try painting walls in a neutral colour such as whites, greys, and creams. If you’re curious for more in-depth inspiration of minimalistic home living, then RWinvest has a range of modern apartments for you to look at. Most of their developments incorporate beautifully designed furniture, which could be great inspiration for anyone who isn’t sure what to do to improve their rental property. Plus, keeping things simple means that it’s more likely to be universally loved by multiple sets of tenants and you’re not accidentally putting all your eggs into one basket with decor.

Step 3 – Add a Splash of Colour

Once you’ve made sure things are simple, you could add a splash of colour to various aspects of the home. This step is more tailored towards tenants living in a rented home who are allowed to paint if they want too. Add modern colours such as dark greens, navy and grey to the walls just to make things stand out that little bit more. Splashes of colour can really change up how your property looks.

Paris is always a good idea, so the saying goes. With all of us now heading into lock down – duration time unknown – I was lucky enough to sneak-in one final trip to Paris to review an exciting new five-star opening, Monsieur George. The latest in a line of creations by the international hotel designer, Anouska Hempel. Audaciously sexy, Hempel injected her daring and trademark design-forward aesthetics into the new property, reimagining the interiors to stylish effect.

Sitting pretty on Rue Washington – named after the illustrious first president of the United States, George Washington – the hotel is a quiet bolthole a stone’s throw away from the (then) bustling Champs-Élysées. From the incredible and attentive staff, to the sumptuous interiors and detailed design touches throughout – thanks to our illustrious Hempel and team whom I had the pleasure of meeting while she added her final touches to the interiors – and I can confirm it is the chicest hotel I’ve had the pleasure of staying in.

Tasked with creating a timeless yet modern hotel, bar and restaurant, offering a “family home” atmosphere within the busy milieu of Paris’s arrondissement, Monsieur George features 46 rooms – each floor has its own style – and three suites. The all-white Franklin rooms on the top floor of this Haussman-style building, open out onto sweeping views over Paris, from one end Montmartre, across to the otherside the Eiffel Tower.
During my stay, I had a beautiful corner room – one the Windsor rooms, named after the Duke of Windsor and Mrs Simpson – overlooking the intersection of Rue de Washington and Rue Chateaubriand. And whilst I was within view of passers-by, it offered a still and quiet escape from the bustle down below. On arrival, I was instantly blown away by the sumptuousness of it all. The lush grey taffeta and grey velvet curtains frame the room with matching silk hand-stitched cushions, velvet throws and bolsters – created by Hempel’s longtime friend Doreen. Gold églomisé mirrored furniture, is de rigeur and everything is made bespoke for every room. The gold brushed brass fixtures stood out against the black marble in the bathroom and the underfloor heated flooring further enhanced my luxurious surroundings. It was pure heaven.

We were given a tour of the top floor rooms which were inspired by lofty visions of floating white clouds. Named after Benjamin Franklin, the intimate attic rooms and suites are designed in gleaming white-on-white with pale grey motifs and cotton curtains from Kerala. The lighting is soft, romantic and very evocative of an artist’s studio. Each room also offers outdoor space with seated terraces and views over Paris and it’s most famous landmarks. Although not yet completed during my stay, the Marly Rooms and suite – a jade-green duplex with its own leafy private garden on the ground floor – will be a haven of luscious greens, inspired by the iconic French gardens of Marly, created for Louis XIV at the Palace of Versailles.

Hempel’s modern style and innovation shine through in each and every detail – quite literally – and stand for what one could call commercial couture. The 24-hour Galanga Restaurant and Bar is a mirrored masterpiece and an absolute feast for the eyes, you can see hints of inspiration from her most recent five-year project in Istanbul, and a palace on the Bosphorus. The bombastic decor features dark green velvet in églomisé mirrors and glass screens, with low lighting creating its very own optical illusion as you walk through the bar and restaurant. My favourite feature – the incredible dark green Morocan Walili herringbone tiles from Fez on the hand-laid floors.

Head Chef Thomas Danigo and Sous Chef Simon created a world-cuisine inspired menu that will constantly evolve in line with seasonal ingredients. Foodie highlights for me: the delicious fresh Cod cooked in coconut milk served with long-stem broccoli; a sensational beef tataki – paired with a glass of Châteauneuf–du–Pape, of course; and a divine YellowTail carpaccio. For dessert, I would highly recommend the deconstructed dark chocolate Ganache and the poached pear with ice cream. The Monsieur George Wine Cellar housed a collection of the most amazing clarets of Bordeaux – my go-to red for all seasons! – and other world-renowned wines with the friendly wait staff on hand to advise on the best wine pairing for each dish. The cellar also doubles-up as a private dining space for those looking for added privacy.

