Plants for Shelves in Living Rooms (Best Shelf Plants for Indoor Decor)

Shelves are one of the easiest places to decorate with indoor plants. The best plants for shelves in living rooms are usually small, compact, or trailing plants that do not take up too much space but still add greenery and style to the room.

Plants on shelves can make a living room feel more decorated, more natural, and more finished. Even a few small plants placed on shelves can completely change how a living room looks.

In this guide, you will learn the best plants for living room shelves, trailing plants for shelves, and how to decorate shelves with plants.

Find Easy Indoor Houseplants On Amazon

What You’ll Learn

Best plants for living room shelves
Trailing plants for shelves
Small plants for shelf decor
How to decorate shelves with plants
Where to place shelf plants in a living room

🌿 Why Shelf Plants Work Well in Living Rooms

Shelf plants work well in living rooms because they add greenery without taking up floor space. This makes them perfect for small living rooms, apartments, and modern homes.

Plants on shelves also help add height and depth to a room, which makes the space look more decorated and balanced.

🪴 Best Plants for Shelves in Living Rooms

Pothos

Pothos is one of the best shelf plants because it trails down the shelf and looks great in living rooms.

Philodendron

Philodendron plants are great trailing plants that work well on shelves and bookcases.

Spider Plant

Spider plants grow outward and downward, which makes them perfect for higher shelves.

Peperomia

Peperomia plants stay small and compact, which makes them perfect for small shelves.

Succulents

Succulents are small and work well on shelves with bright light.

Air Plants

Air plants are very small and perfect for decorative shelf displays.

🌿 Trailing Plants for Living Room Shelves

Trailing plants are some of the best plants for shelves because they grow downward and create a cascading plant look.

Some of the best trailing plants for shelves include:

Pothos
Heartleaf philodendron
String of pearls
String of hearts
Spider plant

📚 How to Decorate Shelves With Plants

When decorating shelves with plants, it is best to mix plants with books, frames, and decorations instead of filling the entire shelf with plants.

Place one trailing plant on the top shelf
Place a small plant next to books
Place a small plant next to a picture frame
Leave some empty space on the shelf

This makes shelves look balanced and decorated instead of crowded.

📍 Where to Put Shelf Plants in Living Rooms

Good places for shelf plants in living rooms include:

Bookshelves
Floating shelves
Wall shelves
Entertainment centers
Corner shelves

Shelf plants work best when they are near a window or in a room with moderate light.

🌿 Plants for Shelves in Living Rooms: Final Thoughts

Shelf plants are one of the easiest ways to decorate a living room with indoor plants. Small plants and trailing plants work best for shelves because they do not take up much space and add greenery at different heights.

If you are decorating living room shelves with plants, start with one trailing plant and one small plant, then add more over time.

Indoor Plants for Offices: Boost Productivity and Air Quality

Indoor Plants for Bathrooms: Transform Your Space into a Lush Oasis

Browse More Indoor Plant Ideas

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best plants for shelves in living rooms?

Some of the best plants for shelves in living rooms include pothos, philodendron, spider plants, peperomia, succulents, and air plants.

What plants trail down shelves?

Trailing plants like pothos, philodendron, string of pearls, string of hearts, and spider plants trail down shelves.

Can plants grow on shelves away from windows?

Some plants like ZZ plants, snake plants, and pothos can grow on shelves away from windows in moderate or low light.

How many plants should be on a shelf?

Most shelves look best with one to three plants mixed with books or decorations.