8 fun ways to decorate with houseplants | Homes and Antiques

1

Create a feature wall anywhere in your home by fill a ladder, shelving unit or rustic bench with an abundance of greenery.

House plants in rustic terracotta pots on an antique green bench. — Faux fora large hanging succulent £148, Design Vintage; botanical wall charts from €17.95 each, HK Living (available at Woo Design). Antique Hungarian bench £280, Rag & Bone. On bench: terracotta pots from £5-£30, Focus on the Past; potted faux Kalanchoe plant £35, Rose & Grey; succulents from £7, all Old Market Plants; brass mist sprayer £12.99, Haws; cactus with red flower, stylist’s own; large faux floral cactus £55, Rose & Grey; pruning scissors £16, Wood & Meadow; Spiraled cereus cactus £16, and Hoya carnosa £20, both Old Market Plants. On floor: Euphorbia ingens £80, Old Market Plants. Large green jug, location’s own, find similar at Malvern Flea & Collectors Fair. Large variegated Cheeseplant £149, Wild Leaf. Wooden stool £25, Shrewsbury Flea. Indoor metal watering can £39.99, Haws. Flådis seagrass baskets £10 each, Ikea. Rug, location’s own, find similar at Focus on the Past.

2

Give your vintage planters new life – group them by texture, colour or shape. Allow plenty of space to let them take centre stage in your room’s scheme. Here, we have filled West German pots with a mix of trailing foliage and architectural plants that add height.

A range of house plants on wicker side tables in front of a large macrame wall hanging. — Yellow macramé plant hanger £20, Northern Tangles via Etsy. Mistletoe cactus in hanger £16, Old Market Plants. Nude Aztec wall hanging £95, HK Living (available at Graham & Green). Set of three vintage nesting tables £125, Atelier Curiosa via Etsy. Pots and plants (left to right): Alderton pot in light green £12, Garden Trading; Abigail Ahern Fijian palm £32, Rose & Grey; West German vintage planter £45, Plant.Furniture; succulent, stylist’s own; West German vintage planter by Fohr £50, Plant.Furniture; Hoya carnosa variegata £14, Old Market Plants; West German vintage planter by Fohr £30, Plant.Furniture; Crassula ‘Hottentot’ £18.50, Old Market Plants; West German vintage planter by Fohr £30, Plant.Furniture; Zamioculcas £25, Old Market Plants; West German vintage planter made by Scheurich £45, Plant.Furniture; Elkhorn fern £29, Wild Leaf

3

Use the rich greens of the plants, as well as a few well-chosen accents such as our glass bottle and horse sculpture, to enliven the warm, earthy tones of the pots.

A selection of succulents, cacti, crystals and curios on an antique wood tray. — Trunk, location’s own, find similar at Focus on the Past. Lace tablecloth, location’s own, find similar at Malvern Flea & Collectors Fair. Late 19th-century toleware tray, £80, Rag & Bone. On tray (clockwise from far left): ink bottle £5, The Giant Shepton Flea Market; Wells Bubble vase £24, Garden Trading; Concetta Zicari pot (containing Spiraled cactus) £43.75, Old Market Plants; cactus, as before; cactus in terracotta pot, stylist’s own; wooden bottle £5, Focus on the Past; Tiansi horse sculpture £166, Nook Deco; crystal, location’s own, find similar at Crystals; Concetta Zicari pot (containing Echeveria) £17, Old Market Plants; West German vintage planter £30, Plant.Furniture; Sansevieria ‘Black Use the rich greens of the plants, as well as a few well-chosen accents such as our glass bottle and horse sculpture, to enliven the warm, earthy tones of the pots. Dragon’ £9, Old Market Plants. Pink stoneware pot £19.99, H&M. Faux green lyca palm £35, Rockett St George. Rug, location’s own, find similar at Focus on the Past.

4

Hanging baskets aren’t just for outdoors – use them inside too in rooms with lower ceilings to add interest and colour. Dot pots around shelves, on side tables, window sills and mantelpieces to create a glorious green scene in your home.

An antique side table laden with leafy plants alongside a contemporary cream sofa. — Vintage sofa, location’s own, find similar at Vinterior. Cushions, location’s own. Rug £250, Focus on the Past. Plant hanger, find similar at Trouva. Heartleaf Philodendron £18, Wild Leaf. Mirror, location’s own, find similar at Looking Glass of Bath. Early 20th-century ebonised gypsy table £95, Rag & Bone. On table: green pot £65, Rachel’s & Michael’s Antiques; Bird’s nest fern £30, Wild Leaf; cactus, location’s own; Concetta Zicari pot and Echeveria £17, Old Market Plants. Large Aloe vera (on floor) £20, Old Market Plants. Sisal woven baskets from £16 each, The Future Kept. Binoculars, location’s own. From top shelf (left to right): pink jug £27, Reason Interiors; cactus with red top, stylist’s own; Spiraled cereus cactus £16, Old Market Plants; books, location’s own; bird sculpture £15, Focus on the Past; small terracotta pot and saucer £3.50, No.56; brown ink bottle £5, Malvern Flea & Collectors Fair; terracotta dipped vase £10, Dunelm; cacti from £15, Old Market Plants; Aloe vera, stylist’s own; retro Jersey Pottery planter £18, eBay; cacti, all location’s own.

