Great news for gardeners! The Illinois governor has declared greenhouses, garden centers and nurseries essential businesses. They’re open and running. But for those of you who don’t have a garden or balcony, this is an opportunity to invite Nature INTO your home for a long stay, as well. She is a soothing guest to have around, and her color is healing and easy to use…
I slipped this in, because who wouldn’t love to quarantine here!
Some naturalists say that all greens complement each other.
I tend to agree, because plants do offer such a variety that we never tire of looking up and seeing the mix.
The lowly houseplant has become an “essential worker” in soothing the quarantined mind and brightening a gray day!
Plants with a sunny disposition…
Plants as brighteners in an all white bathroom.
Plants as the focal point in a kitchen.
I have often incorporated a houseplant or two into my clients’ room designs, and they lament that they will kill anything that grows. But if you choose the plants wisely, they usually thrive, actually, on benign neglect. I believe you have to have harmony between home and nature, even in a high rise.
High rise client agrees to adopt large fiddle leaf fig.
I can offer a few suggestions of what types of plants are easiest to maintain — I’m seeing living plant offers online from Walmart, Target, Etsy and many more surprising sources, so you don’t really have to go to that garden center to acquire some.
A mix of succulents, philodendrons and low-light palms create a great southwestern look. Choose your pots wisely!
Philodendrons are a huge and varied plant family, and probably the most comfortable in the house.
Low-light palms are beautiful and forgiving.
Aforementioned Fiddle Leaf Fig – in all heights.
I bring my succulents in from the balcony, winter them, and put them back out in May.
If you’re feeling adventurous, try a bonsai. But they do require more TLC…Better read up on them first.
You can usually find orchids at the grocery store now. They will bloom for at least a month.
If you have incorporated a mix of plants into your decor and you still feel the need for more green, there are some wonderful easy and
inexpensive ways to introduce more.
Door in Farrow and Ball Yeabridge Green.
Very similar to the color of my kitchen walls in Benjamin Moore Hibiscus.
Try a wall decal from one of the many Etsy shops.
Murals Your Way also offers amazing wall size photos of all types and are applied like a wallcovering. (muralsyourway.com)
Wouldn’t you like to wake up to this?
Wallcoverings themselves are such an effective enhancement to small rooms, bed walls and powder rooms.
Check out the Phillip Jeffries website for some of the most beautiful green and leafy offerings. (phillipjeffries.com)
And if you really want to indulge yourself, ogle the Antoniolupi Reflex, the company’s first transparent bathtub in Green Bottle! (antoniolupi.it)
Actually, you have the time now to introduce green tones into your entire house and drink in the soothing, refreshing and healing quality of green.
Please send photos!
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