How to Decorate with Houseplants

June 06, 2025 5 min read

Are you wondering how to style a plant? Summer is right around the corner and we’re excited to give our space a much needed refresh. This week we’re exploring easy ways to make your favorite houseplant a focal point in your home. These are techniques we use to style our shop, and home.

Choose the Right Planter

One of our favorite, and easy, ways of creating a statement corner is selecting a fun planter + plant combo. The perfect pairing should compliment each other in function, style, and visual interest. Think layering textures, colors, and contrast.

For example, a sleek snake plant paired with a metallic-glazed planter is perfect for a clean, minimalist space, like an office. On the other hand, a blush pink planter with a sprawling monstera makes for a great splash of color in your dining room.

Don't forget to consider the growth pattern of the plant! There's nothing worse than choosing a cute handmade planter, only to have your plant completely cover the motifs. For the planter above we chose an Opuntia cactus because we knew it would grow upright, and wouldn't obscure the sweet hand-painted face.

We also love using planters with stands, like the Perch planter, to add height and visual interest. Below we paired a plant stand with a few of our Highrise bubble planters. The soft shapes and colors pair well with the bright electric-yellow of the plant stand. The texture of the plants compliment each other, and they all have similar maintenance needs, so they'll continue to grow well together.

Part of the fun is playing around with plants, and planter heights and sizes. A trailing plant like a pothos or string of pearls can spill gracefully over the edge, and looks amazing on a mantel. An upright plant like a cactus, or peperomia adds structure and elegance. For low light options, a small snake plant looks bold and requires less maintenance. Staggering the height of your plants will feel more styled, increase airflow, and reduce crowding. If lighting permits, try switching plants to new spots in your home, you might find a new favorite pairing or spot!

Remember: always assess your lighting before bringing home your plant pal!

An easy way to do this is to use a compass, or a compass app on your cell phone. Simply find the window or spot where your plant friend will be living, and see which direction the light is coming from.

Enhance It

If you want a planter that looks high-end, without the price tag, consider enhancing your existing pots. Our Perch planters include your choice of a classic terracotta pot, or a white porcelain pot. The colors timeless as is, but you can elevate the look by hand-painting a vibrant design with acrylic paints as shown below.

Above is an example of a planter that has been hand-painted to create a one-of-a-kind look. Our friend, and local artist, Abby Houston, hand painted it using acrylic paints and our classic wall planter. We’re a little biased, but we think it turned out amazing! Plus there's no other like it!

Add Accents

Adding a few small accents around your plant stand can make it feel intentional and styled rather than just placed.

Consider adding smaller vases or pots to create "groupings" of complimentary items. This is visually pleasing to the eye, and makes an area look intentional, instead of an after-thought.

In our home, we love adding smaller vases or pots to create “trios” around our houseplants. They're visually pleasing to the eye, and let you display your favorite items in a way that feels organic, and intentional.

You can also try "framing" your plant by adding a fun print, local art piece, or mirror to tie it all together.

Above we added some thrifted art, and a small chair to create a cozy, yet bright, seating area.

Check out your local craft market for one of a kind pieces that support artists in your community. But don't over think it! Some of our favorite pieces have been thrifted, rescued from trash piles, or snagged from $5 sale bins. And if you're creative, try making your own art pieces!

And of course, it's an unspoken rule that placing a plant near a bookshelf or a stack of books will always look stunning. It creates a natural focal point, and frame.

Go Vertical!

If you're short on floor space, consider using your walls. "Going vertical" is one of our favorite hacks because it can open so many decorating doors! And if your plant needs just a littleee more light, consider a wall planter that brings it closer to your window or light source.

Above we've created a gallery wall that compliments our wall planters and allows our tillandsia plants to thrive. By adding a ceramic bow, and locally made print, this wall is beautiful and functional.

Another space-saving idea is wall propagation stations!

Plant propagation is creating new plants from cuttings. Some plants, like pothos and philodendron, are excellent candidates for propagation. Simply trim a small cutting that includes a node, place it in water, and watch it grow!

In 1-2 weeks you should see the beginnings of root growth. After a few weeks you should have a substantial enough root system to pot up.

To propagate plants you can use something as simple as a glass mason jar, or a clean cup from your cupboard. But if you're looking for a more aesthetic way to display your cuttings, these holders are a functional and unique way to get started. Propagate your plants and don't forget to share with friends!

Incorporate Hanging Planters

Similar to going vertical, we love adding hanging planters to spruce up a space! If you've ever visited our shop, you've probably seen our array of hanging gold planters. We love pairing them with pothos and philodendron. They're both quick to grow, making them a gorgeous and inexpensive statement plant. PLUS they're low maintenance! For sunnier spaces we love a good hoya plant, which will trail up the hanging wires. If your plant is a trailing plant, consider a hanging planter like this one below.

Lighting

Lighting is incredibly important for all plants. Position your plant where your plant will thrive! For sun-loving plants this will be near a bright window. For tender-leaved or shade-loving plants (ferns, snake plants, pothos) a softly lit corner is plenty.

If your space lacks natural light, add a stylish grow light to maintain a lush, healthy plant.

Here in Oregon we don’t use grow lights full time, but sometimes supplement during Winter.

Our favorite hack is to purchase a standing or simple hanging pendant lamp and add our own grow bulb. This way your plant receives the best lighting, and it matches your home’s aesthetic. Just make sure that your lamp and bulb wattage are compatible.

You can also try swapping out your plants for seasonally-appropriate options, or move them as light conditions change throughout the year.

However you decide to decorate, we hope you'll try adding a houseplant to your home!

For more inspiration and ideas follow us on Pinterest! We post our favorite plant aesthetic hacks, decor inspo, and DIY tutorials!

In the meantime if you have questions or topics you'd like us to cover, send us a DM on Instagram (@carterandrosepdx)

Looking for video tutorials? Watch our entire Clay Time series here.

Ready to try your hand at clay but want some gentle guidance?

Sign up for one of our in-person workshops hosted at our storefront in Portland, Oregon. They're an easy and fun way to learn about clay and connect with your local community.