5

Reference your outdoor space by positioning plants near French doors or large windows. Your plants will benefit from the good dose of sunlight and this will also give that gentle sense of fow between indoors and out.

A display of plants, including a fiddle leaf fig, a trailing plant and a cacti, in front of sliding patio doors. — Fiddle-leaf fig £145, Wild Leaf. Baskets, stylist’s own, find similar at Trouva. Retro plant stand £20, Rose & Grey. Zamioculcas £25, Old Market Plants. Black pot £20, Focus on the Past. Crassula ‘Tom Thumb’ £15, Old Market Plants; mahogany table £125, Indira Rose. On table: Minton chamber pot £65, Rachel’s & Michael’s Antiques; ivy £5, Old Market Plants; brass planter £40, Focus on the Past; Hoya carnosa £20, Old Market Plants; Bretby green pot £65, Rachel’s & Michael’s Antiques; Prayer plant £8, Wild Leaf. Euphorbia ingens (in terracotta pot) £80, Old Market Plants. Retro plant stand £25, Rose & Grey. Aloe vera £20, Old Market Plants. Black planter £65, Wild Leaf. Elephant ear plant £120 and Bird’s nest fern £30, both Wild Leaf. Yellow pot £65, Rachel’s & Michael’s Antiques. Rug, location’s own, find similar at Wayfair.

6

Carry the green theme through to the kitchen with botanical wall art, vintage crates as planters and simple bell-jar terraria.

A wooden crate overflowing with plants on a white kitchen worktop. — Pink glazed pot £6, No.56. Echeveria £7, Old Market Plants. Tea towel, location’s own. Salter weighing scales £18, Rachel’s and Michael’s Antiques. Pink glazed pot £6, No.56. Trailing ivy £5, Old Market Plants. Glass cloche, location’s own, find similar at Rockett St George. Small Echeveria under cloche, stylist’s own, find similar at Old Market Plants. Wooden crate £28, Focus on the Past. Plants in crate (left to right): Agave £10 and Tradescantia £15, both Old Market Plants; faux potted Aloe vera £16, Rockett St George. Green pot £65, Rachel’s and Michael’s Antiques. Prayer plant (in green pot) £15, Old Market Plants. Black pestle and mortar, location’s own, find similar at John Lewis. Small Leaves wall chart £16.50, Rose & Grey.

7

A bathroom is the ideal spot for bringing greenery into your home. Be inventive with your placement of pots and plants, choosing a selection of sleek terraria and ornamental vessels for an eclectic feel.

A vintage stepladder used to display small succulents and beauty products in a bathroom. — Faux String of Pearls plant £65, Design Vintage. Lloyd Loom ottoman, location’s own, find similar at Shepton Mallet Antiques, Vintage & Collectors Fair. Vintage stepladder £79, Focus on the Past. On stepladder (from top step): hand towel £3.99, H&M; sponge, stylist’s own; jardinière £30, Focus on the Past; Hoya carnosa variegata in jardinière £14, Old Market Plants; succulent in pot, stylist’s own; hand wash £19, Plum & Ashby; black pot £20, Focus on the Past; Crassula ‘Tom Thumb’ £15, Old Market Plants; pink glazed pot £6, No.56; purple Echeveria £7, Old Market Plants; white towel, stylist’s own; round body brush £9, The Body Shop; terraria £30 each, Focus on the Past; Haworthia £5, Old Market Plants; water mister in chalk £10, Garden Trading. Terracotta pot £28, Focus on the Past. Aechmea £18, Old Market Plants. Jacquard-weave bath mat £17.99 and tasselled bath towel £12.99, both H&M.

8

Invest in a bath rack as an extra display area for small succulents, an aromatic candle and decorative soaps.

An overhead shot of a full bathtub surrounded by plants. — Lloyd Loom chair, location’s own, find similar at Shepton Mallet Antiques, Vintage & Collectors Fair. Bath mat £17.99 and bath towel £8.99, both H&M. Sisal woven basket £35, The Future Kept. Aechmea £18, Old Market Plants. Bird’s nest fern £30; black pot £65; Elephant ear plant £120, all Wild Leaf. Brass mist sprayer £12.99, Haws. Bath rack in antique brushed brass finish £734.40, Drummonds. On bath rack: SylvaC bunny £34, Focus on the Past; soap £3.99, HomeSense; green glazed pot £35, Rachel’s & Michael’s Antiques; Haworthia £5, Old Market Plants; pink candle £5.99, HomeSense; terracotta pot £3.50, No.56; Crassula ‘Gollum’ £5, Old Market Plants.

All prices and product names correct at time of publication.