Plants make an excellent addition to your home’s decor. They improve the visual interest and aesthetic appeal and come with many other benefits, like improving the air and contributing to the fresh scent in your space.
The good thing about plants is that you don’t have to break the bank to get the most out of this decor idea. No matter your budget, you can always find inexpensive ways to display plants in your space.
From DIY ideas to repurposing items, there are various ways to display your green friends to significantly improve your space’s visual appeal. Choosing the correct display methods and techniques is the trick to making plants work as a decor scheme.
In this article, we’ve prepared 25 inexpensive ways to display your plants to create a professional designer look.
Take a look!
1. Display on the Desk
You may be short of plant stands, but you must have a desk surface somewhere you aren’t using. This can become a great display area for your houseplants. I prefer this display idea because it brings a sense of freshness to your workplace, be it a home office or a study area where you enjoy your favorite books.
Decide on the ideal location to place the plants while allowing enough space to work without interference. Succulents and small shrubs are especially suitable for this idea.
2. Refresh the Bathroom
Houseplants make a really great decor addition to a bathroom for various reasons. For one, the bathroom is one of the few rooms in your home with abundant humidity, which plants love.
Plants such as ficus trees will thrive in the bathroom and add a sense of warmth and coziness. You can hang them or install small shelves to place them; there are endless possibilities with bathroom plants!
3. Use Shelves
Shelves have various uses, from the ideal spot for your book collections to displays for your collectibles. They can also act as inexpensive ways to display plants. This saves you from the hustle of purchasing or building a plant holder.
Once you’ve decided where to place the plants, decide on the arrangement scheme, as this can significantly impact the space’s appearance. I usually prefer arranging them by type, as it makes the care process much easier.
4. Upcycle a Birdcage
Do you have an old, rusted birdcage that’s seemingly out of use? You can give birdcages a new lease on life by using them as inexpensive ways to display plants. Birdcages are already designed with a hanging mechanism, so placements shouldn’t be a problem with this idea.
All you need to do is touch up the cage, and you’ll have a new habitat for your houseplants in no time! I prefer repainting such structures as it prolongs longevity by preventing rust.
5. Utilize Coffee Table Books
Books and small potted plants or flowers create a lovely coffee table decor combination, with the pair complementing each other for a well-rounded design.
There are various ways, but the simplest is to find a small tray and place your plants beside or on top of your book collection. I matched the color of my small planters to my book collection, creating an interesting, almost camouflaged color scheme.
6. Make Use of a Dresser
The dresser is a space usually designated for your beauty products, but that doesn’t mean it can’t do with a little bit of beauty itself. Adding a few houseplants to your dresser can rejuvenate the area while keeping your room fresh and clean.
I usually recommend grouping several plants together so they can benefit from the collective humidity—a single plant may be susceptible to long spells of hot or cold weather.
7. Repurpose Old Pallets
Amidst increased environmental concerns, I’m all for ideas that foster sustainability, especially regarding home decor. Recycling and repurposing items is one way to contribute to such efforts.
If you want an inexpensive way to display plants in your outdoor settings, such as a pergola or a patio, then this upcycled pallet idea may be the ideal solution. The design utilizes vertical space and several plant holders that help gradually expand your garden as you see fit.
8. Get Creative with Shoes
Hanging your boots? Why not transform them into inexpensive ways to display plants! This design allows you to create a storied houseplant. On the one hand, you have shoes packed with tons of memories; on the other hand, you have a unique planter that’s an instant conversation starter.
Line the shoes to improve the planter’s longevity. It’s also important to consider the plant type—small succulents and vines are ideal for this type of design.
9. Place on a Stool
Stools are highly versatile and flexible, offering endless possibilities for organizing houseplants. There are so many inexpensive ways to display plants with this simple idea, from a boho farmhouse aesthetic to a minimalistic look.
You can use a single or step stool to create a small garden. The beauty of this idea is you don’t have to go for new furniture. Your local thrift store might just have a one-of-a-kind stool for your plants.
10. Hang on a Pegboard
Pegboards are one of my favorite organizational tools. They have many uses, from storing gardening tools to acting as the ideal plant hanger. This is the perfect solution if you want to maintain a clean aesthetic.
Pick a spot where you want to add a bit of greenery and install a pegboard. Add plants by hanging planters on the board, and feel free to switch them up as you wish.
11. Embellish the Fireplace
If your fireplace has a large mantle, you can turn it into a magical display for your favorite plants and liven up your space.
There are different inexpensive ways to display plants at the fireplace, from baskets and clustering to hanging them. If your fireplace is frequently used, you may want to desist from these ideas; the plants can be negatively impacted.
12. Hang Them
Who needs houseplant holders when you can simply hang your plants and achieve the same effect? Hanging plants is an effective and aesthetically appealing way to introduce some greenery.
