In praise of succulents

The weekly micro-decorating newsletter * Issue 3 of 13, W24 *
Subscribe free *

When in doubt about houseplants, go small. One of the best ways to add greenery to your home is with a few succulents, the perfect combo of easy-care and high-impact.

A friend once described them as cartoon versions of plants, and I have to agree. Their exuberant leaf shapes remind me of the wacky foliage in Flintstones backgrounds:

Succulents come in such a variety that a smart design move is to arrange a grouping. It's a playful nod to nature's effervescence:

That said, an individual succulent has so much personality that it invariably adds a unifying touch to stray objects. Put two random things on a surface and you may not have much to look at:

Add a succulent and there's something intriguing going on:

A succulent is like the punctuation mark at the end of a sentence, bringing closure to what would otherwise be amorphous.

If you don't have a green thumb and are wary of adding plants to your space, succulents are waiting for you to make an exception. They thrive without being fussed over and have a calm and undemanding presence. This piece in Architectural Digest provides all you need to know:

Still scared of making the leap? You can get artificial versions that almost look like the real thing, but you'll miss out on the joy of looking after a fellow living creature.

If you're going to go fake, I say go full-on cartoony and get yourself a silly succulent. While it doesn't have the pulse of life, it's guaranteed to smile back at you:

Do try this at home

I'm interested in how you style your succulents if you have them. Send me a photo, maybe even a before-and-after duo like above, and I might feature it an upcoming issue of guy with an eye.

Guy's buys

Occasional finds, picked for you

On a recent visit to Atomic Design, one of my favourite vintage dealers, I fell for this table lamp by Italian housewares company Guzzini:

After realizing I don't have the space, I decided to pass on acquiring it, but it's going to make a fine addition to someone's home.

It got me thinking about how you can save a lot of money redecorating this way. Instead of investing in new paint and wall coverings and upholstery, simply switch on a coloured light. Your world will take on a whole new hue.

This piece could be just the gift for Valentine's Day!

Thank you for reading.