Last spring I walked into my friend’s apartment and felt instantly calmer.
It wasn’t the furniture or the paint color.
It was the plants—everywhere, in every room, like she’d brought a secret garden indoors.
I went home that night and couldn’t stop thinking about how empty my own space felt in comparison.
So I started small, with one pothos in my bedroom.
Then a snake plant in the bathroom.
And before I knew it, I’d created these little pockets of life throughout my home that genuinely changed how I felt when I walked through the door.
If you’ve been craving that same shift—that feeling of coming home to something that breathes and grows with you—these are my ideas for bringing plants into every room.
Design Your Dream Room in Minutes! – By Madison
🏡 Start Creating FREE →My Living Wall Obsession
I never thought I’d be the type to install a living wall, but here we are.
Last fall, I tackled one small wall in my dining room and turned it into a vertical garden situation.
It’s basically a grid system with little pockets where I tucked in pothos, philodendrons, and some trailing string of pearls.
The whole thing cost me less than I expected, and the impact?
Unreal.
When people walk in, their eyes go straight to it.
It feels like art, but it’s alive and changing.
I water it once a week with a spray bottle, and honestly, it’s become this meditative Sunday morning ritual I actually look forward to.
If you have a blank wall that’s been bugging you, this is the move.
It doesn’t have to be huge—even a 3×3 foot section makes a statement.
The greenery softens everything and adds this layer of texture that no painting ever could.
I used a modular felt pocket system I found online, but you could also DIY with wooden frames and chicken wire if you’re feeling crafty.
Just make sure it’s near enough to natural light, or grab a grow light.
Trust me, it’s worth it.
💭 I Wrote a Book About My BIGGEST Decorating Mistakes!
When I decorated my first home, I thought I knew what I was doing. Spoiler alert: I DIDN’T. 😅
💸 I bought a sofa that was WAY TOO BIG for my living room. I chose paint colors that looked amazing in the store but terrible on my walls. I spent THOUSANDS on pieces that didn’t work together. Sound familiar?
“Things I Wish I Knew Before I Decorated My First Home” is your shortcut to avoiding ALL my costly mistakes. ✨ Inside, you’ll find practical, NO-NONSENSE advice that will save you time, money, and a whole lot of decorating regret. 🏡
Turning My Bathroom Into A Jungle
My bathroom used to be the most boring room in my apartment.
White tiles, zero personality, just…functional.
Then I read somewhere that bathrooms are actually perfect for tropical plants because of the humidity.
So I started experimenting.
I put a Boston fern on a shelf above the toilet, hung a pothos from the shower curtain rod (yes, really), and added a little snake plant on the counter.
Now?
It feels like a spa.
Every time I take a shower, I’m surrounded by green, and it’s honestly transformed my whole morning routine.
The steam keeps everything happy without me having to do much.
The fern unfurled these gorgeous new fronds last month, and I felt ridiculously proud.
If your bathroom has a window, even better—but mine doesn’t, and these plants are still thriving.
I also added a small peace lily near the sink, and it blooms every few months, which feels like a tiny gift.
The trick is choosing plants that love moisture and can handle lower light.
It’s the easiest way to make a utilitarian space feel a little bit magical.
Design Your Dream Room in Minutes! – By Madison
🏡 Start Creating FREE →Creating A Cozy Plant Corner In My Bedroom
I used to think plants in the bedroom were a no-go.
Something about oxygen at night?
I honestly don’t even remember the myth.
But then I carved out this little corner next to my dresser and filled it with plants, and it became my favorite spot in the whole house.
I have a rubber plant in a woven basket, a couple of small succulents on a side table, and a trailing pothos on a macramé hanger.
The whole vibe is soft and calming.
I wake up and see green first thing, and it genuinely sets a different tone for my day.
There’s something about having living things in the room where you sleep—it feels nurturing, like you’re taking care of something while you rest.
I also love that this corner is mine—I didn’t consult Pinterest or try to make it perfect.
I just kept adding plants I loved until it felt right.
Now I sit there in the morning with my coffee and just…breathe.
If you have an awkward corner or empty space near a window, try this.
Layer different heights, add a cozy chair or floor cushion, and let it evolve.
💭 I Wrote a Book About My BIGGEST Decorating Mistakes!
When I decorated my first home, I thought I knew what I was doing. Spoiler alert: I DIDN’T. 😅
💸 I bought a sofa that was WAY TOO BIG for my living room. I chose paint colors that looked amazing in the store but terrible on my walls. I spent THOUSANDS on pieces that didn’t work together. Sound familiar?
“Things I Wish I Knew Before I Decorated My First Home” is your shortcut to avoiding ALL my costly mistakes. ✨ Inside, you’ll find practical, NO-NONSENSE advice that will save you time, money, and a whole lot of decorating regret. 🏡
Hanging Plants From The Ceiling Changed Everything
I was so scared to drill into my ceiling.
