House plants are a great way to bring a touch of nature into your home. A natural theme which contains basic elements like wood, stone and plant-life is extremely calming and comforting and is therefore the perfect foil to today' hectic lifestyle. Plants come in all shapes, sizes and colours, making them a truly versatile addition to any space whether you own a studio apartment or a mansion with its own gravitational pull.



To add interest to a small room, go for something compact but daring to create some visual stimulus. A small cactus on the window sill or a miniature bonsai tree on the sideboard or coffee table will be a real talking point (and make you appear well travelled!). If it is just a dash of colour you require, why not simply pay a visit to your local florist once a fortnight to add some decadence to your dining table. Most flowers will last for over a week if kept hydrated.

If you have a lot of space to fill, why not choose a large sculptural plant as interesting alternative to a statue or figurine. Some house plants such as the wonderfully titled Ficas Bengamina can grow to over three metres tall and would add real occasion to a large hall or patio. Intricately wound into a braided structure, the Ficas is amongst the more unusual plants on the market and would guarantee some individuality for your home. If you are concerned about attracting bears you could always opt for a moderate sized yucca or Eucalyptus which take up about the same space as a hat stand when fully grown.

If you think the décor of your home would benefit from some greenery but don't have the time to commit to properly caring for them, dried flowers and reeds or bamboo shoots look great in a vase filled with pebbles or sand. Alternatively you can now pick up some extremely lifelike imitation plants from any DIY or gardening store. They are perfect if you wish to make the entrance of your home more welcoming with some classic spherical topiary, as keeping the shape of a real topiary tree would be quite difficult for most people.

To keep your plants healthy and vibrant looking, there are some simple guidelines you should follow. Most plants prefer indirect rather than direct sunlight and do not like draughts or frequent repositioning. Therefore is quite important that you pick a spot for your plant and try to stick to it. To help your plant grow evenly, rotate the pot every so often. Lastly, but most importantly, do not over-water your plant- it is possible to love something too much! Too much water will result in the soil becoming water logged; this is especially true in winter when the rate of osmosis slows down.

To really integrate your plants, extend the natural theme into your furnishings. Lots of inexpensive fabrics, wallpapers and wall art contain plant designs or pictures and can now be bought in some very modern styles.