There are various places to hang your green friends, from your porch to the bathroom. Choose colorful hangers that match your space’s aesthetic to make this design even more appealing.
13. Create a Tiered Effect
We’ve previously outlined how to use a stool as a plant holder, but if you have several plants that even a tiered stool can’t handle, your next best option may be to use a ladder. While it follows the same design principle, a ladder can hold a whole garden, making it the perfect artificial garden for indoor space.
Just like a stool, it’s best to go for pre-loved items to minimize your costs. I recently got one for my garden, and after repolishing it, I had to consider adding pieces of decor due to how good it looked!
14. Opt for More
If you’re a plant lover, the urge to get more greenery is almost insatiable. With plenty of plants, you may run out of money if you buy a new planter for each addition. However, if you’re resourceful enough, you may enjoy all your favorite plants at zero costs!
Simply combine the different types of repurposed plant holders to create a garden. Go for as many designs as possible or as many as your plants need.
15. Make a Statement with a Tree
Indoor trees may be the way to go if you want inexpensive ways to display plants with a huge wow factor. Unlike houseplants that require a display area, an indoor tree is a display area by itself.
Besides, if you’re lucky enough, you may reap the fruits of your labor. The trick here is to find a large enough container to hold your plant and allow it to flourish, then decide on the ideal spot to place it.
16. Place on the Windowsill
You don’t have to worry much about plant displays if you have large enough windowsills. Windows are ideal for houseplant placement since they have plenty of natural light, so you won’t have to move your plants much.
Ensure you check on the window position to know the ideal way to position or move your plants.
17. Uplift the Bedroom
One way to add visual interest and a calming effect to your bedroom is using houseplants. In such spaces, I usually go with the mantra “the bigger, the better.” A big plant is easy to care for and adds instant visual appeal.
When decorating with your plants, I recommend using a natural-looking decor scheme. Boho styles that use natural materials and fibers will be instrumental in elevating your space and creating a balanced aesthetic.
18. Go for a Container Garden
Sometimes, seemingly simplistic designs have the most significant impact and flexibility. Regarding plant placement, containers are the go-to solution for most budget-savvy plant lovers. Most houseplants are grown in containers, and with the right design, these plants can also act as a display.
Start with simple containers, then decorate them to match your space’s style. Choose creative patterns, and don’t forget to match the area’s color theme.
19. Greet Guests in Style
Your entryway is the first space that introduces your style to your guests. It’s one of the spaces that creates a strong impression of what to expect regarding design choices. Adding a plant or two paints a particular picture as a plant lover.
Various places in your entryway can be uplifted with greenery, starting with the console table. Place plants on either side of the table or below it, like in this entryway design.
20. Maximize Corners
Any seasoned interior designer will tell you corners are some of the most complex spaces to style. There is a major “blindspot,” so finding an item that fits neatly is a welcome idea; plants never disappoint!
Again, I always prefer size over quantity. Larger plants can easily access light and have a higher chance of survival, especially if the area isn’t receiving as much light as you’d prefer.
21. Utilize Woven Baskets
Sustainable display solutions add style to your space while contributing positively to the environment. Naturalistic, inexpensive ways to display plants, such as this natural fiber basket, are the first step towards achieving unique, sustainable decor.
I love that these plant displays allow plants to be well aerated, immensely contributing to their health.
22. Bring a Chic Feel with Terrariums
Terrariums are some of the most unique plant displays you can have indoors. Despite being eye candy, they have many benefits, making them above regular plant displays.
These displays create unique microclimates for your plants, allowing them to survive even in conditions that aren’t ideal. Use them to showcase your plant collection in different areas. My two terrariums have really done wonders for my study area’s visual appeal.
23. Keep it Simple with a Tray
If you want to grow plants that need high humidity levels, trays are inexpensive ways to display plants that can work for you. Trays allow moisture to collect around the plant, catering to its humidity needs.
Add several stones around the tray to help trap water. Alternatively, try highly porous materials with a holding tray below to achieve a similar effect.
24. Create a Living Wall
Adding an accent wall is one way to decorate any room in your house. While there are so many accent wall ideas, adding a living wall is the most unique. Here, instead of opting for a display area, a vertical garden is used as the ideal display.
While these inexpensive ways to display plants may be labor intensive, they’re well worth the effort. You only need a wire mesh and a strong frame structure to hold the garden together. Start with small plants and gradually increase them to cover the whole area.
25. Use the TV Console
For small plants, TV consoles are good inexpensive ways to display plants. They create a sense of balance and instantly attracts attention to the area, even with the TV off.
You can combine faux and real plants or try going for exclusive ones. Consider adding a flower vase that will add to the visual interest of the area.
