How to Arrange Plants in a Living Room to Bring the Space to Life (2024)

Room Design

Living Rooms

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Gemma Johnstone

Gemma Johnstone

Gemma Johnstone is a gardening expert who has written 120-plus articles for The Spruce covering how to care for a large variety of plants from all over the world. She's traveled all over Europe, living now in Italy.

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Updated on 02/22/23

How to Arrange Plants in a Living Room to Bring the Space to Life (2)

What's a well-designed living room without some strategically placed plants as part of the mix? Curating a collection of lounge plants can boost your mood and create a relaxing vibe.

Even if your collection doesn't amount to aplant roomjungle with hundreds of species, it pays to arrange the ones you have so they fit with the aesthetic and functionality of your living room. You want the space to look intentional and cohesive rather than cluttered and discordant.

Check out these practical tips for how to arrange plants in a living room to bring the space to life.

Keep in Clusters ("the Rule of Three")

How to Arrange Plants in a Living Room to Bring the Space to Life (3)

Ask any serious indoor plant enthusiast what their number one tip is for arranging multiple plants in a space, and they'll likely tell you about "the rule of three." Individual plants tend to look a tad sparse, and those grouped in even numbers can look too formal and staged. Grouping houseplants in threes or other odd numbers makes a strong, natural-looking statement and adds a sense of harmony.

Select plants of differing heights for a stronger impact and look for a uniting element to promote a natural vibe. And steer clear of grouping plants with the same textures, shapes, and colors; otherwise, they'll blend into one another.

Grouping plants with similar care requirements also makes sense, especially if they love humidity. Moisture levels rise when plants sit closely together, so your lush mini jungle stands a better chance of thriving.

Experiment With Texture, Size, and Shape

How to Arrange Plants in a Living Room to Bring the Space to Life (4)

It's easy to overlook the importance of textures in interior design, and plants are a perfect way to stop a room from becoming lackluster and one-dimensional. Different foliage can add depth, interest, and balance to a living room.

You might want to try plants with simple foliage in boho-style living rooms where there's already lots of texture through layered rugs, blankets, and natural material — they're great for balancing things out. In living rooms with minimalist decor, elaborate plants can be a strong focal point. Cacti, ferns, and monsteras are fantastic multidimensional examples.

Fine, feathery foliage (like that of theasparagus fern) doesn't have the same visual weight as plant leaves that are solid and thick, so up the number in your collection for greater impact.

And, again, don't forget the rule of three putting together an odd number of plants with contrasting textures creates a more dynamic display.

Consider Color

How to Arrange Plants in a Living Room to Bring the Space to Life (5)

Stay away from going all matchy-matchy with the plants and pots spread across your living room. Selecting varying shades adds interest and a natural vibe.

There are lots of striking hues of green foliage to choose from, and color doesn't just have to come from seasonal blooms. For example, you can go for red-leaved caladiums, purple-leaved love plants, or a species with interesting variegation. Shades that contrast with the main color of the living room walls work well.

If you're applying the rule of three, select different hues for each of the plants you group together.

Create Leading Lines

How to Arrange Plants in a Living Room to Bring the Space to Life (6)

Think about the growth habits of the plants you choose and where they naturally lead the eye in your living room. Consider adding trailing or vining plants in hanging baskets or cascading down from shelves to lift the eye. It's the perfect trick for making a small living room look bigger.

Tall plants with erect foliage can lead the eye upwards. Position them under your favorite piece of wall art or design feature to draw attention to it. Just make sure there's a decent gap between the two, so they aren't competing aesthetically.

Fill the Floor

How to Arrange Plants in a Living Room to Bring the Space to Life (7)

You don't just have to house your plants on living room coffee tables, mantelpiece shelves, or in hanging baskets. Fill the floor with tall plants or smaller ones on plant stands.

A tall fiddle leaf fig or Monstera deliciosa is perfect for occupying the dead space in an awkward corner next to your sofa or a window. They're also great natural room dividers.

Position the plants so they aren't covering furniture or other decorative accents.

Select Species that Suit the Space

Think about how much light each part of the living room is getting and what direction the windows are facing before selecting the plants to populate those spaces.

For example, a small air-conditioned living room with floor-to-ceiling windows isn't going to be the best home for a shade and moisture-loving Boston fern. If you've got a low-light corner of your lounge, pop the plant there alongside a couple of other plants (the rule of three again) with similar light requirements.

15 Plant Room Ideas for a Lush, Leafy Oasis

How to Arrange Plants in a Living Room to Bring the Space to Life (2024)

FAQs

How to Arrange Plants in a Living Room to Bring the Space to Life? ›

Be Purposeful in Plant Grouping

These groups can be arranged by selecting various different heights and sizes to add depth, or by choosing three of the same plant positioned together to create a symmetric balance. For a standout look, you can also arrange plant trios around the room based on color and texture.

How should I arrange my living room with plants? ›

Be Purposeful in Plant Grouping

These groups can be arranged by selecting various different heights and sizes to add depth, or by choosing three of the same plant positioned together to create a symmetric balance. For a standout look, you can also arrange plant trios around the room based on color and texture.

