9 ways to decorate with plants

A devil's ivy, cactus, peace lily, snake plant, succulent and red Chinese evergreen arranged around a living room on shelves, a side table and a mantlepiece

2. Arrange plants in odd numbers

For a relaxed look, arrange plants in odd numbers. It keeps your eyes moving, which makes a space more visually appealing.

Arranging in even numbers creates a more formal look. You might want that in certain places - two identical plants either side of a front door looks smart - but in a living area it can feel a bit cold and unwelcoming.

A fiddle leaf fig and a sweetheart plant in a living room with a cycad, snake plant and peace lily grouped together in a tall rectanglur metal plant stand

3. Consider the light

Sounds simple, but make sure the plants you want to use will live happily in your room. You can use the filters on our site to find plants for bright, medium and low light.

Group plants that enjoy the same conditions. Your room will look its best when all the plants are thriving.

A series of plants including a devil's ivy and a peace lily positioned in well-lit spaces in a bedroom

A snake plant and satin pothos in white pots in a well-lit bedroom

4. Put plants in places you use the most

Plants make a space relaxing. It’s in our DNA to feel calmer when we see greenery, so put plants wherever you spend a lot of time.

A plant on your desk, on your bedside table, or next to the sofa will create a little moment of calm whenever you see them.

A birds of paradise plant next to a mirror with a string of hearts hanging from it and a succulent on a bedroom unit

5. Use the full height of your rooms

Not all plants need to live on the floor. You can use them to decorate bookshelves, bedside tables, windowsills. Anywhere, basically. You don’t even need any floor or surface space at all. Suspend hanging plants from the ceiling to draw the eye up.

Three large ivys linked across wall mounts in a dining room

A series of plants on a high bedroom shelf above a bed, including a devil's ivy, a monstera adansonii and a spider plant

6. Use plants to highlight focal points

If there’s something in your room that you love, plants can help bring attention to it. For example, cover a fireplace with plants and you turn it into something extraordinary.

Put plants next to a favourite artwork or photograph to accentuate it. Surround a favourite chair with tall plants to make it a cosy reading area.

Ferns covering the top of a fire place and a large fern and birds of paradise plant in plant stands next to the fireplace.

A monstera, peace lily and rubber plant placed on and around a black piano in a living room

7. Plants make ‘difficult’ spaces amazing

Plants are a brilliant way to bring life to those awkward areas of your home. A snake plant makes a gloomy hall cheerier. A group of tall plants can hide a messy corner. A trailing pothos can make the top of a cupboard suddenly beautiful.

Whatever your weird spot, as long as it gets a little light there’s a plant that will live there.

A philodendron in a grey pot on a wooden bench with cushions and a mirror in a hallway

Large cactus in a grey concrete pot on a side table next to stairs in a living room

9. Be playful

Enjoy yourself by being a bit over-the-top. A fiddle leaf fig tree in the bedroom looks fantastically dramatic. Even a tiny bathroom becomes a luxury oasis if you fill it with steam-lovingferns.

The brilliant thing about plants is that if you try something and you’re not sure, you can always move them.