How to Style Houseplants

Whether you have an experienced green thumb or you're new to the world of gardening, plants will instantly freshen and brighten up your home. Houseplants also offer numerous health benefits, like reducing stress levels and purifying the air.

Plants can be used to add bursts of colour to your interior, but your choice of pot is just as important as the plant itself.

How to Choose Plants

When selecting plants, the first thing to consider is if you can fulfil all the plants needs i.e., providing nutrients, light, water, temperature etc. If you're new to plant parenting, you may want to choose hardwearing plants, like spider plants or cacti.

Choose plants that you like the look of; opt for pleasing leaf shapes and patterns, and colours that suit your interior. We recommend using a variety of different plants to create a dynamic contrast.

Once you've chosen your plant, you'll need to create a home for it which allows it to flourish. Avoid cramped containers as the plant won't be able to absorb all the nutrients it needs which will stunt its growth and eventually cause the plant to die. The ideal pot will have plenty of room to fit all the plant's existing roots, with extra space for them to expand both outwards and downwards.

How to Choose Plant Pots

Your pots are an important consideration, not just for the survival of your plant, but for the look and feel of your interior. Choose pots that complement your style; the best way to do this is to select colours and materials that match accents in your space. Your hardware is an excellent place to start. Using plant pots in the same finish as your door handles, cabinet knobs, or window hardware helps to tie the room together.

From The Anvil's Flora Collection can be used for this purpose, as it's available in Smooth Nickel, Copper, and Brass, in addition to Polished and Satin Marine Stainless Steel, ensuring there's a perfect match for every interior. These luxurious metals are well suited to muted tones and bold colours alike due to their high-sheen qualities which reflect glimpses of colour and reflect them back into the room.

Above: From The Anvil's Polished Marine Stainless Steel Hepworth and Newlyn plant pots.

Metal plant pots are not just beautiful; they're also incredibly hardwearing. Unlike ceramic or terracotta pots, From The Anvil's solid brass, bronze, and stainless steel pots don't crack, chip, or fade over time, meaning they'll look beautiful for years to come. The heaviness of a metal base also provides a strength and durability which can't be replicated by other materials, and offers fantastic protection against wind, rain, and stray footballs.

Above: From The Anvil's Satin Stainless Steel Newlyn plant pot.

 How to Plant Plants in Pots

Plant pots are a great way to display plants in your home, but they can also be used for outdoor plants if you have limited ground space, poor soil quality, or seasonal plants which need to be moved inside for winter. 

1. Determine what your plant needs. Think about how much sunlight and water it needs, and what temperature it requires to thrive. Use this information to determine whether your plant belongs indoors, outdoors, or a mixture of both.

2. Prepare your plant pot. As we mentioned earlier, your pot should offer plenty of room for your plant to grow while leaving plenty of room for drainage. From The Anvil's Flora pots are an excellent example of this thanks to their long, narrow base. If you intend to keep your plant indoors all year round, you can choose a pot without drainage holes. If, at any point, you plan on taking your potted plant outside, you'll need a pot with drainage holes to ensure it doesn't get submerged by rainfall. Line the base of your pot with a layer of medium sized rocks followed by a thin layer of gravel or similar substrate. This creates a drainage system which protects the plant from overwatering.

3. Add soil and pot your plant. An all-purpose, peat-free compost will be suitable for most plants (but some species will have specific requirements so make sure you check the label first!). Loosely fill your plant pot about 3/4 of the way to the top then carve out a hole in the soil that's large enough for the plant. Lower your plant into the hole, ensuring all roots and the first 1-2" of the plant (depending on its size) are contained within the pot before covering with more soil. Once potted, give your plant a thorough water.

4. Position your plant. Now that your plant has been potted, you're ready to place it in your home to elevate your interior. If your plant loves constant light, place it by a South-facing window; if your plant prefers a bit of shade, keep it further from the windows. Keep the temperature in the room as consistent as possible, keeping plants away from draughts and radiators. You may need to move your plants around throughout the year based on the weather - your plant will show signs if the conditions are wrong, such as limp, brown, yellow, or dying leaves.

Above: From The Anvil's Newlyn and Hepworth plant pots in Satin and Polished Marine Stainless Steel.

 6 Ways to Use Potted Plants in Your Home

1. On the dining room table. Fresh flowers on the dining room table are a sign of a flourishing household. Unlike cut bouquets which wilt over time, a potted plant will look fresh and lively forever, providing a beautiful centrepiece while you and your family eat dinner. To further enhance the look, coordinate your plant pot with your interior hardware. Opt for Polished Bronze door handles and cabinet knobs to pair with a Smooth Copper vase, or select a Smooth Nickel plant pot to pair with From The Anvil's Polished Nickel door knobs and window hardware.

2. In the bathroom. For plants that love moisture, the bathroom is an ideal environment. Some species of plants act to purify the air and will thrive in the humid conditions. If you choose to keep plants in your bathroom, make sure you use pots that won't be affected by water damage, like From The Anvil's Marine 316 Stainless Steel range. Available in Flora, Hepworth, and Newlyn designs, these plant pots are anti-corrosive and extremely hardwearing, making them a wonderful addition to any bathroom.



Above: From The Anvil's Satin Stainless Steel Newlyn plant pot paired with their Hammered Nickel Oval sink and Polished Nickel Mushroom cabinet knob.

3. On the floor. For large plants and small indoor trees, you'll need a large pot like From The Anvil's Flora plant pot. When used well, plant pots can be used to fill empty floor space, making a room feel cosier and more inviting. They can act as natural dividers, softly breaking a room into segments. Use a single pot for a minimalst feel, or group a cluster together to create a more dynamic focal point.

4. At the desk. Brighten up your office space with a potted plant. With proven stress-relieving abilities, you can look after your plant while it looks after you. From The Anvil's smallest Newlyn pots are a great product to use for this purpose as their compact shape and clean appearance is suitable for even the most organised desks.

5. In the garden. We've focused a lot on houseplants in this blog but that doesn't mean we've forgotten about garden plants. Planting cold-sensitive plants in a pot rather than in the ground is a great way to ensure they're protected all year long, bringing them inside only when necessary. Opt for weighty pots that won't fall over in adverse conditions (and make sure you pick pots with drainage holes!) like From The Anvil's Marine Stainless Steel range.

 6. By the front door. The front door is the first thing people see when they arrive at your house is the front door - and first impressions count! Ensure your property's exterior looks as good as the interior by placing a small potted tree or shrub on either side of your entrance door. Create symmetry with the same pot and plant each side, or create a cluster of smaller potted plants if your entrance is asymmetrical. From The Anvil's Flora plant pots are a great choice for any exterior as they're made from Grade 316 Marine Stainless Steel which can survive in any harsh environments, including coastal regions.

Above: From The Anvil's Polished Marine Stainless Steel Flora plant pot.

Can't keep plants alive? Opt for artificial!

Not everyone has a green thumb, and that's okay! If you struggle to keep houseplants alive, you can still replicate the look with some artificial alternatives. Try to stick to high quality pieces that look realistic and add to the value of your home - remember, quality is more important than quantity!

One of our favourite ideas is to use dried flowers and foliage which are just as effective as live plants but don't require any of the upkeep. Pair with a simplistic plant pot, like From The Anvil's Hepworth design to complete the look.

Discover our full collection of From The Anvil plant pots here.

Or head back to our blog for more inspiration.