My 5 Favourite House Plants

Choosing the best houseplants for your home and how to care for them

House Plants - Run Wild Interiors

I love a house-plant! I have several in every room in my house. From the darkened north-facing rooms, to sun-drenched south-facing windows.

Bringing nature into out homes, and blurring the boundaries between the outdoors and in, is proven to have beneficial effects on our health: Nature has been shown to help lower stress levels; plants can help purify the air we breathe, add interest to a room, and they also look beautiful - why would you not nestle a pot-plant into every spare bit of space you have available in your home?

I can often be found pottering in the garden, walking through woodlands or digging in the allotment. But, as the days get shorter, I tend to spend more time indoors.

Although Spring often feels like a great time to buy new indoor plants, I often like to add one more indoor plant to my collection as we settle in to Autumn / Winter.

Here are 5 of my favourite house-plants:

Maidenhair Fern

(shown in above photo)

I love this plant dearly, but it's a fussy thing! I have finally found the spot in my house where it's happy. It's a north facing room - as they don't like direct sunlight - but in a spot where it can get a fair amount of indirect light, and still be a meter or so away from the window.

As I said, they're fickle! They don't like to dry out; they don't like too much water! I find it best to let the soil dry out and then swiftly give them a sip of water (I keep a beady eye on them and tend to do this a 1-2 times per week). I also have a water spray standing near by, so give it a light shower when I walk past.

They are fussy, but they have such beautiful delicate leaves, and fabulously dark stems. A great one for the brave!

String-of-hearts

Flowering string-of-hearts - Run Wild Interiors

If I were to order them, this may well make number 1! Why? They are so easy to look after, and stunning!

I have one in my darkest north-facing room - growing steadily, but strong - and one in direct sunlight in my south-facing window - flowering like there's no tomorrow! I water them as and when they need it. It probably equates to once a week at most, but it's usually just when I notice they're dry.

They are fabulous trailers and so are great for on shelves, fire-place mantel pieces and in suspended plant-pots. Their leaves are shaped like little hearts - hence the name - and they are delicate cascades of greenery.

Monstera (Swiss Cheese Plant)

I loved these plants when I was little and we had them in my parents house; I love them now.

These sculptural, wonderfully shaped leaves, bring interest into any room. They're great in big pots on the floor, or in a pot on a plant stand. You need some space for these beauts; in some places they grow pretty big. They naturally grow under tree canopies, so like dappled, filtered light. Place it out of direct sunlight, and don't let its feet stay wet.

Pilea

Also known as the Chinese Money Plant, this little indoor pot-plant has the most amazing circular leaves. If I'm creating a calming space within a home, or using a circular pattern in the design, this is a plant I like to add.

This is a lovely little plant which, like myself, loves a sunny spot. Water when dry, and be sure to do so if its leaves begin to sag. It's quite characterful in the sense that when it needs water, it looks a bit down-trodden; when it sees sunlight, it looks as though its reaching towards it!

These plants throw off wee ones quite regularly, so they're also a great plant to pass on to friends. Just carefully scoop out, repot, and bestow the joy on someone else.

Aloe Vera

This plant is not one I would have previously chosen, only because I'm a fan of softer, curvier plants as a rule. But, since been given an offspring from one of my friends, it's found a place in my heart... and my home! 3 rooms now to be exact!

The reason is this: It has so many different heath benefits, from soothing skin to healing wounds. It is also one of the best air purifying plants you can have in your home. In short, this is a first ait kit in plant form.

It is a sun worshipper extraordinaire, so be sure to position it in a south-facing room. It doesn't care for as much water as other plants, so just tip a good amount into its pot about once every fortnight.

As you can see, the first line was no lie; I do love house-plants! I have many more varieties in my home, and always add them to any room designs I do. I consider which way the room's facing and how hot / dry etc it might get, as well as how they compliment the room design.

I am about to bring my banana plants inside for the winter. I'm not sure if you can call them house plants, but they will definitely bring a lot of joy to the days spent inside this winter.

#houseplants #plantsforthehome #caringforhouseplants #biophilicdesign

Hibernation, Health & Hygge at Home

The word 'hug' is believed to have derived from the Old Norse word 'hugga'- also the source of the Danish work 'hygge'. The concept behind both is also not too dissimilar: both are physical acts; both create a feeling, a moment, an embracing of the present.

Hygge at Home - Run Wild Interiors

With Winter slowly reaching out its icy finger-tips toward us, I start thinking about the home equivalent to hibernation; cosying up and making my home winter-ready.

Creating spaces and making opportunities for such moments of contentment has never been more important than it is this year.

Many of us have embraced the slowing down of life this year; others have been engulfed by the hectic and disordered state of the world around us.

Either way, Autumn is upon us and we must embody a more gentle pace of life.

How I hygge

I have softly migrated into a slower way of life over the last five or so years. I sometimes feel I have turned back into my former self; a time when I was young and had the blissful simplicity of immersing myself in the act of spending an entire day building a den behind the shed; making potions and perfumes from rose petals; building a newspaper house in my bedroom (yes, I did actually do this - and there reveals the roots of my future career!)

Adulting is hard! We have to earn money and pay the bills; go shopping; cook; wash up; clean the house. And then, if we have any energy after doing all that, we have time to do the 'nice stuff'.

Finding the time to something special, that engulfs you in that particular moment, is so important to our mental health. My first go-to is a bath. Take the time. Make the time - you absolutely deserve it! Add bath salts or bubbles; light some candles; burn or add some essential oils (my favourite at the moment is sweet orange which, put simply, just makes me happy!). I often play a few of my favourite records too, and... occasionally add a nice glass of red into the mix.

