Spring Home Trend | Foliage

 

I’m not really one for religiously following interior fashion, but the current spring trend for foliage has certainly caught my eye. Cheese plant and banana leaves are adorning high street windows, and I’m seeing potted palms, leafy prints and fronds at every turn.

Dan and I sat down in our lounge last week and he told me I was overdoing the greenery around the house. Perhaps, but foliage is trending right now – in case you hadn’t noticed. Being the creative type, I have a love of interior design and given free rein in the budget department I could transform our home into a veritable palace. However, if finances won’t allow, bringing in new spring touches here and there can make all the difference.

“The feeling our home environment gives us has a huge impact on our well-being in general”

We have a mix of live houseplants, and of course, plenty of the faux variety around our home. Saying that, until now I’ve not been a big fan of houseplants as I’m not keen on their scraggy appearance; those I do have are older than the hills. However, recently I’ve been looking at them in a new light –  I’ve even dragged Dan’s beloved, neglected pot plant (which he owned before we met) out of confinement, washed its dusty old leaves and given it pride of place in the lounge. Hell, it’s even thrown up a flower as a way of thanking me.

“Houseplants are good for your health”

…Something we all learned in our biology lessons, but in case you were busy passing notes, houseplants have health benefits which shouldn’t be ignored. They actually clean the air – improving the air quality in our homes by removing traces of chemicals such as carbon monoxide. You can find a list of the best “air cleaning” houseplants put together by the Telegraph – If you fancy a healthier environment, it’s worth a read. Other trendy leaves right now are baby’s breath, lambs ear and of course, the aforementioned banana and cheese plant leaves. I must admit, I prefer to keep my faux collection seasonal but sometimes one to two will slip through the net. If they’re stored away, chances are they’ll return a little worse for wear – a good excuse to keep them inside all year round!

My mother-in-law gifted me a potted faux cheese plant from Matalan as part of my birthday present and for the meagre price point of £10, it’s actually good quality and looks very realistic. I’ve switched its original black pot for a white one, albeit a little big but to me, it looks brighter and more balanced. Once it’s sitting on a higher shelf it’s not noticeably big.

An exciting recent discovery – the in-laws have a Eucalyptus tree in their garden which had gone unnoticed until this spring…

I spotted it as I was leaving one weekend and internally shrieked! Eucalyptus is my favourite foliage and aside from buying plenty of the faux version, I now have a pot full of the real thing sitting on my dresser and I can’t help but be bedazzled by it.

Homesense and Next home have some lovely faux greenery including faux eucalyptus sprigs- If you’re in the market for getting yourself a bunch. I like to incorporate it into my faux hydrangea vases too, It lifts the arrangement and gives a bit more interest. Spring is in the air so there’s so much greenery around at the moment, you could even take to the garden with your secateurs and clip off some sprigs to add to your indoor arrangements.

This leaf print storage box caught my eye on a recent “Home Sense day trip” and had to have it. Get yours quick before they disappear forever!

 

I’m pleased to say that Cacti and succulents are still all the rage. Lily and I recently repotted her collection into a larger bowl, giving them a little more breathing space, plus it looks adorable. You’ll need to use a special Cacti potting mix if you fancy doing the same. Often our spiky friends aren’t keen on being repotted and are happiest in the smallish pot they came in. However, during the growing season, they can quickly become pot-bound and so it’s best to give them more room for further growth.

 

 

Bring a touch of the greenery trend to your table with Gisela Graham bamboo print napkins. I spotted these on eBay and had to have them. Trouble is, they’re too nice to use.

Next on my list is some Desenio leaf prints.

If you missed my foliage print MacBook skin and matching phone case, see them here.

Want cleaner air in your home? Read my tips here.

Are you a foliage fanatic? What’s your take on spring interior trends?