Indoor Garden Rooms Are Here to Stay—Here's How to Pull Them Off

A monstera in the den, a philodendron in the kitchen, maybe a pilea in the powder room: Scattering your houseplants throughout the house is a natural way to spread out the leafy love. But like all decorating, there's strength in numbers as the gorgeous indoor garden rooms in our Instagram and Pinterest feeds exemplify. These spaces are dedicated solely to potted plant babies, often arranged similarly to an outdoor garden. You don't have to go all-out jungle to achieve the look; if you don't have an extra bedroom or sunroom to spare, no worries—here are some easy ways to turn a sunny section of any room into a lush getaway.

1. Start Slow with Succulents

Some people seem to have no trouble keeping plants alive. And then, there are those who end up with more crispy plants than they care to admit. If you're a forgetful plant parent when it comes to watering, consider starting with a variety of succulents. Not only are they easy to care for (and keep alive!), but with a plethora of shapes, sizes, and colors, they add eye-catching dimension and texture to your space.

Get the Look: Fill your desk or tabletop with a variety of succulents in these staggered white planters with bamboo trays ($28, Etsy).

2. Think Vertically with Hanging Plants

If you're lucky enough to have high ceilings, hanging planters with long, trailing stems can emphasize the grandiose size of your space. For example, hang a pothos vine in a bright nook where it can grow all the way down to the floor. It will give the whole space a distinctly tropical, jungle-like feel.

Get the Look: If you're Team Macrame, you'll love this gorgeous white hanging planter ($34, Target) that's sans-metal. Install a hook into your ceiling or wall, fill with a plant, and watch it grow.

3. Match Plants to Growing Conditions

Pay close attention to the light requirements of the plants you choose for your indoor garden room so you can make sure they get what they need to thrive. Place the sun lovers as close to a window as possible, and stash the plants that can tolerate lower light levels into the nooks that aren't as bright. When you use a mix of hanging vines, cacti, and plenty of gorgeous tropicals, you can take advantage of all available light to fill your space with plants from floor to ceiling.

Get the Look: A plant stand that can be adjusted to various heights allows you to choose whatever works for your space. It also gives you permission to change your preference over time.

4. Accentuate Plants with Accessories

Botanical artwork, fabrics, and other materials can enhance the garden-esque feel of any plant-filled room. For example, use throw pillows featuring lush leaves to echo the living foliage in the room. A string of fairy lights can mimic the vining stems of the pothos on a shelf.

Get the Look: This set of two pillows ($40.99, Bed Bath & Beyond) will help transform your couch into a monstera-print jungle.

5. Create a Living Wall with Open Shelves

Sure, shelves are great for storing your favorite books and showing off knick-knacks, but they also can become the foundation of a simple living wall. You can pack in the pots as much as you like, and they're easy to swap out with new plants whenever you want. In addition to helping you fill your garden room with even more greenery, shelves make it easier to admire the variety of leaf shapes and sizes at eye level.

Get the Look: This wooden plant shelf ($58, The Home Depot) is just the spot for a few potted plants.