How To Choose The Right Houseplants For Your Living Space

We firmly believe in the incredible power of plants to elevate our moods, soothe our souls, and even purify the air we breathe. That's why incorporating them into your living space is the ultimate solution for spicing up your home decor! But before you jump headfirst into the world of houseplants, it's crucial to consider a few factors to ensure you choose the right ones for you and your unique space.

In this article, we'll guide you through the process of selecting the perfect plants for your pad. We'll help you assess your living environment, evaluate your personal style, and factor in your lifestyle, so you can confidently create your very own indoor oasis... 

Step 1:

Assess Your Living Space

Before you even think about choosing a plant, you need to take a good look at the environment you plan to keep it in. What kind of light does the room get? Is it hot and humid or dry and arid? Do you have pets that might try to eat or knock over your plants? These are all important factors to consider when choosing a houseplant.

Consider the light in your living space. Some plants need bright, indirect light, while others can tolerate low light conditions. If you don't have a lot of natural light in your living space, you'll need to choose plants that can tolerate low light conditions. If you have a room with lots of natural light, you'll want to choose a plant that thrives in bright, indirect light, like a spider plant or a snake plant. If you have a room with lower light levels, you'll want to choose a plant that can tolerate shade.

SHOP SHADE TOLERANT HOUSEPLANTS

Consider the humidity in your living space. If you've got hot and humid conditions, you'll want to choose plants that can handle those conditions, like a fern or a rubber plant. If your living space is dry and arid, you'll want to choose plants that can tolerate those conditions, like a cactus or a succulent. If humidity is particularly high, explore our kitchen and bathroom houseplant collection which will not only thrive in these conditions but can help to regulate humidity, making rooms feel more comfortable.

SHOP KITCHEN & BATHROOM HOUSEPLANTS

Consider who shares your living space. If you have pets or children, you'll want to choose plants that are non-toxic and won't cause any issues if handled (no spiny cacti thank you!). For the sake of the plant as well, it's probably a good idea to choose something reasonably resilient to hold up to being handled, poked, prodded and potentially chewed.

SHOP PET (AND CHILD) SAFE HOUSEPLANTS

Step 2:

Consider the size of your living space

If you have limited space, you'll probably want to choose plants that are small in size. There are many beautiful small plants available, like peperomia and small succulents. If you have a larger living space, you'll probably want to choose larger plants, like palm trees or fiddle-leaf figs.

Small space = small plants and large space = large plants is a huge oversimplification though. A single floor standing specimen in a smaller space can counterintuitively make a space feel bigger and multiple smaller plants in a bigger space can help it to feel more full of life and less sterile. Measure up and check if the kind of look you want to achieve in the space is achievable.

Remember that plants will grow and often look very different at different stages of maturity. If for example, you buy a small pothos for a small shelf space today, it's very possible that in a couple of years, it'll be trailing to the floor. Do bare it in mind that plants won't stay the same size and shape forever!

Step 3: 

Consider your personal style.

Do you prefer modern or traditional plants? Do you want a lush, tropical look? Or do you prefer a more minimalist look? There are many different styles of houseplants available, so you can find one that fits your aesthetic.

This is also a really good time to start thinking about pots too. If you explore our "SHOP THE LOOK" at the bottom of each product page, you can begin to get a feel for the pots and plants that might work well in your space.

Step 4:

Consider your lifestyle

Some plants are more high-maintenance than others. If you don't have a lot of time to care for plants, you'll need to choose plants that are low-maintenance, like snake plants or succulents. If you have more time to care for plants, you can choose more high-maintenance plants.  If you're unsure how much time you'll have to devote to plant care, it's best to choose low-maintenance plants.

SHOP EASY CARE & HARD TO KILL HOUSEPLANTS

Once you've considered these factors, you'll be able to narrow down your choices and choose the right houseplants for your living space.

Here are some additional tips:

• Do your research. Before you buy any houseplants, be sure to do your research to find out what kind of care they need. Here at Hortology all of the information needed is at the bottom of the product page, so read out Horty Hints so you know what to expect.
• Choose plants that you like. It's important to choose plants that you like, as you'll be living with them for a while. If you really love a finickity plant you'll go out of your way to look after it, not too keen and you might be tempted to turn a blind eye to signs of distress!
• Don't be afraid to experiment. There are so many different plants to choose from, so don't be afraid to experiment until you find the perfect ones for your living space.
• Enjoy your plants! Houseplants can be a great way to add a touch of life and colour to your living space. Be sure to enjoy them!