Botanical Inspired Shelf Styling Ideas for Spring
Here at the Den we are big fans of bringing the outdoors in and love to incorporate plants in and around our own home. Botanical inspired homeware and the use of greenery has been at the forefront of interior trends for several years now, especially as we look for a more sustainable way of living, with green walls and biophilia (defined as surrounding yourself with nature and natural materials in order to feel a connection with the outside world) tipped to be two of the biggest trends for 2020.
But whether you follow trends or not, we would always recommend adding a few plants here and there. So with this in mind, we thought we would share some shelf styling ideas and tips with you on how to bring a touch of greenery into your home, in a simple yet stylish way...
Our Tips:
- Use a variety of plants to make it more interesting and add focal points. We've used a select range of different styles of plants, including trailing ceropegia woodii and senecio rowleyanus (more commonly known as string-of-pearls) and more structured plants like the syngonium podophyllum (also known as the goosefoot plant) peperomia ferreyrae and smaller succulents. We love how the string-of-pearls (bottom right) drapes over the side of the shelf and adds softness to break the lines of the shelf.
- Use a range of vases and planters. Again don't be afraid to mix styles, shapes and sizes together. We've used some of our favourites here including our ceramic face vase, grey can planter, black Tokyo paper planter, concrete gold dipped planter, concrete planter and small sized ceramic face planter.
- Layer and add texture. We love mixing the old with the new, and mixing styles, textures and materials together - it helps to add depth and interest. You can also play around with scale. Here we've styled up the shelf using our bronze bulb vase, bamboo eye mirror (mirrors and prints always look great when propped up on a shelf, for a more contemporary look), P.F. Candle Co. candle, brass origami polar bear, black industrial double picture frame, selection of interior books (which can also be displayed flat as well as stood, and then layered with objects), rattan natural jewellery box and small seagrass storage basket below.
- Keep to a colour palette. Whether you want to go bright and colourful, or for a more Scandi vibe like we have, we would always suggest keeping to a few specific colours. Here we've chosen neutrals - brown, grey, black and pops of gold. This helps to tie the overall look together and why even when you use different styles of planters and products together, it works so well.
Plants from left to right: Himalayan Senecio, Syngonium Arrow (Goosefoot Plant), Peperomia Ferreyrae, Ceropegia Woodii, Senecio Rowleyanus (String of Pearls) and selection of succulents.
Why are plants so beneficial in the home?
- Plants release oxygen whilst absorbing carbon dioxide, which basically cleans and eliminates toxins, improving the quality of the air that we breathe.
- Surrounding yourself with plants is shown to have many positive effects, from improving concentration and moods, to reducing stress levels.
- It doesn't matter how small your home is, there's always room for a plant or two, and who doesn't love the idea of creating a little sanctuary away from the stresses, and hustle and bustle of the outside world!
- And don't forget, you can always cheat and go for some faux greenery, for minimal upkeep and mess!
Why not share yours?
We hope this has inspired you to get creative with some indoor planting and styling. Why not share yours via social media and tag us @thedenandnow using #botanicalintheden