House Tour: This Is How To Use Plants In Interior Design

Are you a plant lover?

If you are then this House Tour is going to be one of the most exciting things you read.

We’ve spoken to Nessie who runs the Instagram account: @home.plants.and.three.cats

She explains her process for creating some of the most beautiful interiors we’ve ever come across and how you can achieve your own style.

Not only is every room full of luscious plants, the walls and decor are bursting with color…

Keep reading to find out Nessie’s secrets.

Does it take long to decide which colors schemes to include in your home?

It’s actually a little bit of both.

With bigger choices like wall paint, at first it takes me ages to decide on exactly what shade (usually of green) to go for – especially when I’m in two minds about different colors, which always leads to weeks of Instagram “research”.

But I’ve also been known to take 3 months and 30 tester pots to make a decision and then get to the shop and bring home a completely different colour…

With accessories, I’m much more spontaneous and generally choose what I like the look of rather than be swayed by trends.

In fact, it’s not unusual for me to base the entire room’s decor on an unusual, random piece I’ve picked up on a whim! 

You have a love for all things plants, how has your process for caring for them changed as your knowledge and number has grown?

I’m a pretty relaxed plant parent, so it hasn’t really changed much at all, although as the collection’s grown, it’s taking a bit longer!

One of the questions I get asked the most (after, “how do you stop your cats eating you plants”) is how long it take me to water them all.

To be honest, I don’t really know, because I never do them all in one go.

And even when I occasionally do a “mass watering”, I see it as an opportunity to take time out from the rest of the world.

It’s typically a late Saturday morning, with nice music, a hot coffee, and a sharp pair of scissors in hand for anyone in need of a trim.

It really is a pleasure for me, not a chore – and it helps me clear with head after a hard week at work.  

Describe your interior design style and how long it took you to achieve a look you’re happy with?

I’d say my style is “traditional with an injection of modern/eclectic” (and maximalist when it comes to plants especially…)!

I’m really inspired by the Victorian, Georgian and Edwardian periods, both interiors and outdoors.

So we’re trying to bring our house back up to that style where possible, while bringing in modern and boho touches so it doesn’t look like a museum!

Achieving a look we’re happy with… well I’m not sure we’re even there yet! I love my living room, but it’s still far from perfect as we just don’t have the budget to match our dreams!

For example we removed the carpets expecting to find lovely original floorboards, but no such luck, and because we can’t afford to replace like for like, we’ve had to compromise with laminate.

It’s still a huge improvement, but not what my heart’s set on…

But in all honesty, I get bored so quickly, I’m not sure I’ll ever be happy!

Are there any stores that you know you won’t leave before buying something for the house?

It has to be Root Houseplants of course.

They’re opening a shop just a few minutes up the road from me – disaster!

I’m really making an effort to shop small, responsibly and ethically too.

For example, choosing sustainable products and seeking out black-owned businesses to support black communities. 

That does mean investing in quality, not quantity, which I can find hard because I love lots of little bits and a basket full of goodies!

Shopping small also means you can pick up quite unusual pieces, which I like. 

What advice do you have for others who are still trying to find their own style?

Don’t rush it.

We made changes to the house before we moved in that I really regret now and will have to undo soon.

While they’re just style mistakes, it’s time and money, and to me, with a big old house to renovate, it counts.

Two years in, we’ve only really now started to really understand that the house has a style, too.

I know that sounds a bit eccentric, but when we’ve tuned in with the house’s own vibe, the end result has been so much better.

And you can only really do that once you’ve lived in it for a while, to understand what will work and how your taste and the house’s own style can come together, rather than clash.

That’s not to say you can’t be spontaneous with your choices  – you absolutely should be – it’s just taking your environment into account too. 

Rooms Solutions want to say a huge thank you to Nessie for answering our questions and allowing us to use the images of her spectacular home.

This was a great House Tour and we hope to see you again soon.