Styling Farmhouse Shelves with Houseplants

Give a room a fresh, seasonal update by styling farmhouse shelves with easy-care houseplants.

One of my favorite DIY projects is the farmhouse shelves we added to our dining room. They were fast to build and instantly brought character and personality to the space.

I change the decor seasonally, and this spring I wanted the shelves to feel bright and lively. This year the focus is on houseplants—live greenery as the main feature for these spring farmhouse shelves.

Prayer plant on a farmhouse shelf as Dining Room decor for Spring

Tips for Decorating Shelves with Houseplants

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Choose houseplants that suit the room’s light

I’m fairly new to keeping houseplants, but I’ve enjoyed learning what works in our home. The dining room gets very little direct sun, though it sits near a large bank of windows. For that reason I look for easy-care plants that tolerate low or indirect light. These are the kinds of plants that help even inexperienced plant parents feel successful.

My favorite low-light houseplants

Snake plant – Often recommended for beginners, snake plants tolerate infrequent watering and low light. I let mine dry out completely before watering and it stays happy.

Prayer plant close-up with striped leaves — The prayer plant has striking striped leaves. During the day the leaves lower slightly; at night they lift, giving the plant its common name. Prayer plants also help improve indoor air quality.

Prayer plant – I’m new to this one but love the patterned foliage. Prayer plants prefer indirect light and can fade or scorch in direct sun, so keep them in shadier spots as the days get brighter.
Coffee plant – This plant can be sensitive to leaf browning, but removing affected leaves encourages fresh growth. It adapts well to lower light spots when given consistent care.
Money tree – One of my favorite larger houseplants. It puts out new growth consistently with weekly watering. Seasonal leaf dropping can happen and is usually normal.

(The money tree sits in the DIY planter stand beside the buffet.)

Vary plant heights on the shelves

Start by placing taller plants toward the outer edges or the back of the shelf and smaller ones toward the center or front. On my shelves, taller plants frame the top shelf while the smaller prayer plant fits nicely on the lower shelf. Varying heights adds depth and visual interest.

Live money tree plant near farmhouse shelves with faux plants and greenery. — It’s perfectly fine to mix live plants with faux greenery—both add texture and fullness without competing with one another.

Mix faux plants with real ones for balance

Before I started using live plants I decorated with faux greenery exclusively—no watering required. Combining faux and real plants can fill gaps, add season-neutral pieces, and reduce maintenance while keeping the arrangement lush.

Group items in threes and mix textures

I often rely on the rule of threes: group three objects of different heights or textures together for a balanced, layered look. Mixing pots, planters, and foliage types creates contrast and prevents the display from feeling flat.

Assorted plants and decor on farmhouse shelves

Add art to bring color and personality

Artwork adds another layer of interest to the shelves. I printed a small impressionistic print at home and tucked it into the arrangement on the second shelf. It’s an easy way to introduce color and a focal point.

Small printed impressionistic art on a shelf

If you like printable art, check the printables offered in my library for more options. I printed my art on cardstock to give it weight and better color saturation.

I recommend printing wall art on cardstock and suggest using a reliable home printer and quality white cardstock for the best results.

Home printer (a compact color inkjet works well)
Heavy white cardstock for prints

Antique oak dining room buffet with two farmhouse shelves above it with faux and real houseplants arranged on it. — Wall shelves offer a great opportunity to add art and layered decor on a large, bare wall.

Step back and edit often

Shelf styling is subjective. There are helpful guidelines, but no single correct approach. Frequently step back and evaluate the overall composition, moving pieces until the arrangement feels balanced and comfortable to you.

Let containers be part of the decor

Often plants arrive in plain plastic pots. Rehoming them into attractive planters can tie the plants into your decor scheme. Neutral containers work well in farmhouse settings, but a bold pot can be a deliberate pop of color if you prefer.

Recommended easy-care houseplants

Snake plant (Sansevieria)
Prayer plant (Maranta)
ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)
Money tree (Pachira aquatica)
Peace lily (Spathiphyllum)

More bookshelf and shelf-styling ideas

How to Style a Farmhouse Bookcase in 3 Easy Steps
Ideas for Decorating Bookshelves with 3 Key Items (you probably already have!)
Adding Moulding to Ikea Billy Bookcase

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For behind-the-scenes photos and daily decor updates, come follow along on my @harbourbreeze Instagram.