Houseplant Decor to Get Your Mind Off the Houseplants You've Killed

Remember when it was all about owls? When everything was birds? Your whole home—wings and beaks everywhere. Well, times have certainly changed since then, and home decor trends have changed with the times. Editor's note: This one's safe for work.

We've been physically and metaphorically caged for, what, two years? Just about two years, right? We've lost track. Time means nothing anymore. Today, bird imagery seems incongruously optimistic. After all, we're not flying through the sky so fancy free any time soon.

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During the part of the pandemic the government pretended to care about, when we weren't leaving our homes much, many of us took up new hobbies—and if you haven't yet, get on that, because no matter what they say, your friends undoubtedly think you're a failure. 

One particular pandemic hobby that broke the internet (are we saying that right?) was caring for houseplants. Succulents and other small plants became like members of the family to us. The ideal houseplant is quiet, elegant, low-maintenance, non-toxic, and forgiving. In other words... 

We agree, FlourishAndCharm.

We fell in love with these cute, chlorophyllific responsibilities. We thanked them for filtering our air even though they almost definitely don't do that. We gave them names. We put jewelry on them. 

Plant charms by Etsy maker PlantCharms.

But for many of us, the domestic bliss these verdant companions brought was short-lived. Like goldfish and aspirations, and despite our best efforts, even so-called "hardy" plants have a tendency to die.*

Out of the ashes of the houseplant craze rose a new home trend. And no, it wasn't fake plants, thankfully.

Al didn't mention fake plants, but he should've.

We're talking about plant-themed decor. From pillows and blankets to shower curtains to cat furniture, plants have overtaken birds as symbols of house and hearth. 

We have nothing snarky to say about this.

Always à la mode, our own battered Ikea loveseat here at the office is festooned with beautiful botanical accents by Society6 artist Nikki Lane (Instagram @laneandlucia). Check out their houseware offerings here.

Fuck everybody, you can't have too many pillows.

By now you might be thinking our headline was just clickbait. But we mean it. It's heartbreaking to lose a good houseplant. Whether you're a seasoned horticulturist who just couldn't save that one or you've been cursed by an old woman to forever turn to ash any living thing you touch, don't listen to the terrified voices in your head telling you that you don't deserve the serenity that plants can bring to your home life (with apologies to those of you who have no home life anymore because your home has become your workplace leaving you no respite from the ever more blatant exploitation of your shrinking cognitive abilities).

So if you haven't already, get yourself some plant decor. Or if you have some, get more. Go crazy. Really plant the shit out of everything. Shoot the birds down. Burn the owls. Form a union. Etcetera. 

And don't neglect the walls that appear closer every day! (Art by RiedlinArtDesign)

Stay safe and #maskup out there.

<3 @socuratedblog

*You're not a terrible person if you saw an opening there for an anti-vaxxer joke. We went back and forth on it and chose to skip the opportunity. Or did we?