Indoor plants are so much more than a simple decorative touch; they bring life, fresh air, and a sense of calm into our homes. Whether you’re a seasoned plant parent with a flourishing urban jungle or just starting with your first succulent, how you display your green friends can make all the difference. Moving beyond the basic windowsill pot can transform your space, turning your plants into living art.
Let’s explore some innovative and beautiful ways to showcase your indoor garden and bring your home to life.
1. Floating Shelves
Image Credit: Depositphotos.com.
Floating shelves offer a clean, modern aesthetic that makes your plants the true stars of the show. By mounting shelves directly to the wall without visible brackets, you create a minimalist look that draws the eye upward and saves valuable floor space. This method is perfect for showcasing a curated collection of small to medium-sized plants.
- Why it’s a great option: Floating shelves are versatile and can be installed in almost any room, from the living room to the bathroom. They allow you to create a dynamic, multi-level display that can be customized to fit your space.
- Best Plants: ZZ plants, snake plants, and pothos work well due to their contained root systems and visually striking foliage.
2. Macramé Plant Hangers
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
Embrace a touch of bohemian flair with macramé plant hangers. These knotted, handcrafted hangers add texture and artistry to any room, lifting your plants off the ground to create layers of greenery. They are especially wonderful for trailing plants, allowing their vines to cascade down beautifully.
- Why it’s a great option: Macramé hangers are a stylish way to utilize vertical space, perfect for small apartments or crowded rooms. They soften the look of a room and can be hung from the ceiling, a curtain rod, or a wall-mounted hook.
- Best Plants: Trailing plants like pothos, string of pearls, and philodendron are ideal.
3. A Vertical Garden Wall
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
Transform a bare wall into a living, breathing work of art with a vertical garden (like this one above- but inside!). This “living wall” is a stunning focal point that brings a massive dose of nature indoors. It’s an ambitious but incredibly rewarding way to display a large number of plants without taking up any floor space.
- Why it’s a great option: Vertical gardens make a dramatic statement and are excellent for improving indoor air quality. They are perfect for those who want to go all-in on their plant collection.
- Best Plants: Boston ferns, pothos, and various small-leaved plants work well in pocket-style vertical planters. Moss is also a lovely plant to place into a frame and hand vertically for a striking pop of green.
4. Repurposed Furniture
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
Give an old piece of furniture a new purpose as a plant stand. An old dresser, a bar cart, a stepladder, or even a chair can become a unique and charming multi-level display for your plant collection. This approach adds character and a touch of vintage charm to your home.
- Why it’s a great option: It’s a sustainable, creative, and often inexpensive way to create a one-of-a-kind plant display. It allows you to group many plants to create a lush, jungle-like corner.
- Best Plants: A mix of everything! Use taller plants like a peace lily on lower shelves and smaller or trailing plants on top.
5. Hanging Terrariums
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
Hanging glass terrariums are like tiny, magical worlds suspended in the air. These glass orbs or geometric shapes are perfect for displaying small succulents, air plants, or mosses. They add a whimsical and delicate touch to windows, corners, or above a desk.
- Why it’s a great option: Terrariums create a mini-ecosystem that is both beautiful and low-maintenance. Hanging them keeps delicate plants safe from pets and children while creating a captivating visual.
- Best Plants: Air plants (Tillandsia), small succulents, and mosses are perfect choices
6. Tiered Plant Stands
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
For the avid collector, a tiered plant stand is a must-have. These stands allow you to display multiple plants in an organized, compact footprint. Available in a wide range of materials and styles, from industrial metal to rustic wood, they can fit any decor.
- Why it’s a great option: Tiered stands maximize vertical space, allowing you to showcase a large collection without cluttering surfaces. They make it easy to care for and admire your plants.
- Best Plants: A mix of heights and shapes works best. Place sun-loving plants on top tiers and low-light tolerant plants at the bottom. Aloe vera and snake plants are great for this.
7. Window Ledges
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
The classic window ledge is prime real estate for sun-loving plants. It provides the bright light that many plants crave to thrive and flower. A well-curated window ledge can frame your view and bring a splash of color and life to your window.
- Why it’s a great option: It utilizes a naturally bright spot that might otherwise go unused. It’s the perfect place for flowering plants that need direct sun to produce blooms.
- Best Plants: Succulents, cacti, geraniums, and orchids love the bright, indirect light of a window.
8. Repurposed Containers and Other Items
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
Think beyond traditional pots and get creative with your containers. Vintage teacups, old boots, colorful tins, and mason jars can all be transformed into quirky and personal planters. This is a wonderful way to inject personality into your display and practice upcycling.
- Why it’s a great option: It’s an eco-friendly and budget-friendly way to create a unique display that reflects your style. Almost anything can become a planter with a little imagination.
- Best Plants: Succulents and cacti are ideal because they have shallow root systems and don’t need much water.
9. Bookshelf Displays
Integrate your plants with your books and favorite objects for a “shelfie” that feels alive and curated. Placing small plants among your books softens the look of a bookshelf and creates a harmonious blend of nature and knowledge.
- Why it’s a great option: This method seamlessly weaves greenery into your existing decor. It’s perfect for adding life to a home office or living room.
- Best Plants: Low-light-tolerant plants like Chinese evergreens, ZZ plants, or small trailing pothos are perfect for shadier spots on a bookshelf.
10. Using Mirror Reflections
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
Amplify the beauty and presence of your plants with mirrors. Placing a large plant in front of a mirror instantly doubles its visual impact, making the plant look fuller and the room feel larger and brighter.
