The Best Houseplants For 5 Different Kinds Of Home

1. Farmhouse Style

A rustic farmhouse practically begs, “build me a greenhouse,” but you don’t have to live off the land to enjoy the beautifying properties of houseplants. Your selections will look equally at home decorating your sunroom or enclosed patio space. If you created inserts to keep out the worst of winter’s chill, you’d enjoy a similar effect without building a separate structure.

Such sunny locations call for tropical plant varieties. Those who live in humid regions like the northeast might opt for Boston ferns that thrive in damp soils. Those who live in more arid areas might find their groove with succulents.

Given the rustic look of your home, window boxes make a natural addition to your home’s exterior. You can water these plants from indoors, making them convenient when you don’t want to venture far afield during inclement weather.

Adding a few mosquito-repelling incense sticks will help keep the little biters from entering through your screens and nipping you while you sleep.

2. Contemporary

Contemporary homes make use of strong, visible lines and simple and uncluttered furnishings. Interior designers often use neutral tones and smooth textures, such as wood and tile floorings and metal accents. They use bold, bright colors to create emphasis.

In this kind of home, houseplants should feature dramatic and showy foliage arranged in a simple pot or container. For example, if you are one of those rare gardeners who have success with orchids, here’s your opportunity to show off your expertise.

Other blooms you might want to consider are large and colorful trees and shrubs in the bromeliad family. These tropical plants grow best in 40% to 60% humidity, making them perfect for many locations. However, those in the desert southwest might have better luck with succulents or fast-growing blooms like datura.

3. Tuscan

If you travel to many coastal regions, particularly in the west, you’ll see Tuscan-style homes dominating the landscape. This design style calls to mind the peaceful sweeping villas of the Mediterranean and deserves equally elegant yet rustic houseplant adornment.

Since this style typically features sizable verandas, make the most of your outdoor living space with tons of hanging plants such as spider plants and devil’s ivy. Ficus trees add a touch of elegance to nearly any corner. You can even decorate an interior arch with a creeping variety such as morning glory, or even a grapevine if you feel creative.

4. Colonial

This classic interior design style deserves a refined set of houseplants to highlight its distinctive air. Here’s where you’ll find columns of Italian cypress or similar tall, column-shaped trees lining the driveways and entryways.

Inside, you’ll want to go with classics such as hostas, pothos, and hanging ferns. Instead of lining an entire window with pots the way you might in a Tuscan-style home, you could opt for a single trailing pothos in one corner. You might also line your kitchen window with an herb garden or build it out bay-style into a miniature greenhouse.

5. Ranch

This flexible interior design style gives you the ultimate power of creativity over which plants you select. Anything goes, as long as it fits into your overall theme!

Here, you might decide to match your plant hues with your overall color scheme. For example, a lavender bedroom enjoys a clean-air boost when adding a few geraniums or bleeding hearts. Your child’s bedroom, with its bright primary colors, might benefit from a Christmas cactus featuring deep-green leaves and scarlet blossoms.

You can also choose your houseplants based on your level of gardening expertise. Beginners might do well with cacti and succulents that require minimal water or care. More advanced folks can graduate to things like moth orchids and bird’s nest ferns.

About The Author:

Oscar Collins is the managing editor at Modded, where he writes about cars, fitness, the outdoors and more. Check out @TModded for regular updates!