What if I messed it up?
What if the whole thing came crashing down?
But I finally did it in my living room, and wow—it opened up so much space.
Hanging plants draw your eye up and make the room feel taller and airier.
I have two pothos and one string of hearts suspended at different heights near the window, and they cascade down in this dreamy, romantic way.
It’s like adding a whole new dimension to the room.
The best part?
Floor space stays clear, which is huge in a small apartment.
I used ceiling hooks rated for way more weight than I needed (just to be safe), and I hung them in macramé plant hangers I found at a local market.
Watering is the only slightly annoying part—I have to take them down or use a step stool—but it’s worth it.
The movement, the way the light filters through the leaves…it feels alive.
If you’re nervous, start with one plant in a lightweight plastic pot.
Test it out, see how it feels, and go from there.
My Kitchen Window Herb Garden
I always wanted fresh herbs, but I never wanted to run to the store mid-recipe.
So I turned my kitchen window sill into a little herb garden, and it’s been one of my best ideas.
Basil, mint, rosemary, thyme—all lined up in small terracotta pots.
Every time I cook, I just snip what I need, and it smells incredible.
There’s something so satisfying about using ingredients you grew yourself, even if it’s just a handful of basil for pasta.
The plants get tons of light from the window, and I water them every couple of days.
They’re not perfect—the basil gets leggy sometimes, and I have to trim it back—but that’s part of the charm.
It feels a little bit like a tiny farm in my city apartment.
I also love how it looks from the outside.
Walking up to my building and seeing the green in the window makes me smile.
If you cook even occasionally, I can’t recommend this enough.
Fresh herbs are expensive at the store, and this pays for itself in like two weeks.
Plus, it’s just really nice to have living things where you spend so much time.
💭 I Wrote a Book About My BIGGEST Decorating Mistakes!
When I decorated my first home, I thought I knew what I was doing. Spoiler alert: I DIDN’T. 😅
💸 I bought a sofa that was WAY TOO BIG for my living room. I chose paint colors that looked amazing in the store but terrible on my walls. I spent THOUSANDS on pieces that didn’t work together. Sound familiar?
“Things I Wish I Knew Before I Decorated My First Home” is your shortcut to avoiding ALL my costly mistakes. ✨ Inside, you’ll find practical, NO-NONSENSE advice that will save you time, money, and a whole lot of decorating regret. 🏡
Design Your Dream Room in Minutes! – By Madison
🏡 Start Creating FREE →The Statement Plant That Became My Favorite Thing
I resisted getting a fiddle leaf fig for so long because they felt too trendy.
But then I found one at a local nursery that just spoke to me—tall, lush, dramatic.
I brought it home, put it in the corner of my living room near the window, and it became the focal point of the whole space.
People ask about it every time they come over.
It’s like having a piece of sculpture, except it’s alive and keeps growing.
I named her Fiona (I know, I know), and I’m low-key obsessed.
She’s kindda finicky—doesn’t like to be moved, needs consistent watering, loves bright indirect light—but once I figured out her rhythm, she’s been happy.
A statement plant like this (could also be a monstera or bird of paradise) just…anchors a room.
It adds height and drama and this organic, elegant energy that’s hard to replicate.
If you’re going to invest in one larger plant, make it something you’re genuinely excited about.
Don’t just pick it because Instagram told you to.
I also put mine in a really beautiful ceramic pot that feels special, because she deserves it.
It’s the kind of plant that makes your space feel grown-up and intentional.
How I Styled My Plant Shelf
I have this floating shelf in my hallway that used to just hold random junk.
Mail, keys, a candle I never lit.
One day I cleared it off and decided to turn it into a dedicated plant shelf, and it’s completely changed that little corner of my home.
I layered different sizes—small succulents in ceramic pots, a trailing pothos, a snake plant for height.
I also mixed in a couple of other objects: a small brass watering can, a favorite book, a candle (this one I actually light).
The combination of plants and curated objects makes it feel collected and personal, not like I just shoved plants on a shelf.
The styling trick I learned?
Odd numbers and varying heights.
Three plants looks better than two or four.
Tall, medium, short.
It creates visual interest without looking cluttered.
I also rotate the plants every few weeks so they all get even light.
It’s become this little evolving display that I tweak whenever I bring home a new plant.
If you have a blank shelf somewhere, try this.
It’s an easy way to add life without committing to a huge project.
💭 I Wrote a Book About My BIGGEST Decorating Mistakes!
When I decorated my first home, I thought I knew what I was doing. Spoiler alert: I DIDN’T. 😅
💸 I bought a sofa that was WAY TOO BIG for my living room. I chose paint colors that looked amazing in the store but terrible on my walls. I spent THOUSANDS on pieces that didn’t work together. Sound familiar?