- Why it’s a great option: This clever trick enhances both your plant and your space. It’s particularly effective in smaller rooms or darker corners, as the mirror reflects light.
- Best Plants: Statement plants with dramatic leaves, like a Monstera deliciosa or a fiddle leaf fig, work beautifully.
11. Recycled Bottle Gardens
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
Create a self-watering planter or a mini-greenhouse using recycled plastic or glass bottles. This is a fantastic DIY project that is both sustainable and functional, especially for herbs or moisture-loving plants.
- Why it’s a great option: It’s a smart, eco-conscious way to give your plants a consistent water supply. It’s also a great educational project to do with kids.
- Best Plants: Kitchen herbs like basil and mint, or moisture-loving plants like African violets, thrive in these bottle setups.
12. Geometric Planters
For a contemporary and stylish look, choose geometric planters. Shapes like hexagons, triangles, and multifaceted designs add a modern, sculptural element to your plant display. They can be used as standalone pieces or grouped together to create an artistic arrangement.
- Why it’s a great option: These planters act as art objects in their own right, elevating the look of your plants and complementing a modern interior design style.
- Best Plants: The clean lines of geometric planters pair well with architecturally interesting plants like snake plants, spiderwort, or small cacti.
13. Hanging Wooden Crates
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
Mounting wooden crates on the wall creates a rustic, farmhouse-style shelving display (not pictured here). You can arrange them in a pattern or stagger them for a more eclectic look. They are sturdy enough to hold several small pots.
- Why it’s a great option: Crates add warmth, texture, and a touch of rustic charm. They are versatile and can be hung in the kitchen for an herb garden or in the living room for a mixed display.
- Best Plants: A mix of small potted plants like ferns, ivy, and herbs will look great.
14. Kokedama (Japanese Moss Balls)
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
Kokedama is the Japanese art of growing plants in a moss-covered ball of soil. These can be placed in a dish or hung, creating a stunning, natural display. The vibrant green moss ball is as much a part of the aesthetic as the plant itself.
- Why it’s a great option: Kokedama is a unique, sculptural way to display plants without a pot. Hanging them creates a striking ‘string garden’ effect.
- Best Plants: Ferns, pothos, philodendrons, and orchids adapt well to this method.
15. Artistic Plant Stands
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
Move beyond basic stands and choose one that is a piece of art in itself. Look for stands with interesting shapes, unusual materials, or a sculptural quality. An artistic stand can turn a simple potted plant into a major design moment.
- Why it’s a great option: It elevates a plant to the status of a focal point. It’s a great way to showcase a special plant you want to highlight.
- Best Plants: A plant with a strong silhouette, like a bird of paradise or a large cactus, pairs well with an artistic stand.
16. Terrarium Tables
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
Combine furniture and flora with a terrarium table. This can be a coffee or side table with a built-in glass compartment for creating a miniature garden. It’s a fascinating and interactive way to enjoy plants up close.
- Why it’s a great option: It’s a functional piece of furniture that doubles as a stunning plant display. It serves as a constant, living centerpiece and conversation starter.
- Best Plants: Choose plants that thrive in humidity and low light, such as mosses, miniature ferns, and fittonia (nerve plant).
17. Cloches and Bell Jars
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
Use glass cloches or bell jars to spotlight a single, special plant. Originally used to protect seedlings in gardens, they now serve as elegant display cases indoors, creating a mini-greenhouse effect and highlighting the beauty of the plant within.
- Why it’s a great option: A cloche adds a touch of vintage elegance and drama. It’s perfect for protecting delicate, humidity-loving plants.
- Best Plants: Small ferns, African violets, or a prized orchid bloom look stunning under glass.
18. Mini Greenhouses
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
For the serious plant enthusiast, a tabletop (or bigger) mini greenhouse and grow light provide the perfect controlled environment for nurturing delicate or tropical plants. These are essentially small, enclosed glass cases that hold humidity and warmth.
- Why it’s a great option: They are ideal for starting seeds or growing plants with high humidity needs, like orchids and some begonias, that might struggle in a typical home environment.
- Best Plants: Orchids, carnivorous plants, and tropical seedlings thrive in greenhouse conditions. With a grow light, you can grow a variety of plants, even garden vegetables, indoors too!
19. Pegboard Plant Wall
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
A pegboard offers a flexible and endlessly customizable wall display. By using various hooks, shelves, and holders, you can arrange and rearrange your plants, tools, and other decor items easily.
- Why it’s a great option: It’s a highly practical and modern solution for organizing and displaying plants, especially in a kitchen, office, or craft room. The grid system allows for creative and orderly arrangements.
- Best Plants: Small to medium lightweight plants in pots that can be placed on small shelves or in ring-style holders work best.
20. Wall-Mounted Rings
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
Simple, minimalist metal rings mounted on the wall can hold a pot to create the illusion that the plant is floating. It’s a clean, graphic way to turn a potted plant into a piece of wall art.
- Why it’s a great option: This method is incredibly stylish and space-efficient. It highlights the beauty of both the plant and its pot against the backdrop of your wall.
- Best Plants: Choose a plant with interesting foliage that will drape or arch nicely, like a hoya or a small fern.
Choose Options That Fit Your Space
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
Feeling inspired? The best way to start is by picking just one or two ideas that excite you the most. Look around your home for an empty corner, a bare wall, or a piece of unused furniture that could be transformed. Start small with a repurposed container or a new tiered stand.
As your confidence and your collection grow, you can try more ambitious projects like a Kokedama string garden or a pegboard wall. The most important thing is to have fun and create a space that makes you happy. Your green friends will thank you for it.
