House plants may be placed either in suitable groups as bold accents or in singles as spotlights depending upon the size, colour and style of rooms.
Another important consideration is the scale. An impressive group of bold-leaved plants set against a big wall will be more appropriate to scale than a small single plant.
In a smaller room, single plant specimens appear more attractive and in better proportion to their setting.
The delicate- leaved ferns or bright coloured flowering plants are more suited to an interior decoration in the home than the tall, broad-leaved "tough" plants like Monstera, Sansevieria, Dieffenbachia, Dracaena and Rubber plant which can be more impressive and harmonious to the surroundings of an office.
The red, pink or orange flowered plants like Amaryllis or Chrysanthemum or those plants having vibrant coloured foliage, like Coleus and Caladium should be placed against a white, Iight-coloured or neutral wall .
Against a dark background white flowered plants or those are having variegated white foliage, like Caladiums may enliven the surroundings.
Plants having delicate and finely-cut foliage like ferns or those with small flowers such as, Begonia Semperflorens are generally placed in front of the rough- textured plants so that these could be admired at a close range
The large broad-leaved Monstera, Philodendron or rubber plants can be an attractive foil to the ferns having delicate lace-like foliage.
Tall plants are best placed at the back, medium-tall in the centre and dwarf or trailing in the front.
If the group is to be placed in a hall where it may be viewed from all sides, the tall plants should be kept in the centre with medium-tall ones arranged around them and the dwarf ones along the edge.
Bonsai are attractive even without foliage and flowering because of an attractive outline of the tree so used.
Sometimes potted plants of some seasonal flowers in bloom like Aster, Chrysanthemum, Cineraria, Salvia, Nasturtium, etc.or bulbous plants in flowering such as Amaryllis, Freesia, Lily etc. and colorful foliage plants of coleus and Caladium can be grouped inside the room by bringing them from outside to produce a quick and effective display.
Flowering plants look very impressive in association with foliage plants.
Both harmonious and contrasting combinations of plants can be planned keeping in view their texture, size, colour and pattern of flowers and foliage.
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