There are living rooms that feel empty even when they are filled with furniture. And, on the other hand, there are living rooms that convey calm and tranquility the moment you walk in. The difference often lies in the plants. They have gone from being a simple accessory to becoming the true stars of the living room: they completely transform the atmosphere, add character, and bring a vitality that is difficult to imitate with any other decorative element.
Biophilic design has been gaining ground in interior decoration for some time now, and it is no coincidence. This approach argues that reconnecting with nature inside the home has a real impact on our well-being. If you want to fill your living room with plants but don’t know where to start, this guide has everything you need: how to choose plants according to location and available light, which species and planters work best depending on your living room’s decorative style. Take note!
Define your living room style before choosing plants
When decorating a living room with plants, the most common mistake is choosing one impulsively because it looked beautiful in the store, without considering whether it truly fits your decorative style. Plants have their own personality: a monstera does not speak the same language in a minimalist living room as it does in a bohemian one. For that very reason, they should be chosen with the same intention as any other piece of furniture in the room.
Scandinavian or nordic living room
The Scandinavian style is built on absence: few elements, carefully selected. Therefore, the plants that fit this decorative style follow the same logic, with clean silhouettes and little volume. The sansevieria and pothos never fail in a white ceramic planter or in neutral tones such as stone grey, off-white, or soft terracotta.
Bohemian or boho chic living room
On the other hand, the boho living room is not afraid of abundance. Plants are not chosen individually, but as a whole composition. Hanging plants such as ferns, ivy, or pothos take center stage due to their movement and ability to evoke nature. Planters should follow the same philosophy — jute, rattan, or wicker baskets — with natural materials that complement the texture of the leaves.
Modern or contemporary living room
In a contemporary living room, the plant is not an accessory, it is part of the composition. It should interact with the clean lines, noble materials, and architecture of the space. That is why sansevieria, columnar cactus, and aloe vera work so well. Their vertical silhouette and defined structure pair perfectly with geometric planters featuring matte or metallic finishes.
Rustic or Mediterranean living room
The rustic or Mediterranean living room thrives on authenticity. The materials, earthy tones, and the feeling that everything has a story make this style one of the coziest. The plants that work best are those with character of their own — ferns, lavender, rosemary or a small olive tree — paired with terracotta, stone, or handcrafted ceramic planters.
If you are looking for inspiration, we recommend taking a look at our catalog of trees and plants.
Corners to decorate the living room with plants: placements that work
Knowing which plant to choose is only half the job. The other half is knowing where to place it. A poorly positioned plant — too small for the corner or too large for the furniture — loses all its decorative potential. Below, we explain which placements work best and how to make the most of them.
Next to the sofa: the classic spot that never fails
This is the most common placement in interior design projects, and for good reason. A tall plant next to the sofa does two things at once: it enriches the empty corner often left beside the seating area and acts as a visual divider between zones. The plants most commonly used by interior designers for this location are monstera, kentia palm and ficus lyrata.
One of our recommendations is that the plant’s proportion should not exceed the height of the sofa backrest by more than 30 or 40%.
On Shelves or Bookcases
Shelves are one of the most underused spaces when decorating with plants. The common mistake is placing them on lower shelves, where they get hidden and lose prominence. The alternative is to place plants on upper shelves, allowing stems or branches to cascade freely downward.
We especially love pothos and ivy for these types of locations. Their trailing growth — from a height of around five to six feet — creates a visually perfect result. Alternate plants with books or decorative objects on the upper shelves so the composition feels balanced and does not resemble a nursery. At Canica, we love using the Custom-made modular wooden bookshelf designed by De la Villa Studio for displaying plants.
Near the window: the bright green corner
The brightest area of the living room is not only the best option for plants that need light, but also the placement with the greatest decorative potential. Grouped near the window, plants create what interior designers call a botanical corner: a living, magazine-worthy composition that is also exactly what plants need to thrive.
We recommend alternating leaf thickness, shades of green, and planter shapes so the composition gains depth. If space allows, use pedestals or stools to create visual levels, as varying heights are what transform a group of plants into an intentional composition. We especially love the Solid wood kitchen stool designed by De la Villa Studio for achieving this effect.
On side furniture and coffee tables
For coffee tables, the key is scale: small, compact plants that do not interrupt visibility or the functionality of the table. A cactus, succulent, or mini pilea in a ceramic planter works beautifully on its own or as part of a composition. The simplest and most effective trick: three plants of different sizes arranged on a tray.
For taller furniture — sideboards, display cabinets, or consoles — the logic is the opposite: choose plants whose foliage can cascade freely. Pothos and ivy once again prove to be the most versatile. From a sideboard, an ivy plant trailing to one side transforms a functional piece of furniture into a decorative feature full of personality.
Looking for the perfect coffee table to complete the corner? Discover our collection of coffee tables designed by interior designers and architects such as De la Villa Studio, Galán Sobrini Arquitectos and Mesonero · Romanos Studio.
In empty corners: the solution for lifeless spaces
Every living room has at least one corner that feels difficult to style. Too small for furniture, too visible to leave empty. A large floor plant is the most direct and effective solution to that problem.
Ficus lyrata, monstera, yucca or dracaena have enough presence to occupy a corner with authority and give the space something no piece of furniture can offer. They do not need company or composition — they work alone as living sculptures.
Hanging plants in the living room: height, movement and personality
As mentioned several times, there is one factor most people overlook when decorating a living room: height. Hanging plants solve exactly that problem. They do not compete for floor space, they do not interrupt movement, and they create a surrounding effect that no floor plant can achieve on its own. They are also the smartest solution for living rooms where space is limited but the desire for greenery is not.
