Most of us know the positive benefits spending time in nature can bring, but for many, it’s sadly not feasible or realistic day-to-day. Whether it’s due to disability, a lack of time or the absence of nearby green space for those in flats or without gardens, many people are bereft of the nourishment a daily slice of nature provides. IKEA’s Life at Home report 2021 showed that access to a private garden or green space has grown dramatically in importance over the last year when people reflect upon their ideal home, with 53% of people in the UK agreeing it has become increasingly important to them. In fact, the UK is one of the countries where this has grown the most in importance.
Good news then, that clever solutions are at hand to help everyone enjoy the benefits of bringing the outdoors indoors. Walk down IKEA’s plants aisle and you’ll see greenery in a range of shapes, sizes and textures – from tall and willowy to small and cute – that will suit every interior. The retailer is on a mission to help us make our homes into havens that fulfil all the functions we need, and plants are part of that process.
Did you know that even gazing at indoor plants has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety? As well as bringing psychological and physiological benefits, introducing greenery into our homes can help in other, more practical and functional ways, too. Like allowing us to create the illusion of space, privacy, light and colour in spaces that might not ordinarily allow it. This could prove especially helpful now, given that over the past two years our homes and mental wellbeing have become more intimately connected than ever before. Indeed, IKEA research found that nearly a quarter of Brits don’t feel their home is a “sanctuary”, a concept that IKEA identifies as having three central pillars: rooms should function well, have a feeling of space and promote a sense of calm and happiness (AKA emotional stability).
Here’s how to reclaim your very own sanctuary, with the help of a little greenery …
Use plants to ‘zone’ your living space
Ever thought about “zoning”? Plants can help create a sense of purpose or privacy by sectioning off or opening up certain areas and allowing them to function effectively.
Feel overlooked by neighbours or housemates? Towering plants such as money trees, snake plants or bamboo palms placed by windows or on balconies will help screen you. And use plant-laden bookcases and shelving units, such as the IKEA Kallax or Billy, to section off workstations and disguise unruly clutter (they should help muffle noise, too).
Seek out natural materials
Natural textures and materials are an easy but subtle way to bring the feeling of the outdoors in and promote emotional stability, without bankrupting yourself on plants alone. Try mimicking outdoor scenes with rustic materials and textures such as stone, wood, bamboo, glass and rattan – even antique or distressed mirrors can bring about that magical greenhouse feel indoors. Dried flowers and grasses are another interiors trend showing no sign of slowing down – from bunny tails to pampas grass and dried pussy willow, they’re a simple way of adding texture and interesting detail to a room without the maintenance of living plants.
Flower walls aren’t just for Instagram
Small space? No problem. Take your cue from vertical gardens, which are having something of a moment in the horticultural world, and create your own indoor version to avoid using up precious floor space and allowing rooms to function properly. “You can make a real statement with a vertical garden in your home,” says Marie Tenglund, IKEA’s UK interior design leader. “They are perfect for smaller spaces and with the Fejka range, you don’t even need to water your plants.”
IKEA’s Fejka is a clever wall-mounted artificial plant panel (choose as many as you like to liven up plain spaces), giving you maximum effect for minimum effort. Or pick tall, slim plants like the corn plant in streamlined pots to really draw the eye up and give the illusion of space. Likewise, IKEA’s Satsumas vertical plant stand houses five pots at varying levels – dot your most-loved plants, books and accessories on it for a relaxed, eclectic feel.
Resist perfectionism
The joy of bringing greenery into the home is that it can be messy in a good way – you don’t need to stage plants or flowers meticulously to enjoy the mental health benefits. Create your own delightfully chaotic urban jungle by mixing plants of different heights and sizes in different pots and containers, mixing larger, leafier ones with smaller, sturdier offerings dotted around the place. And if space really is in short supply, recreate the idea on walls instead, framing your favourite pressed or dried flowers in IKEA’s Lerboda or Edsbruk frames, or dotting Kapkrusbar hanging planters from each room’s highest points, like windows or beams.
Embrace the scent of nature
Picture your favourite beach, forest or hiking trail and chances are, you can practically smell it. To truly bring the outside in and invoke that spacious feeling of the great outdoors, try introducing some of your best-loved “outdoorsy” fragrances. “Home fragrance adds a sense of comfort and luxury to your surroundings,” says Tenglund. “It can help set the tone, and affect your mood positively which can benefit your wellbeing.”
Soak up some hygge-inspired downtime by lighting IKEA’s Ringlad fresh mint candles, for example, or a Valdoft morning dew candle (and repurpose the glass jar with your latest plant addition when burned). And don’t overlook the power of natural scents, either – it’s amazing where a few sprigs of rosemary or a couple of drops of lemon oil can take you (Sicily, anyone?).
Create an indoor garden
When thinking about the “ideal home”, IKEA’s Life at Home report has highlighted how access to a garden has grown in importance for 53% of people surveyed in the UK. But even if having your own outdoor space feels like a pipe dream, windowsill herb gardens or space-saving indoor gardens, such as the Socker decorative indoor greenhouse, are a practical way to beckon in the cheer of green without feeling overwhelmed, promoting feelings of emotional stability and calm. Likewise, small succulents housed in IKEA’s Chiafron pots, or pretty plant cuttings in tumblers, give a cheerful nod to greenery without the faff of too much work.
Arm yourself with the right tools
Before purchasing any plants, it’s important to do your research – some fare better in certain conditions than others, tolerating things like low light or wet bathrooms much more easily. And as any green-fingered type knows, overwatering can prove almost as disastrous as forgetting to water at all. Keep a water spritz bottle such as the trusty IKEA Sesamfron somewhere you’re likely to stumble upon it, like next to ferns, aloe vera or orchids (all of which benefit from regular spritzing). Add the Chilipulver plant-watering sensor to your shopping basket (it gives you a heads up when watering is overdue), and you should be good to go.
Fake it till you make it
If tending for plants really isn’t your bag, don’t deprive yourself of the aesthetically-pleasing result – fake it instead. Fejka artificial potted plants require zero upkeep but promise to brighten up even the saddest-looking of spaces, bringing a much-needed splash of colour and warmth to your home’s every nook. They’re helpful if tight on space too, since that artificial cheese plant won’t get any bigger! Hang artificial asparagus plants in the kitchen above cookbooks for a rustic homely feel or stand faux lavender in the bedroom, with incredibly realistic-looking Smycka eucalyptus in the bathroom. Nobody need ever know …
Bringing the outside in using plants and greenery can transform your home from a place where you live to a sanctuary – a vibrant, well-organised space that gives you a sense of safety and happiness, a place where you can relax away from the world.
Going green is just one of the many ways to make sure your home is your sanctuary. Discover more at IKEA.com
