The most important decorating tool you’re not using

PLANTS add colour, shape and life to a room and for that alone we love them. But they are also surprisingly versatile and — like artwork, furniture, and other decor — are a powerful tool in your design arsenal. Use them as a major feature of the room, a last minute styling detail, and so much more.

A shelf full of plants in the middle of the room divides the space and delineates different parts of the room. Use them instead of more opaque furniture.

One large well-developed tree adds height and drama to a room. One single beautiful plant can becomeb a wonderfuldf l f focall point for the living or any other room. It should be, however, a large plant. Place it in a corner to maximise your space and to avoid wasting floor space. Make sure it’s in a space with plenty of light, preferably near the window.

Clusters of plants especially workk well ll in room corners whereh nothing else fits and in otherwise awkward and wasted spaces.

Plants that spill out of their containers add a nice sense of movement to a room that you can’t get with other things.

Cut flowers are lovely but fleeting. In contrast, potted plants can live a long time as a focal point on your furniture. Use them on coffee or dining room tables as living, breathing decorations.

Plants are really like organic modern mobiles that fill dead air space with fantastic shapes and colours. And hey, they don’t have a footprint, which is great for small spaces.

Your bathroom could use some freshness as well. You can have an accent wall featuring natural stone or wood. This wall can also be decorated with fresh plants. Use round wall planters and place them at different heights on the wall. You can also integrate them into the wall structure and turn them into built-in features. You can fill them with ferns or other resilient plants.

Any room could use a lovely happy corner. To maximise your space, use corner shelves. Decorate them with fresh plants and also use them to store books and accessories. It will make the room feel more cosy and fresh. — apartmenttherapy.com