My 'old-school' Italian coffee grinder

In my home, I have a few spaces where I can just curl up and read. As a designer, I have often added these reading nooks into the designs for peoples homes. A design I did for a client last year had a cocktail area added into one section of his living room; a place with comfy old leather armchairs, where he could recline and have a drink whilst listening to some of his favourite music.

Creating a space that is comfortable and cosy, in which to observe simple pleasures such as reading or drinking a spiced cup of hot chocolate, is simple indulgence at its best. In every room in my house I have layers of lighting. That is to say I have some combination of pendant lights, floor lamps, table lamps, wall lights and candles. Each creating the perfect lighting and atmosphere for a particular activity.

Spending time with friends and loved ones is so important at the moment. Sharing a big bowl of something steaming and home-made is the perfect antidote to the shortening days. I am fortunate to live in Bristol, with many green spaces on my doorstep, so I can frequently be found digging away in my allotment, or stomping over Ashton Court with my friends. Seeing the changes on the trees and in the fields, from the ebbing and flowing of the changing seasons, whilst putting the world to right, has absolutely brought moments of pure 'happy' to me this year.

I am very aware that, now I am delving into the world of hygge, I could continue to write reams more, but, to summarise: It's vital to take and make moments; embrace the time spent making a pot of tea, or letting the sourdough slowly rise as you type away at your work report; stand under the rusty orange leaves of trees in Autumn and gather conkers like you once did before; curl up with a book and a cup of chai, and read for hours under muted light.

Embrace your hygge.

#hygge #slowliving #enjoyingthelittlethings

How to Home Office

5 Tips for designing & setting up your home office

I, like many, at the start of lockdown, found myself unplugging my work computer, pilling up the car with tech paraphernalia and pot plants, and relocating my office to its new 'temporary' site at home.

Set in the corner of the spare room, I embraced my inner British DIY-er spirit, constructed a make-shift desk from various unused units and spare pieces of wood, and bolted my work's dual-monitor computer to it.

I was ready!

Since then, a need for a more permanent set up has ensued and, as more people are continuing to work from home, the desire to create the best home office environment has become increasingly important.

A friend - knowing my love for right-angles - asked why I'd placed my desk at a rather odd angle, and this got me thinking it'd be worth writing about.

The desk is roughly at a 45 degree angle to the window, tucked into the corner of the room. The reasoning being thus: To place it directly in front of the window, would result in the two monitors blocking the light from the desk space itself; the other way round would cause screen glare. In addition, having the seat positioned at that angle to the window, gives me a precious glimpse down to the wavering trees at the very end of the road - a daily reminder that mother nature is still doing her thing.

Which leads me to the first two tips for setting up your home office:

Let there be light

If natural light is available to you, place your desk at an angle which allows you to soak up the vitamin D, whist maintaining your ability to read your emails on the monitor. North-facing rooms, whilst not as bright, have more consistent natural light, so work well. South facing spaces have gloriously golden light, but can alter dramatically throughout the day, so it sometimes helps to be further away from the window if this is the case.

Light is so important for your well-being, and also helps with productivity so, if you don't have natural light, or it's bleak outside, look at getting multiple lighting options such as a non-filtering ceiling pendant and a table lamp. You can also get natural light bulbs which emulate sunlight, and so are great for those tucked into dark spaces.

Immerse yourself in nature

I love a lunch-time stomp (weather permitting) but, when the delights of the British weather make this less than fun, place your seating where you can see outside. If you have the luxury of a view, there's your spot. Us city dwellers may not have such easy access to 'green', so get down to your local garden centre and grab yourself some beautiful indoor plants. There are so many to choose from, so make a note of your room direction and how much light you have in your space before setting off.

Biophilic design has been a buzz word over the last few years, and with good reason: Research has shown that introducing nature into our interior worlds, helps reduce stress and support our general well-being. If there's ever been a better year to do everything we possibly can to help our mental health and stress-levels, this is the one.

Leave work at the door

A design for a home office in bedroom alcove - Run Wild Interiors

A spare room? Easy; pack up and close the door at the end of the day. For many of us, our home offices are in multi-functioning rooms. It can be on a dining table, a desk tucked into an alcove, or some other multi-purpose temporary space. Storage and organisational accessories are essential for making it an easy task to pack work away at the end of the day. A desk with drawers; magazine files; storage racks; desk accessories - there are so many options for concealing the clutter.

But... make it personal; make it beautiful; make it yours.

Colour me beautiful

Choosing 'the right' colour / tone / hue for a space warrants a whole post of its own. But, in short, greens, blues and pinks have calming qualities, which suit the working environment. Yellows, oranges and reds are warming, and can be energising, but are also hard to spend too much time in. My personal favourites for work spaces are mid-greens and pinks. They both help create a sense of calm but, if chosen with subtle yellow undertones, also add a warmth to a room.

I am a fan of colour; it keeps life interesting and is a reflection of your personality, so embrace it!

Minimalism vs maximalism

You know what works for you, so this ultimately has to be down to personal preference.

Some people find maximalist styles to be exciting, invigorating and inspiring; for others it can be a distraction. When there's too much going on in a scheme, the brain can sometimes find it difficult rest and focus on just one thing, and so it becomes unsettled, sometimes even causing anxiety. I tend to opt for a few pictures of simple - perhaps abstract - artwork, a display board for notices or items of inspiration, and a couple of beautiful accessories.

Create a space that's both inspirational and calming; ordered but with purpose; energising yet relaxing; and, most importantly, make it you!

Moodboard for a home office - Run Wild Interiors

#workingfromhome #homeoffice #myhomeoffice