The rule for 2017 is that there are no rules. What you do does not have to fit in a pigeonhole, and what you make doesn’t have to create a perfect picture. If you think it’s good, it’s good. That rebellious attitude offers scope for you to go to town with colour, crazy finds and creativity. Choose a Ficus benjamina with a cheerful twisted stem, and place it in a brightly coloured pot. Or use them to create a complete mini forest in a dish, including toys and other silliness. Really cut loose: trendwatchers are predicting a year in which nothing is right or wrong and everything is allowed, as long as it makes you feel good.
Trend 1: you’re allowed to laugh!
Ficus benjamina will help you with that. A cheerful indoor tree with loads of attractive leaves that's easy to care for, this attractive houseplant is a real personality in your home, and in a slightly unusual pot it will immediately transform your room. It’s up to you how light-hearted you want to make it, but it’s definitely about acknowledging colour, possibly in exuberant patterns, bright shades and any form of handicraft, from weaving to pottery.
Trend 2: sustainability = the norm
How green will 2017 be? Very green: the World Expo from June to September is all about sustainable energy. More than a hundred countries will be travelling to Kazakhstan to show how things can be greener, more pleasant and more enjoyable for the planet and for all of us. Bringing houseplants and your home helps with this. The NASA Clean Air Study*shows that plants with a lot of leaves such as Ficus help to purify the air indoors.
Trend 3: you need living greenery
In 2017 green is the new gold. More and more shops are stocking big houseplants such as Ficus, the florist is transformed into a ‘florista’, and greenery has become one of the most important elements for creating atmosphere in interior styling. Not only does it give cleaner air, but research**also shows that you can concentrate better and feel better with plants around you. There’s no better reason for bringing a lovely Ficus into your home as soon as possible!
* Research conducted by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA).
** Journal of Environmental Pyschology
A Review of the Health Benefits of Greenness