Neatly tucked in the basement is a perfectly-sized gym with modern Techno-gym equipment and a spa with a sauna with beautiful low arched ceilings and ancient bricks – a reminder of the intrinsic history of the district. It was here that I received the best massage of my life – this is no exaggeration! – by Anne at the Spa by Le Tigre. She is their master masseuse and yoga instructor who was fortunately on site for the staff training sessions. She gave me a massage she invented, fusing Ayurvedic and more traditional techniques together, to help clients feel more centred. She magically kneaded away any knots on my upper shoulder and it acted as a form of therapy, I didn’t realise I needed. Le Tigre brings other custom programmes to the hotel, including special yoga courses, fitness sessions, therapeutic massages and other aesthetic services. From your room, it’s a direct line via the lift to the Spa – parfait!
And the cherry on top – the incredibly helpful and knowledgeable staff on hand throughout my stay, who couldn’t have been more attentive.
As soon as the world resumes normal service, I look forward to meeting you again, Monsieur George.
Prices start from €300 per night for a classic double room. For more information, please visit www.monsieurgeorge.com
Insider’s Tip:
Fashionistas should book an appointment at Society Room – an exceptional tailoring house reimagined in a former 19th Century Swedish Embassy near the Madeleine. A contemporary version of a nineteenth-century Parisian salon, it offers a line of bespoke tailoring for women, as well as a ready-to-wear collection created by vivacious owner and designer, Yvan Benbanaste. Society Room is one of Paris’ most exclusive shopping destinations and the funnest. Guests can buy everything in the space, from the furniture and art, to the silverware and antique china. Visit with friends and drink champagne while you try on the bespoke garms. Once you’re done, Yvan might invite you upstairs to the Mallard blue dining room where he will prepare and serve a delicious home-cooked meal, paired with some of France’s finest champagne and wine. www.society-room.com

Outside the signs of spring are everywhere. Blossoms are gently filling their wiry branches, daffodils are popping up in parks across the country and we’ve had a splendid run of sunny days with plenty of clear skies. Ironically, as the season to awaken has arrived, we’re required to hunker down and embrace the life of homebodies that is best suited to the long winter nights we’re leaving behind.

While it might feel like you’re missing out on nature’s splendour as she reanimates, with warmer weather and days that stretch lingering just over the horizon, you can bring a bit of the outdoors into your home with some biophilic design.

A concept that has recently seen an increase in popularity among corporate offices and indoor leisure spaces, the rise of the millennial plant enthusiast knows all too well the benefits of welcoming some greenery into your home. Attributing benefits such as reduced stress, improved air quality in your home and improved health, along with increased well being and productivity, it’s hard to argue why you wouldn’t want to be surrounded by lush foliage.

How to choose your plants

Whether you’re looking to add a few green friends to your home or create your very own indoor jungle, the opportunities for creativity are endless. If you’re new to plant parenting, creating a biophilic space might seem overwhelming. Which plants should you get? How many? What size? When do I water them? Will they die? Fear not, we’re here to help.

There are only a few considerations you need to take into account when choosing plants for your home. The most important is light source, some plants need healthy doses of direct light while others prefer shaded corners. This is the biggest factor in choosing your plants, because cacti won’t feel at home hiding in the humid depths of a dark bathroom.

Other things to consider are the watering schedule and the space you have. Are you looking for a few windowsill buddies or do you want a plant that makes a statement in the room? Once you’ve determined your lighting and locations, you’re ready to begin choosing your newest family members.

Snake Plant

The snake plant, otherwise known as mother-in-law’s tongue, is one of the most fuss-free plants out there. While it enjoys bright indirect light it will tolerate shady corners of your house where most other plants will struggle. Part of the succulent family, it doesn’t require too much water and prefers to linger on the drier side. Even if you have a brown thumb, snake plants are hardy and don’t require a lot of maintenance.

Parlour Palm

Popularised in the Victorian era, Parlour Palms have remained a firm favourite among plant enthusiasts. A moderate sized plant that tolerates some shade and doesn’t require too much watering, these plants are easy to care for. They appreciate a healthy misting to keep humidity levels higher and are air purifying to help clear your space of common household toxins.

Golden Pothos

These fast growing, leggy plants look great from hanging pots or draped down shelves to add greenery to higher elevations in your rooms. Fast growing and only requiring moderate light conditions, Golden Pothos are easy to care for and look great when creating a green space in your home. Yet another fairly fuss-free plant, these are great for new plant parents.

Monstera Deliciosa

The Monstera Deliciosa, often known as the Swiss Cheese Plants, has become a symbol of the millennial home. The beautiful and iconic deep green glossy leaves are characterized by their splits and holes and can grow into monsters (hence the name) given the opportunity. As tropical plants, they prefer higher humidity levels and bright indirect light will yield more new foliage with splits and holes, although they will tolerate some shade. Considered a must-have for most plant lovers, their small climbing cousin, the Monstera Adansonii, also make for great additions to your plant collection.

Peace Lily

Delicate and adding a little femininity to your plant family, the peace lily is a wonderful plant that thrives in humid spaces like bathrooms and kitchens. All plants need light, so ensure your bathroom has a window, but these beauties will tolerate more shade than most. Their striking white flowers are a welcome contrast to all the green foliage and they even let you know when they need a drink as their leaves will droop. Top them up with some water and watch them perk up quickly!

Dressing your plants

The fun doesn’t end when you choose your favourite foliage, you get to dress those fronds too. Picking a pot or planter for your indoor house plants is serious business, with a variety of ceramic, stoneware and terracotta pots to choose from. You can even opt for baskets or rattan woven-style options depending on the aesthetic you’re going for. Just make sure your decorative pot is 1-3cm larger than your growing pot you purchase your plant in.

While it might seem that we’re missing out on some of the best parts of the year as the season of blooms begins, we can easily transform our homes into places of tranquility with plants. While we’re spending more time inside, they’ll improve our mental well being as well as help us to be more productive while we’re working from home.

If you’re looking for some inspiration to get you started, check out some of our favourite plant parents; House Plant Journal, Succulent City, Plant Kween, Hilton Carter and House Plant Club.