Creating a Functional Plantopia in Your Tiny Apartment
Now this is bedroom views.
While house plants seem to be a common theme in every millenial’s apartment mood board, I wasn’t exactly prepared to harness the jungle that is my boyfriend Nick’s house plant obsession. A few plants in the beginning was doable, but the green overload started to feel like a vibrant paint brush sweeping across my once muted & minimalistic New York apartment dream. Let’s just say that much green was not previously accounted for in my color pallet.
Hanging plants gives the illusion of more space.
One thing I didn’t realize however, is that our very first and very blank apartment in the city really came to life with the addition of nature’s touch. It made the space feel calm yet abundant. As the founder of The Thread Edit, I often resort to coffee shops when I need a place to do my research.
I love being able to tap into that same creative space amongst all the plants from the comfort of my own couch. No wonder so many coffee shops have plants these days. Not only are they beautiful, but they increase productivity and creativity. So naturally, I began to embrace the plant craze.
PLANTS UPON ARRIVAL
One of my favorite plants in the apartment is the pothos plant because of how beautifully it trails to the ground. Hanging them up not only creates more space on the limited surfaces we have in the apartment, but also showcases them beautifully when we first enter the space.
Having the large birds of paradise in the opposite corner of the TV required some balancing, so we added the corn plant beneath the hanging pothos plant. I love that this plant is tall and slender so it doesn’t grow outwardly, taking up less space.
PLANT ENCOUNTERS
Don’t let the small plants fool you. In large quantities, they can become overwhelming and make your space feel cluttered. We opted to pair plants with items that already sit naturally in the space. From an easy air plant paired with books on the end table, to a terra cotta moment next to our spices on top of the fridge, we try to make sure each plant truly has a home. We also swap plants in their homes all the time so they can receive proper amounts of light. That’s where Farmer Nick comes in.
Combine large and small plants to keep your space balanced and less cluttered.
GREEN REFLECTIONS
We all know mirrors help our space feel bigger, but they also do wonders for amplifying the green feeling around the room. Not that this applies to Farmer Nick, but it’s also a great way to get more green with less plants. Whatever the size of your plant collection, mirrors will help give you the good kind of greenhouse effect.
MORNING ROUTINE
I love incorporating plants at every touch point throughout the day. The subtle touch of green next to my jewelry box and the fresh feeling of a pothos hanging in the bathroom is a great way to get ready for the day. *They are also great in the background for selfies.
FOOD AU NATURAL
We are very passionate about food sustainability, so I wanted to enhance our kitchen experience by visually connecting the plants with our weekly fruit and veggie run. I took this a step further by opting for natural woods in all our kitchen bowls & utensils where I could.
GREEN AWAKENING
Not only do I love waking up to the sight of green above my head and at my feet, but talk about a cozy spot to read a magazine, book or focus on some work.
Tip: Put books beneath the plants on your heater if you are afraid of the heat getting the best of them.
Embracing Nick’s plants has made me think a lot about how conditioned we are to only experience nature on the occasional hike or trip to the tropics.
Living amongst nature is so much more accessible, and it starts with a simple houseplant...or fifty.
Photographs courtesy of Diandra Marizet