How many plants should be in a living room? ›

According to the research done, one plant will bring minimal mental health in a four by five foot room. Five plants will increase mental wellbeing by 60%, while ten plants will maximise the health and wellbeing advantages.

How do you display houseplants in a living room? ›

One of the best/easiest ways to add more plants into your home is simply by hanging them like from the ceiling or in front of a window. What I also love about this idea is the stunning variety of ways in which you can make this look your own.

Where to place plants in a living room according to feng shui? ›

'When it comes to living rooms, there are three locations where the plants can be placed,' says Michael. 'South for fame and recognition; southeast for money and windfall luck; and east for health and luck. ' Best Feng Shui plants for a living room: Jade plant, ficus, philodendrons, peace plant, palm orchids.

What is the best way to organize house plants? ›

Here are our best tips to pep up your indoor garden.
  1. Arrange your plants on various levels. ...
  2. Spotlight on mini or oversized plants. ...
  3. Create a green wall indoors. ...
  4. Cascade design. ...
  5. Containers have their importance too! ...
  6. Imagine each plant as a decorating item. ...
  7. Match materials and patterns. ...
  8. Forget about alignment, focus on grouping!

What indoor plants look good together? ›

Indoor Plants That Are Meant to Be Together
  • Peace Lily & Pothos. Peace Lily grows up while Pothos trails down – you can't say opposites don't attract! ...
  • Snake Plant & ZZ Plant. ...
  • Jade Plant & Thimble Cactus. ...
  • Your Planting Pal: The Miraculous Green Guide.

Where to hang plants in your living room? ›

In general, find a spot you can easily get to that offers enough sunlight, gives your plant the best chances to stay alive and be healthy. If you place them high up, or in a more hidden spot, you are more likely to forget about them. Remember, that the heat goes up and a high hanging plant will need more water.

What happens if you have too many plants in your room? ›

It is not dangerous to sleep in the same room with green plants. The things that you may have heard about plants that “suck up oxygen” or “put out carbon dioxide” are nonsense, pure and simple.

How do you display plants without it looking cluttered? ›

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.

How do you group indoor plants together? ›

Arrange in Odd Numbers

Some people are die-hards about organizing items in trios, but any odd number will work for houseplants. If you're after that extremely full and lush plant Instagram look, start by bunching your plants in threes, and then bump up to other odd numbers.

How do you position indoor plants? ›

Most houseplants like to be by windows. Some thrive in sunny conditions, whilst others need more shade than direct sunlight. Most houseplants are happy with a window that is either west, or east facing.

How to arrange potted plants? ›

Keep the pots fairly close together to make the display look fuller and more lush. Plant taller, denser shrubs or small statement trees in big pots as a focal point and use those in front to add pops of complementary colour or texture.

How to decorate a room with indoor plants? ›

Place your plants on bookshelves, windowsills or on tables around your living room. You can also use bigger floor plants in empty corners of the room. Choose plants for their light needs, mix sizes for visual interest, and use unique pots & hangers to match your living room design.

Where not to place plants? ›

In a Spot With Too Much Direct Sunlight

Sunlight is good for plants. However, too much of a good thing can be bad. Many plants do best in shade or partial shade, so putting them in a window sill where they're exposed to direct sunlight for hours isn't a good idea.

What direction should indoor plants face? ›

An east- or west-facing window provides enough light for most indoor plants. Keep those that need brighter light within two feet of the window. Move them to a south-facing window in winter if needed.

Where to place a rubber plant in Feng Shui? ›

The Rubber Plant is a popular choice for indoor decor due to its low maintenance requirements and striking appearance. While it can be placed in various directions according to Feng Shui beliefs, Vastu suggests that the ideal location for this plant is in the southwest direction of your house.

How do you arrange plants in the living room feng shui? ›

Feng Shui: How to Arrange Plants in the Living Room

Plants here should invigorate the space without overwhelming it. To soften sharp angles, you can place tall plants like dracaena or rubber plants in corners. Hanging plants like ivy can draw the eye upward, promoting a sense of openness and growth.

How many plants should I have in my house? ›

Wolverton says that, absent expensive testing, it's impossible to guess how many plants might be needed to clean a room of its contaminants. But he usually recommends at least two “good sized” plants per 100 square feet of interior space.

How to keep indoor plants in a living room? ›

You don't just have to house your plants on living room coffee tables, mantelpiece shelves, or in hanging baskets. Fill the floor with tall plants or smaller ones on plant stands. A tall fiddle leaf fig or Monstera deliciosa is perfect for occupying the dead space in an awkward corner next to your sofa or a window.

Where should I put my plants in my room? ›

We all know that plants need light to stay alive, and the best source for that is natural light. So ideally, the best spot to put your indoor plants would be beside a window. Most plants would need bright but indirect light, but edible plants love full sunlight!

Where should indoor plants be placed? ›

Most houseplants need bright, but indirect light, like the kind found in an east-facing window. South and west windows work well, too, as long as the intense rays of the sun don't hit a plant's leaves directly, especially in the summer.

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