Hilton Carter’s stunning new house – filled with green walls, statement foliage and perfect pots – is testament to the idea of planting happiness in your home. The ‘plantfluencer’ – a best-selling author and interior stylist to the stars – blurs the boundary between inside and out with his knowledge of plant artistry.
And his much anticipated fourth book, Living Wild, is filled with insights and tips on colour, texture and plant choices.
‘The right plants can transform a space and help shape the way a room comes together, just as a rug or couch or piece of art might do,’ says Hilton.
Hilton describes the style of his own home – which the social media star shares with wife Fiona and their baby daughter Holland in Baltimore in the US – as ‘modern lush’.
‘It’s a mix of modern, Scandinavian, and Mexican influences all blended together – once I add the plants, that’s how modern lush is birthed.’
The key to plant-scaping, he says, is to mimic nature. ‘In the wild, we see greenery at our feet, at eye level, and above. Creating the same effect indoors requires hanging plants, placing them on tables or pedestals, and styling them on the floor. Layering harks back to the way they grow in nature.’
Here, Hilton shares some tips from his own home on how to create your own indoor jungle.
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Colour
I went with a palette of terracotta, grey, white, green, black, and cream when styling the house, and these muted tones connect all the rooms. On the walls, a bright but warm white ensures the black-framed windows pop. The plants provide the splashes of colour – the large presence of green gives the house life. Mixing in an array of plants will provide a tapestry of colour. The colours in the painting by Jose Mertz over the bar cart helps to make the area feel lush.
Texture
Just as the colours in your plants should vary, the same goes for their patterns and textures. Experimenting with different textures will support the other natural materials in your home and create a sense of depth. Wood is one of the strongest textures you can use in interior design as its warm tones and texture constantly bring us back to nature.
Styling
It’s key to be selective when pushing plants next to each other, just as you would be when placing two paint colours side by side on a wall or two different patterns of cushions on a sofa. When layering, utilise the colour, shape, and pattern of foliage to create the look and feel which brings a richness and life into your space.
The living gallery wall
If you have limited floor space, the power of a vertical display of plants is just remarkable. Whether it’s a built-in living wall with its own irrigation system or simply a wall styled with a selection of mounted plants or cuttings, the ‘wow’ factor is instant.
There is nothing like seeing a staghorn fern [platycerium] mounted on a board and displayed on a gallery wall. Whether it’s one single plant or an entire wall of them, it’s a showstopper. I styled my simple but dramatic living wall by mounting ferns, bromeliads, orchids and air plants in or on cork plinths to create the effect of nature bursting through the white wall.
Planters and pedestals
The planter is the outfit in which you dress your plant. Consider the colours and textures of the pieces nearby and pick a planter that vibes well with the plant. Choose either to mimic the texture or colour of the plant or to create a cool conflict. Pedestals are a great way to elevate a plant, allowing it to grab attention.
Sunroom
This is the statement room of our house. My beloved fiddle-leaf fig, Frank – my first ever plant – sits in the right corner of the room. Because of his size and shape, he is the statement plant here. Below and around him, I placed a philodendron ‘green Congo’, a burgundy rubber tree, a monstera deliciosa, a philodendron giganteum and P. tuxtlanum ‘tuxtla’. The flat colour and leathery shine of their leaves plays so well with the fluted leather accent chairs, and the different shapes and sizes of the foliage create a jungly effect.
Dining room
Fiona and I love to entertain. To keep this space free-flowing, I styled a bird of paradise plant and philodendron ‘rojo Congo’ in the corners. The room gets its colour from a painting on the wall by Jose Mertz. For a centrepiece, I styled a small burgundy rubber tree in a concrete planter, dressing the top of the soil with stones for a clean finish.
Living room
There’s not a lot of empty floor space in this room so bringing vine plants, where they can gracefully trail down, is a great way to make a corner more interesting or to hide a spot that you’re less excited about. I draped satin pothos and variegated hoya carnosa on the mantle and a marble queen pothos on the cabinet. On the floor, tucked into the corners, I chose snake plants, ferns, ZZ plants, and a dieffenbachia hybrid.
Hilton’s perfect statement plants for every interior style
Minimalist:
Olive (olea europaea)
An olive tree works perfectly in a minimalist space, thanks to its small, simple and delicate silvery green leaves that sit perfectly against the neutral colour palette of minimalist homes.
Modern:
Bird-of-paradise (strelitzia)
This is a large tropical plant that has broad, sleek, paddle-shaped foliage and vibrant flowers that complements the clean lines of modern design.
Boho Chic:
Fiddle-leaf fig (ficus lyrata)
The ever-trendy fiddle-leaf fig has glossy dark green leaves and an elegant stance that add to the quirky, playful vibe of this style.
Industrial:
Candelabra tree(euphorbia ingens)
The sculptural shape and simple green lines make it the perfect partner for an industrial or loft-style interior.
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Scandinavian:
Banyan (ficus benghalensis ‘Audrey’)
The clean, off-white trunk and branches and large, glossy oval leaves work great in a Scandi-styled space.
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Living Wild by Hilton Carter (CICO Books) £35
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