“No green thumb required”
Plants are perfect for transient lifestyles and cramped apartments. Plus, they’re not just aesthetically pleasing. Their benefits range from improved concentration and cleaner air. For stylist Abby Benice, plants are even a form of nostalgia “all of the plants make me feel like I’m back home in farmland.” Whatever your reasons, plants are the simplest way to bring life into any space.
For those living in the concrete jungle of New York, there are still a myriad of shops and greenhouses to shop for houseplants. Stops like the Union Square Market and Ikea in Red Hook offer a variety of inexpensive choices. The Sill on the Lower East Side, recommended by Alyssa Coscarelli, Allie Berman, and Holly Mitchell, “carries everything from succulents and cacti to palms and ferns.” Crest Hardware in Williamsburg, recommended by Ellis Jones and Tamara Santibanez, is the best spot for gardening questions as well as accessories for budding enthusiasts. You could be just a little research, some inspiration, and an open afternoon away from transforming your home into an urban oasis.
Naima Abed, Producer at Memento Films
Large Plants as Centerpieces
Sometimes all it takes to pull a room together is a single plant. If the thought of curating and caring for a tiny garden feels daunting, this is the perfect place to start. Or, if your apartment could use a little separation, think of a large plant as a living room divider. Seek expert advice. Learn the ins and outs of one plant and watch it grow into the centerpiece you never knew you needed. Bonus points for plant parent pride.
Christina Andrew, Model
Succulents + Small Plants
For others, the more the merrier when it comes to plants. Perfect as housewarming gifts or just because, small plants are the gift, that with water and proper sun exposure, keeps on giving. Check local stoop sales to give well-loved plants a new life. Don’t forget the hardware store when it comes to smaller plants. It can be a trove of hard-to-kill vegetation. Sourcing vintage pots, vases, or baskets can make even the most popular of plants feel personal.
Sunny Shokrae, Photographer
Sarah Kinlaw, Musician
Filling Awkward Spaces
Speaking of space, plants are also the answer to the question of what to do with the “charming” bit of your apartment nothing seems to make sense of. Collecting plants into a cultivated nest of green can be a great way to add dimension. Think beyond the windowsill--try hanging them from hooks, tucking them into an empty fireplace, or even lining a mantle with them. Have a switch you never reach for? An especially bare row on your bookshelf? A chip on your side table? Plants are your best bet.
Charlotte Cadé, Founder of home decor marketplace, Selency
Alison Roman, Author of Dining In
Words by Erika Veurink