20 Houseplants to Enliven Your Living Room

Tall, lush and lovely the fiddle leaf fig trees make a striking addition to any living room design. Fiddles are beloved for their soaring height, glossy emerald foliage and their enduring life span, under proper care. Interior designer Genna Margolis uses two fiddle leaf fig trees to frame the fireplace, accentuate the ceiling height and saturate the snowy white walls in this contemporary living room.

This tall, textured and handsome olive tree brings warmth to this mostly white space. The sophisticated Italian-bred tree continues to grow in popularity as an indoor plant, because of its dreamy sage foliage, rustic texture and effortless refinement. That said, it’s crucial to keep in mind that olive trees are notoriously particular and are happiest in environments reminiscent of their patria. Six (or more) hours of full, southern sun exposure and dry, Mediterranean-like air is necessary for these beauties to flourish.

An Ornithogalum Longibracteatum, better known as a pregnant onion plant, adds flamboyance and flair to the bar cart nestled against the window in this airy den by Christie Leu Interiors. Pregnant onion plants are bulb-based, flowering plants that worship the sun and are relatively simple to care for with a modest watering schedule and quarterly fertilizing.

Ficus trees paved the way for fiddle leaf figs. Similar to fiddles, Ficus trees are statuesque and boast dramatic, texture-rich foliage that are sure to shine in any interior design. Here, a lively, 11-foot Variegated Ficus tree is positioned beside the impressive cast stone fireplace, accentuating the lofty ceilings, creating a visual balance and energizing the otherwise airy gray walls.