So how can you achieve that cool, indoor jungle vibe without making the space feel messy? As with all design choices, there are a few things to keep in mind in order to create the ideal aesthetic. Even those who embrace cluttercore will tell you that there is a method to the madness.
I asked two stylists and plant experts what their top tips for keeping their houseplants from looking cluttered are, and here’s what they had to say.
Naturally, the placement of your houseplants plays a big role in keeping your collection looking curated, not cluttered. Styling your plants with dimension and height in mind helps with building a fuller, not overwhelming, jungle look. “Placing plants at various angles and heights helps to break up the group and create depth,” says Donovan from @hothouse.jungle.
Try utilizing a number of different surfaces for your plants — such as the floor, plant stands, and side tables — which will naturally add some variation in height. Also don’t forget about plant hangers! Hanging a few plants from the ceiling will “lend style without looking like too much,” says Eryn from @leaves.and.bones. Overall, you want your plants to blend in seamlessly with the larger composition of your space.
At the same time, placement has a practical component, too. As much as we all love that our plants play a role in our home decor, it’s important to remember that they are live creatures with needs to take into account. For example, is your plant going to get enough light in the spot you’ve chosen for it? Enough humidity? Is it in a location that is easy for you reach in order to water regularly? These are all important things to keep in mind as you are planning out the placement of your plant, says Eryn.
Add visual interest by grouping different types of plants together.
Another trick for styling a large plant collection is to group different types of plants together. “Building a plant collection with varying colors, textures, sizes, and silhouettes creates depth and visual interest,” says Donovan. Try pairing some larger floor plants with smaller upright plants and a couple of hanging or trailing plants for a stylish plant corner with plenty of variety.
Make your planters a part of your decor.
Planters are an easy way to incorporate your style into your houseplant collection while also creating cohesiveness in your space. Both Eryn and Donovan agree that picking the right planters is an important part of styling their houseplants. “I like to choose my pots like I am choosing a piece to decorate with,” says Eryn.
Choosing a general style or color scheme for your planters will help keep everything cohesive, and “…having different colored or textured planters also helps with creating visual movement to break up a large plant collection,” says Donovan.
Incorporate decorative elements into your plant displays.
Yes, you have a lot of plants, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t break up your plant displays with some of your other home decor. To keep her collection from looking too cluttered, Eryn says she likes to “decorate shelves with some plants, and then add some artwork and ceramics.” When you’re done, it’ll look very intentional — and super cool.