When it comes to decorating outdoor spaces don’t forget to use houseplants. They are a great solution to adding more greenery to your living spaces. The use of houseplants is all the rage for interiors—so why not take them outdoors for the summer, as well?
Jungalow Style
In recent years, most celebrity homes are getting dominated by this new-age Jungalow Style. It should be noted that this style is all about becoming one with nature. If you are someone who loves plants and greenery, then the Jungalow Style is for you. Leading designers who specialize in patio designs suggest that greenery in and around the house can help set a positive mood, tone, and vibe to the entire environment. It can also put your guests at ease whenever they are visiting your place. What’s more? A Jungalow Style is a great conversation starter!
Balcony without plants and decor / Atlantic Gardening Company
Selecting Plants
Use a variety of different types of houseplants to achieve a dynamic effect. Suspend climbers from the ceiling, use tall tropicals as backdrops, and don’t forget to mix in smaller plants for texture. When choosing plants don’t just think about color. Consider plant leaf shape and size to create contrast. Using plants of different heights or planting them in various-sized planters or on tables and shelves also creates drama and interest.
In our featured look, we’ve used fiddle leaf fig and areca palm to frame the bistro set and created a backdrop of greenery against the exterior wall of the balcony. Succulents and Dracaena hang from macramé-bound containers, while succulents in our favorite concrete containers brighten up the table. Foliage plants like Begonia and bloomers like Anthurium and orchids add pops of color to the arrangement.
Some of our favorites plants for the Jungalow style are:
-Large: Areca Palm, Fiddle Leaf Fig, Monstera.
-Medium: Aglaonema, Snake Plant, Anthurium.
-Hanging: Begonia, Spider Plant, Pothos, Swiss Cheese Vine.
-Small: Succulents, Cacti, Air Plants, Aloe, Peperomia.
Balcony with plants and decor / Atlantic Gardening Company
Taking Houseplants Outdoors
Wait until the last frost (typically around April 1 to April 15 in the Triangle) and then gradually introduce houseplants to their outdoor environment. First place them in a shaded location for a few hours each day, slowly increasing the time outdoors and amount of light they receive each day until they are outside all day. After a few weeks, your plants should be acclimated for the rest of the summer. To bring them back indoors before the first frost in the fall, gradually introduce them back inside in the same manner, in reverse.
Other Elements of Jungalow
Since we wanted our touch of the tropics to be in tune with the Jungalow style, we made sure to choose accessories in line with the other elements of the style. Color is vital to achieving the Jungalow look. The bright color of a Fermob bistro set (available in every color of the rainbow) was the perfect fit, along with blooming flowers and the pink flamingo. Patterns and prints are also a huge part of Jungalow. Look for botanical prints and patterned rugs and throws to accent your outdoor space. They present a perfect contrast to a natural base, such as flooring made from composite deck material. Global décor, like statuary and ceramics, is another element of Jungalow that can also be intensely personal and cozy, unique to each person’s style and travels.
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Story by Val Engel.