A typical person spends most of the day indoors and away from the natural world. Adding houseplants to interior design provides homeowners a simple way to be creative with home décor while providing valuable health benefits. And, contrary to many common myths, designing with plants such as exotics can be fun and easy.

“Houseplants are eclectic. They can finish the look of a country style setting or soften the stiff lines of a formal room,” says Ilma Bartha, co-owner of Silver Vase, Inc., a national grower of high-quality orchids and bromeliads. “For example, adding delicate, creamy white orchids to a room can create an instant classic look. Or, homeowners can add bold, tropical bromeliads for a spicy, colorful addition when entertaining friends.”

Just as paint color can affect the overall mood and ambiance of a room, so can colorful accessories such as houseplants. Plants can help overhaul a space quickly with bright splashes of color, or simply add continuity by complementing a well-laid foundational design.

“Buying orchids and bromeliads in superior condition, without diseases or chemical reliance, will boost the homeowner’s success when using them for decor,” says Bartha. Select orchids are bred with superior standards such as those introduced by the European breeder Floricultura, and offer disease-free and low-maintenance beautification options. These plants with robust root systems provide a decor selection that can last for years, flowering up to twice a year with blooms that remain up to four months.

Houseplants come in dozens of colors and many patterns, so they can be chosen to harmonize with fabrics, furnishings and artwork. Select houseplants with complementary colors to match walls and draperies. For example, the soft orange of a Phalaenopsis Orchid ‘Peachy’ and a few other matching apricot accessories would be a perfect pairing in a room with warm earth tones. Placing pink orchids like Phalaenopsis ‘Showpiece’ in a little girl’s room will give the space a sense of color arrangement. To transition an area for entertaining, place a daring plant such as the bright-yellow Guzmania Bromeliad ‘Hilda’ in the center of a foyer table. This creates an impactful focal point that will last longer than the traditional lemon bowl centerpiece.

Implementing houseplants with sleek, slender shapes such as orchids provides softness to areas that might otherwise feel too structured. The gentle white blooms of Phalaenopsis Orchid ‘Alabaster’ provide an elegant touch without overwhelming a space.

Balance and scale are important when adding houseplants. “Plants should neither overpower the interior, nor look lost in a room,” explains Bartha. Small spaces can be magnified by plants to create an impression of depth. Crowding a petite corner or room with too many plants, however, can quickly clutter the area and make it appear smaller. Varying the heights of three or so plants will create a bigger impact in a large area.

Practice elements of Feng shui to alleviate stress by placing a container plant every 100 square feet. Adding a plant near a nightstand can help enhance sleep patterns, as it reduces the presence of carbon dioxide, cleanses pollutants and acts as a natural humidifier.

Orchids and bromeliads are low-maintenance plants and thus easily bring nature indoors. Since they are tough plants that look delicate, they work well in most any interior. It has been shown that houseplants are a healthy decoration, as they can calm the mood of a room and even boost productivity in a workplace by improving focus. To learn more, visit www.silvervase.com.

– Courtesy of Family Features