Image via chloedominik.com via Black and Blooms

Green is making a comeback in interiors, from deep forest green paint to lush velvet couches. The touch of green that we like in our home, though, is full of life: houseplants.

We’ve written about the (sub)urban jungle trend before, and the ways that houseplants have taken over the interior zeitgeist, becoming the younger generation’s go-to way to add personality to their home or apartment. The reason houseplants have become so popular is that they add vitality and warmth to any room, breathing life into what can sometimes be a home or apartment without personality, essentially a builder’s grade living space.

Our favorite houseplants

Even if you live in a home with character, a plant or two could add that three-dimensional touch that you need to make a room feel complete. If you’re thinking of venturing into the world of plant ownership, we have a few suggestions to get you started!

ZZ plant

Reason #1 why we love ZZ plants: they’re tough as nails. You can keep these gorgeous, stalk like plants in nearly any room - with full sun or none at all - and they’ll flourish. We’re drawn to the interesting shapes that these plants add to any space. We even like to keep one of these in our shower, adding a natural spa feel to an otherwise bare bathroom. ZZ plants love the humidity, and they make us feel like we’re in the middle of a zen rainforest. A girl can dream right?

Snake plant

Like the ZZ plant, snake plants are extremely hardy. We only water ours about once a month, and it still regularly produces new leaves. You can keep them small, on a dresser or a bookshelf, or let them expand in a large standing pot as a statement in your family room. We love the height that these leaves can achieve, and we believe that they can add major impact without being high maintenance.

Philodendron

The philodendron gets a bad reputation for being boring or old fashioned. In our opinion, these plants are classic for a reason! Trailing philodendrons have large almost heart-shaped leaves that flow down from their pots, which make them perfect for styling shelves or brightening up a kitchen counter.

Pilea Peperomioides

Also known as a “chinese money plant”, these houseplants are almost alien-like in their shape. Their disc-shaped leaves are sure to draw interest no matter their height, though they can grow quite tall if tended to carefully. These plants like sunlight, but it can’t be too direct. Keep them in a well lit room, but a few feet away from a window for best results.

Bird of Paradise

These large tropical plants are some of our favorites because they can really fill a corner. Though they can be a bit finicky (you’ll have to water them once a week, but not with *too* much water), any house guests that you may have will be sure to comment on it. You simply can’t help but notice a plant as beautiful as a bird of paradise.

Monstera

Finally, the monstera, the star of interiors Instagram. This plant has gotten a lot of attention for its size, like the bird of paradise, but also because of the unique shape of its ribbed leaves. It has every component that you’d like in a houseplant - impact, style, and just a little bit of quirkiness.

Houseplants are one of our favorite ways to add life to a room, and these are just a few of the plants that we turn to when we feel like our design is just missing something. If you’re ready to become a plant parent, start with one of the plants we mentioned above. One word of caution though: we’ve often found that once we start buying plants, we just can’t stop.

Going Green: Our Favorite Houseplants