“Things I Wish I Knew Before I Decorated My First Home” is your shortcut to avoiding ALL my costly mistakes. ✨ Inside, you’ll find practical, NO-NONSENSE advice that will save you time, money, and a whole lot of decorating regret. 🏡
Bringing Life To Low-Light Corners
I have this corner in my bedroom that gets basically zero direct sunlight.
For the longest time, it just sat empty because I assumed nothing would survive there.
Then I discovered low-light champions—pothos, snake plants, ZZ plants—and everything changed.
I put a ZZ plant in that corner in a tall planter, and it’s been thriving for over a year with almost no fuss.
It’s glossy and architectural and brings life to a space that used to feel dead.
Low-light plants are a game-changer if you live in a space without tons of windows.
They’re also ridiculously forgiving, which is perfect if you’re still figuring out the whole plant-parent thing.
I also have a snake plant in my entryway closet (yes, a closet) near a small window, and it’s doing great.
The key is accepting that growth will be slower in low light, but that doesn’t mean your plant is unhappy.
It just means patience.
I’ve started to appreciate that slower rhythm—it feels less high-maintenance, more steady.
If you have a dark corner that needs something, don’t leave it empty.
Find a plant that can handle it and watch it slowly claim that space.
Design Your Dream Room in Minutes! – By Madison
🏡 Start Creating FREE →Grouping Small Plants For Big Impact
I used to spread my small plants all over the apartment—one here, one there.
But then I tried grouping them together on my coffee table, and wow, the difference.
Clustering plants creates this lush, abundant feeling that one lone succulent just can’t do.
I have maybe six or seven small pots—succulents, a tiny pothos, a peperomia—all together on a tray.
It looks intentional and curated, and it’s so much easier to water them all at once.
The varying textures and shades of green play off each other in this really beautiful way.
I also love that I can rearrange them whenever I want.
Sometimes I put the taller one in the back, sometimes I cluster them all to one side—it’s like a little ever-changing centerpiece.
This works on nightstands, dining tables, desks, windowsills…anywhere you have a flat surface.
The trick is using different pot styles and plant types so it doesn’t look too matchy-matchy.
Mix ceramic with terracotta, trailing with upright, smooth leaves with textured.
I also tuck in a small candle or crystal sometimes, just for fun.
It’s an easy, low-commitment way to bring major plant energy into a room.
💭 I Wrote a Book About My BIGGEST Decorating Mistakes!
When I decorated my first home, I thought I knew what I was doing. Spoiler alert: I DIDN’T. 😅
💸 I bought a sofa that was WAY TOO BIG for my living room. I chose paint colors that looked amazing in the store but terrible on my walls. I spent THOUSANDS on pieces that didn’t work together. Sound familiar?
“Things I Wish I Knew Before I Decorated My First Home” is your shortcut to avoiding ALL my costly mistakes. ✨ Inside, you’ll find practical, NO-NONSENSE advice that will save you time, money, and a whole lot of decorating regret. 🏡
Kitchen Counter Plants I Actually Use
My kitchen counter isn’t huge, so I have to be strategic.
But I always make room for a couple of small plants near the sink.
Right now, I have a little pothos in a glass jar (so I can see the roots, which I love) and a small aloe plant in a ceramic pot.
The aloe is functional—I’ve used it on burns a couple of times—and the pothos just makes me happy.
There’s something about having green in the space where I prep food and clean up that makes those tasks feel less like chores.
I also have a tiny succulent next to my coffee maker, and seeing it every morning while I wait for my coffee to brew is…nice.
It’s a small thing, but it matters.
I’ve learned that plants don’t have to be huge or dramatic to make an impact.
Sometimes the tiniest pop of green in a functional space is all you need.
Just make sure they’re not in the way of your actual cooking—I learned that the hard way when I knocked over a plant while chopping onions.
Now I keep them toward the back of the counter or near the window, out of the splash zone.
Entryway Plants That Welcome You Home
My entryway is narrow and doesn’t get a ton of light.
But I wanted something there, because it’s the first thing I see when I walk in.
So I put a tall snake plant in the corner near the door, and it’s made such a difference.
Coming home to that bit of green feels like the apartment is saying “hey, welcome back.”
I know that sounds dramatic, but it’s true.
The snake plant is perfect because it tolerates low light and doesn’t need much water—I can ignore it for weeks and it’s totally fine.
I also added a small pothos on the entryway table (more like a tiny console, really) in a pretty pot.
It trails a little, and I love the softness it adds.
If your entryway is tight on space, a wall-mounted planter or hanging plant works too.
The point is just to have something living greet you.
It shifts the energy from “blah, I’m home” to “oh, I’m home.”
I never realized how much that first impression mattered until I added plants.
Now I look forward to walking through my door, even after a long, annoying day.
