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The green, leafy look is everywhere – dreaming of exotic islands and living the high life in the middle of the jungle, surrounded by banana trees, a pet parrot on your shoulder and drinking coconut milk.
We know it can’t be that idyllic, but it is a fabulous décor theme which brings the urbanite closer to nature and creates a sanctuary no matter how concrete your surroundings.
Here is how to create the look. It is all about choosing the right textures, the right shades of green and the right shapes of leaves.
Bring in real and leafy plants
The obvious way to get this look is to start by adding real plants. The secret here is quantity and shape. Don’t buy just one pot plant, get five or ten. Look for plants with big, bright green leaves such as bamboo palms, Delicious Monsters or fig trees.
Get nice pots, whether white, terracotta, copper or cement and scatter them throughout the room at different heights. A vertical garden is a wonderful way to create a leafy wall.
Read more: 10 ways to make your office space greener
If you are on a very tight budget, cut some Delicious Monster or Strelitzia leaves from a friend’s garden - they last a couple of months in a vase.
Avoid cacti and herbs – it’s not tropical enough and gives either a minimalist or French feel.
Add a lavish touch with green velvet
The plantation look becomes lavish only when you start adding some green velvet. If you want to splash, buy a green velvet sofa.
If not, a few velvet scatters will also add that sense of opulence. Let the jungle be your guide when choosing your greens – rich emerald or dark turquoise – resonating gem stones and turquoise seas.
Available at H&M
Botanical prints everywhere
There are plenty of options for botanical prints at the moment – from scatter cushions to shower curtains, leafy curtains and framed prints.
Choose prints that complement the real plants - anything with big leaves, bright green and exotic. Ferns (that cover the jungle floor) also work well.
Shop yours from Woolworths right here.
Paint a wall green
Is the look still a bit disconjointed? Paint a focal wall in deep green, such as Plascon’s Ridge, to create flow and drama.
A dark turquoise also creates a dramatic setting, but make sure you have lighter items in front of it that will pop. Use a neutral pallet for your furniture, such as white, wood, or grey.
A bit of a geometric pattern could also work well to counterbalance the organic shapes of the plants.
Images: iStock
