Go Green With Jungle-inspired Leaves
Discover how to decorate without flowers and why designers are so fond of fronds
As jungle-themed prints continue to dominate interiors, leaves are giving flowers a run for their money as a natural living accessory. For those who gravitate towards sculptural plants and crave a glimpse of simple green foliage over busy blooms, large leaves are where it’s at. While few of us have a garden full of palms to pilfer, it’s easy to get hold of a selection of fronds from florists. Their long life makes them a good buy – just trim to size and change the water regularly. Get ready to give your interiors the chic green treatment, with a little inspiration from these harmonious homes.
Settle on a single stem
Monstera leaves (seen here on the right) look fantastic displayed solo, making them a perfect pick for minimalists. Add as an accent to inky walls and brass accessories for a richly layered interior that oozes atmosphere. If you love the effect, go for green glassware to deliver an extra depth of colour.
Monstera leaves (seen here on the right) look fantastic displayed solo, making them a perfect pick for minimalists. Add as an accent to inky walls and brass accessories for a richly layered interior that oozes atmosphere. If you love the effect, go for green glassware to deliver an extra depth of colour.
Get growing
Savour the stunning natural beauty of this fiddle leaf fig sapling in a jar of water. It’s possible to grow fig cuttings in this way, from stems or even a single leaf taken from the main plant. Expect to wait six to eight weeks before roots appear, before planting carefully in a pot of soil.
Want to flex your green fingers? Follow these inspiring tips from the best garden tours on Houzz
Savour the stunning natural beauty of this fiddle leaf fig sapling in a jar of water. It’s possible to grow fig cuttings in this way, from stems or even a single leaf taken from the main plant. Expect to wait six to eight weeks before roots appear, before planting carefully in a pot of soil.
Want to flex your green fingers? Follow these inspiring tips from the best garden tours on Houzz
Soften a minimal space
Long fronds give a spa-like Zen feel to pared-back bathrooms. If your all-white wash space is leaning towards clinical or lacking personality, a simple vase of leaves will restore vibrancy. Oversized varieties provide a sleek style that’s effortlessly elegant. Choose a clear glass vase to show off your stems to full effect.
Long fronds give a spa-like Zen feel to pared-back bathrooms. If your all-white wash space is leaning towards clinical or lacking personality, a simple vase of leaves will restore vibrancy. Oversized varieties provide a sleek style that’s effortlessly elegant. Choose a clear glass vase to show off your stems to full effect.
Make greenery a must-have
When assembling ornaments and accessories to compose a vignette, it pays to pop in a plant or some foliage to inject a little life. This retro living room has a Palm Springs vibe thanks to its palette of white, gold and black – but it’s the oversized leaves that turn things truly tropical.
Keen to upgrade your interior? Check out these clever details used by designers
When assembling ornaments and accessories to compose a vignette, it pays to pop in a plant or some foliage to inject a little life. This retro living room has a Palm Springs vibe thanks to its palette of white, gold and black – but it’s the oversized leaves that turn things truly tropical.
Keen to upgrade your interior? Check out these clever details used by designers
Try nature’s neutral
If you crave rooms decorated in a cacophony of colour, flowers could feel too fussy in combination. Instead, reach for nature’s neutral: lush green foliage. Large leaves (such as these ones) offer touchable texture and a stunning shape, without detracting from chromatic walls or bright artwork.
If you crave rooms decorated in a cacophony of colour, flowers could feel too fussy in combination. Instead, reach for nature’s neutral: lush green foliage. Large leaves (such as these ones) offer touchable texture and a stunning shape, without detracting from chromatic walls or bright artwork.
Balance with a feature
Use fringed fronds in a sizeable vase to balance dramatic décor. These palm leaves take zero artistic arrangement, but provide a focal point to mirror the bold beaded pendant light over the dining table. An aqua-hued vase picks out the turquoise shade of the cushions, creating continuity.
Use fringed fronds in a sizeable vase to balance dramatic décor. These palm leaves take zero artistic arrangement, but provide a focal point to mirror the bold beaded pendant light over the dining table. An aqua-hued vase picks out the turquoise shade of the cushions, creating continuity.
Forget the fuss
While leaf-print wallpaper and accessories are all the rage, neutral-lovers may need to look for an alternative take on the trend. This marvellous monstera leaf gives a subtle nod to the frond frenzy, but steers clear of anything too in-your-face.
While leaf-print wallpaper and accessories are all the rage, neutral-lovers may need to look for an alternative take on the trend. This marvellous monstera leaf gives a subtle nod to the frond frenzy, but steers clear of anything too in-your-face.
Go large
When a small floral display isn’t cutting it in a large room, it’s time to scale up your selection to suit the size of the space. It’s possible to do this with a huge vase of flowers, but it’s probably easier (and cheaper) to reach for fancy foliage. This living room includes a selection of exotic leaves to create impact and complement the artisan-made furniture.
When a small floral display isn’t cutting it in a large room, it’s time to scale up your selection to suit the size of the space. It’s possible to do this with a huge vase of flowers, but it’s probably easier (and cheaper) to reach for fancy foliage. This living room includes a selection of exotic leaves to create impact and complement the artisan-made furniture.
Don’t skip the kitchen
Treat your kitchen to the same love and attention that you lavish on the rest of your house. This means including artwork, accessories and plants alongside your other practical (but attractive) pieces. Take inspiration from this sunny setup, where fruits and flowers lend a yellow hue to intensify the selection of gorgeous greens. This small tweak can be used to stir up any staid space.
Where would you display a jungle-y leaf or two in your home? Share your thoughts or photos in the Comments below.
Treat your kitchen to the same love and attention that you lavish on the rest of your house. This means including artwork, accessories and plants alongside your other practical (but attractive) pieces. Take inspiration from this sunny setup, where fruits and flowers lend a yellow hue to intensify the selection of gorgeous greens. This small tweak can be used to stir up any staid space.
Where would you display a jungle-y leaf or two in your home? Share your thoughts or photos in the Comments below.
Furnish your kitchen with fig leaves for fabulous foliage and exotic ambience, and grow them in your own garden or patio. Varieties such as ‘Brown Turkey’ are suited to the UK climate (but require a sunny spot), and pruning could provide a beautiful branch to display inside. The green glimpses in this chic monochrome setting, with fig leaves on the right, are a salve for the soul – at once relaxing and rebalancing.