Tips to Live by: All About Greenery
We at M. Swabb Decor + Style have quite the collection of tips and tricks to keeping your home and commercial interiors looking full of life. From picking the perfect paint color, to styling those often cluttered shelves, we love sharing small touches that help to elevate your space in an impactful way. One of our most important tips to keeping your space feeling curated and freshly styled? Bringing in the greenery (and keeping it alive). Today we're sharing some of our favorite indoor plants and how to care for them.
Along with art, decorative pillows, baskets, and books, we believe greenery to be an essential accessory when styling a space. Struggling with a room that feels tired and mundane? Bring in a tall and structural indoor tree as a bold statement piece, or add a smaller plant to a bookcase or console table for a refreshing natural accent.
1. The Fiddle Leaf Fig (everyone's darling):
We all know that the fiddle leaf fig is a crowd favorite, and for very good reason. We love the fiddle leaf's tall, structural look and lush, tropical leaves. If you have a room that doesn't quite feel complete, try placing one of these beauties in an empty corner. The fiddle leaf acts as the perfect styled statement piece in any room.
Your fiddle leaf fig is a bit finicky, so here are our tips on keeping her happy and healthy:
Fiddle leaf fig trees love bright, indirect light. Be sure to place your fiddle leaf in a spot with great natural light, but nothing too direct as it will burn those lush leaves we love so dearly. Additionally, try to keep your fiddle leaf away from any heaters or drafts. Once you've chosen the perfect location for your fiddle leaf fig, try to not to move it, as moving causes the tree to stress and lose leaves. If the tips of your fiddle's leaves are turning brown, this is most often due to inadequate or over watering. It is best to water your fiddle leaf only when the top 1 inch of the soil is dry.
2. The Spider Plant:
The long, draping foliage of the spider plant works perfectly as a simple eye-catching accent on a bookshelf, or displayed in a hanging planter. Lacking a green thumb? These babies are considered the easiest houseplant to care for, and the ideal greenery for beginners.
How to keep your spider plant thriving:
Keep your spider plant in bright natural light, and away from direct sunlight. Water your spider plant often, keeping the soil moist. The spider plant grows rapidly, so repot your spider plant when it outgrows it's pot.
3. The American Baby Rubber Plant (our favorite!)
The baby rubber plant has deep jade green, leathery leaves that will add a pop of refreshing color to any neutral space. If you have a tendency towards forgetting to water your greenery, this pretty lil' plant may be the one for you.
Caring for your baby rubber plant:
Keep your baby rubber plant in a cool room (cool in temperature, and it style, of course). Water your baby rubber plant frequently in the summertime, keeping the soil moist. In the cooler months, your baby rubber plant will only need watering once or twice a month.
4. The Kentia Palm
We think this elegant palm is the perfect tropical touch to any space. The Kentia palm is durable and easy to care for, and will act as a perfect statement piece in your home! The best combination, if you ask us.
Keeping your Kentia Palm kickin':
Keep your Kentia palm in bright, natural, yet indirect light. Water your Kentia palm once a month so that the soil is moist, but allow the soil to dry in between. Want to give your Kentia palm a little extra love? They love humidity, so misting your Kentia Palm regularly will do them good.
There are added health benefits to your new found green thumb:
Not only is greenery an essential element to styling your space, it is also immensely beneficial to your well being! Let's talk VOC's: Volatile Organic Compounds.
VOC's include substances like formaldehyde, commonly found in household items like rugs (yikes), and can be extremely hazardous to our health. Luckily, indoor plants work to purify and remove toxins from our air. According to a study done by NASA, indoor plants remove up to 87% of VOC's every 24 hours.
In addition to purifying your air, indoor plants are said to reduce stress, anxiety, fatigue, and sickness. Indoor plants promote productivity, health, relaxation, and overall well being. Need we say more?
