9 fresh ideas for styling houseplants for a thriving indoor garden – including statement trees

Transform a dresser into a leafy showcase, grouping plants in smart terracotta pots (try Rowen & Wren).

BUY NOW Terracotta pots

For extra oomph, display in a unit painted with floral flourishes (shown is The Curiosity Cupboard with hand-decorated Rambling Wild Roses pattern by Devol), or fake it by wallpapering the back panel in a trailing leaf print.

Invest in one big tree or plant and allow it to anchor the room.

Olive or fig trees, fiddle-leaf figs and kentia palms thrive in bright, well-lit rooms with space to stretch. Position near south- or west-facing windows, avoiding draughts – just don’t overwater as soggy roots spell trouble.

Few rooms suit greenery as well as the bathroom, where warmth and steam allow moisture-loving plants to flourish.

Ferns, calatheas, peace lilies and trailing devil’s ivy relish humidity and soften utilitarian details such as tiles and sanitaryware.

Grapevines rambling through conservatories create a romantic, wreathed effect.

In these bright spaces, they’ll flourish alongside fragrant potted citrus or star jasmine in these bright spaces, adding a sense of cultivated abundance.

We recommend the rod and spur grape training system (see RHS for a method).

Place trailing plants along beams or high window frames and allow them to tumble and wrap around in soft loops overhead.

Devil’s ivy, string of hearts or heartleaf philodendron thrive in glazed, light-filled spaces like this, softening architecture with gentle movement while keeping floors clear. Shop at Patch Plants.

Vary plant size as well as placement for sculptural interest.

Combine tall snake plants with mid-height rubber plants and low-growing pilea to build a balanced composition that feels considered rather than accidental.

Make groupings of uneven numbers, taller plants standing on the floor with smaller pots layered on a window sill or table.

Macramé hangers (see Piglet & Chestnut at the Country Living Marketplace) and woven hanging pots draw the eye upward, adding texture while freeing up surface space.

Spider plants, string of pearls and trailing philodendron will spill elegantly overhead, softening corners and stairwells without the clutter.

Country Living’s visual content editor Bryan Taylor has 120 houseplants in his Brighton maisonette. Here are his hard-won tips for helping them flourish.

Watering

Overwatering can be a death sentence for plants. Before you lift the watering can, stick your finger in the top 5cm of soil to check it’s dry. Water over the sink (soggy bottoms are as bad for plants as they are for cakes) and let the water drain out as much as possible. I actually don’t water mine when I go away – I strongly believe that plants should fit into your lifestyle, not take it over.

Feeding

Plants generally only need feeding during growing season: March to September. I use Liquid Gold Leaf Indoor every few weeks. I don’t give them anything in winter.

Lighting

Shade-loving houseplants are a bit of a myth, in my view. All plants need some light, albeit some more than others. Aspidistra elatior is well known for thriving in dark areas, but when I moved mine closer to the window, it burst into life. That said, I find my ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) can still do well in a dimly lit corner.