6 Designer Tips for Using Indoor Plants in Your Home Decor

Discover designer secrets for incorporating greenery into your home.

Updated March 3, 2025
Plants in living room

ID 115225415 © Katarzyna Bialasiewicz | Dreamstime.com Used under license Plants in living room

There's something so satisfying about being a plant parent. And the proven benefits of plants aside (they make great air scrubbers), they can also bring vibrancy, life, and color to interior design. These six designer secrets can help you turn your houseplants into a design feature you'll love. 

Group Plants Aesthetically

grouping of plants
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To use a plant by itself or in a grouping, consider the leaf shapes, color, and plant height and make sure they're visually interesting and go well together. This is especially important when grouping plants. Work with odd numbers for the best aesthetic look, such as three, five, or seven, and choose varying leaf shapes, heights, and colors. You can also plant more than one plant in a pot for a layered effect.

It's All About Light

plants in a sumbeam
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Determine the type of sunlight in each room. Understand if the plant(s) can thrive in low, medium, and bright light. Some are versatile and can survive in any light while others are light sensitive. Be sure the room's light is adequate for plant(s), or your decor will feature dead, damaged, or dying plants — which probably isn't the vibe you're going for.

Related: Brighten Your Darkest Corners With These 12 Low-Light Plants

Variegated Leaves Add Depth

prayer plant and pothos
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Plants with variegated leaves bring depth and interest to a room. Some plants have green and white leaves while others come in various colors.

Dieffenbachia Fit With All Types of Decor

dieffenbachia
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Tropical-looking cane-like stalks with variegated leaves make this treelike plant a great choice, especially for coastal, tropical, and Asian décor. Grow dieffenbachia in bright indirect light. This plant is available from small to large sizes. It's an excellent choice for empty spaces, such as corners, and spaces between large pieces of furniture, such as a sofa and bookcase. 

Need to Know

Dieffenbachia is a great design choice because of how it looks, but it's poisonous, so be careful with kids and pets.

Tall Plants Brighten Corners & Soften Edges

monstera
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Corners can get a little dim and dusty, but a tall plant will brighten them right up. If you have sharp-looking edges or short lengths of wall space where there's not really room for other furniture or decor, a tall plant can soften that area, too.

Choose Trailing Plants for Hanging Baskets & High Shelves

cascading plant
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We love the lush look of trailing plants like pothos hanging from the ceiling or cascading over a high shelf. They add a ton of visual interest and greenery above eye level. 

Plants Can Liven Up a Space

Plants add such liveliness and lushness to any space. From a minimalist approach with a few plants to having greenery all over the house, they're a great way to pull your decor together. 

6 Designer Tips for Using Indoor Plants in Your Home Decor