Hanging from the ceiling with macramé or supports
This is the most visual option and the one with the greatest impact on the perception of space. A handcrafted macramé support suspended from the ceiling is not just a plant hanger, but a focal point that draws the eye upward. For that very reason, it creates a sense of height even in living rooms with standard ceilings.
The plants that work best are ferns and ivy. Both have naturally trailing growth and leaves that move freely in the air. Together or separately, they transform any ceiling corner into a decorative feature full of personality.
On high shelves
For those who do not want to drill holes in the ceiling (or cannot because they rent their home), high shelves are the perfect alternative. The principle is the same: elevate the plant and let it cascade. The visual result is almost identical to ceiling hangers, without construction work, drilling, or risking your security deposit.
Place the plant on the highest available shelf and choose a trailing species — pothos, ivy or string of pearls — that will naturally grow downward over time. As it grows, the effect intensifies. It is one of those decorative decisions that improves on its own with time.
On pedestals or handcrafted stools
The pedestal is the most replicated interior design trick of the last two years, and for good reason. Elevating a plant on a wooden or ceramic support lifts it off the floor, places it at the ideal visual height, and achieves the same effect as a hanging plant without actually being one. But it also does something more: it adds another decorative piece to the composition.
In 2026, wooden pedestals — such as our Tall lacquered wooden pedestal designed by Juan Bengoa — are among the most sought-after decorative elements. It is not a passing trend, as it responds to a more conscious way of decorating, where every object has its own presence.
The planter matters as much as the plant: how to choose wisely
There is a widespread mistake when decorating with plants: focusing all the attention on the species — its size, color, or leaf shape — and treating the planter as an afterthought. The right planter does not simply accompany the plant; it elevates the entire composition. It turns a beautiful plant into a character-filled arrangement, and a decorated corner into something that feels intentionally designed from the beginning. The key is not following strict rules, but understanding what each material contributes and how to combine them.
Handcrafted ceramics and matte stoneware
Handcrafted ceramics and matte stoneware are not mass-produced — every piece is unique — and that singularity is exactly what makes them valuable in a living room. Their matte finish absorbs light instead of reflecting it, giving them a discreet yet solid presence.
They connect directly with the philosophy of lived-in interiors: spaces that feel inhabited and where objects carry their own weight. They work with virtually any decorative style, from the most austere Scandinavian interiors to the warmest Mediterranean spaces, because their character complements rather than dominates.
Natural fibers: wicker, rattan and jute
Natural fiber baskets and planter covers solve two problems at once. They transform any basic plastic or terracotta planter into a stylish decorative piece. At the same time, they change the appearance of a plant and make watering easier.
A wicker or rattan basket around a floor plant adds an organic touch to the living room that ceramics simply cannot achieve. Combined with other natural materials — such as wood, linen, or cotton — they create the layered feeling that distinguishes a well-decorated interior from one that is merely furnished.
Wood and stone
A solid wood pedestal or a stone tray is more than just a support, as it contextualizes and elevates the plant. Combined with white ceramics or neutral-toned stoneware, the result always feels elegant and sophisticated.
Natural vs. artificial plants in the living room
This is one of the most common debates in interior decoration, and the reality is much simpler: both options are valid. What changes is the context, the lifestyle, and what each person is looking for in their living room. There is no universally correct answer — only the right answer for each situation.
Natural plants
A natural plant is not just a decorative object. It is a living being that changes, grows, reacts to light and the seasons, and over time becomes part of the story of the space. They are the ideal option for people with good natural light in their living room and who enjoy taking care of plants, even occasionally.
If you are just starting out, there are four species that forgive almost any mistake: pothos, sansevieria, cacti and succulents. They grow with little water, adapt to different lighting conditions, and are resilient enough to become the perfect starting point for those who still lack confidence.
Designer Artificial Plants
Artificial plants have changed more in recent years than in previous decades. Modern designer options have left far behind the image of the shiny plastic plant we all have in mind. At first glance, and with the right planter, the result is practically indistinguishable.
The advantages are clear: zero maintenance, complete independence from natural light and the same visual presence as a real plant. They do not need watering, fertilizing, or care during August vacations. They are the ideal option for living rooms with little natural light, people who travel frequently, or anyone who simply does not want the commitment of plant care but still wants the visual effect of a well-placed plant.
How to use plants to define zones in an open-plan living room
The open-plan living room has many advantages — light, spaciousness, and a sense of openness — but also a problem that appears sooner or later: lack of definition. When the living room flows seamlessly into the dining area, or when the workspace shares the same space as the relaxation area, the environments blend together and the result can feel disorganized even when everything is perfectly arranged.
The usual solution is to use screens, dividing shelves, or different flooring. All of them work, but all come with a cost. Plants offer an alternative that sacrifices nothing: they divide spaces without closing them off, filter light without blocking it, and add the kind of character no wall can provide.
Questions and answers about decorating the living room with plants
What are the best plants for decorating a living room?
Monstera, ficus lyrata and kentia palm are interior designers’ favorites because of their presence and versatility. For beginners, pothos is the safest choice: it survives almost any condition and looks good in any corner.
How many plants should I place in the living room?
There is no fixed number, but one large, well-placed plant has more impact than five small ones without intention. A good starting point: three plants of different sizes that create depth without overwhelming the space.
How can I decorate the living room with plants if I have little space?
Think vertically, with hanging plants or shelves that make use of height without taking up floor space. For small surfaces, our recommendation is a composition of three succulents arranged on a tray.
Which plants require the least care for the living room?
Sansevieria, pothos, cacti and ZZ plants are the most resilient and forgiving. They tolerate irregular watering, low light, and neglect without losing their decorative appeal.