The spaces where we live, work, or spend time with friends.
Creating a green oasis in your home or office can completely change the space. It just takes a little imagination, planning, and a budget you’re comfortable with.
Let’s explore how to transform your home or office into a lush green oasis, including some do-it-yourself methods that don’t require carpentry or gardening expertise, or a lot of elbow grease.
Benefits of a Green Oasis
Turning your home or office into a scenic greenery-inspired space can help minimize stress, promote relaxation and mental health, and produce cleaner air and an appealing aesthetic.
Plants can also be acoustic barriers, absorbing ambient noise, resulting in quieter surroundings. This is ideal for those living in urban areas or noisy buildings.
Ultimately, greenery can renew any room or yard, making it more comfortable and enjoyable while providing a sanctuary to escape your daily stress.
Turn Your Home into a Green Oasis
Transforming your home into a stunning green oasis can remove any dreariness and make it more welcoming. Having a personal green space is especially important if you live in an urban area without quick access to parks or nature.
Use these green tips for your home:
• Install plant stands and shelving units, or make your own
• Select potted plants that complement each other
• Choose an area with access to direct sunlight, if needed
• Paint the walls or choose a wallpaper with a calming, neutral colour like white or light grey
• Window shelves for plants can look great and provide additional privacy
• Some larger potted plants for the floor can work wonders
• Hanging plants and chandelier planters are wonderful accent pieces
Creating a Green Oasis in Your Office
You can turn any office into a garden-like space with all the benefits of a residential green oasis. This is a great way to naturally purify the air in a room and introduce a sense of tranquillity.
Use only hanging plants and some small plants, like mini orchids, that can fit on shelves
• Don’t crowd shelves with plants. Give each space to achieve a clean, organized look for your office.
• Install natural moss where possible. They are an acoustic solution that provides a unique look.
• Choose plants that require little watering and overall maintenance. Ficus rubber plants and butterfly palms are great options for most offices.
If you want a calmer workday that’s more productive and less stressful, add plants to your office. It won’t take long for your colleagues to follow your lead.
Enhance Your Yard with a Garden
Even if you don’t have much of a green thumb, starting a garden in your back or front yard is easy and rewarding. A garden can enhance any outdoor space, making it more welcoming and adding charm and character.
First, decide what you want to plant. Do you want a vegetable garden or are flowers more to your liking?
• Pick a spot that gets a lot of sunlight. Many plants and flowers need 6-8 hours of sunlight every day.
• Remove weeds and sod in the area to prepare it for planting. Cutting the sod into sections makes it easier to dig out.
• Perform a soil test, and then improve the soil if needed.
• Start with easy-to-grow plants like geraniums or black-eyed Susans. For vegetables, opt for peppers and tomatoes for your first harvest.
Once you’re done planting, accentuate your green oasis with a fountain or stream and a bench where you can sit and enjoy your new, beautiful natural space.
Rob Shapiro | Contributing Writer
