The precise "look" of an interior landscaping design is very much down to personal preference, the imagination of the designer and the type of building where the display is to be planted.  In some cases, the tropical rain forest look, with a profusion of luxurious plants may hit the spot, whereas for others it may be a single, high quality plant in a striking container, to add a "wow" factor as people walk through the door.

The current trend is for minimal, clean-looking containers and strongly shaped architectural plants.  Tall, tapered containers in galvanised steel or aluminium and the "stone" look are particularly popular, as are some of the more unusual plant varieties.

Here are some questions you might ask yourself when considering an interior plant display for a few different types of building.

Office buildings

• Are the displays for the areas where visitors or customers might go, e.g. receptions and atriums?  If so, what image are you trying to portray?

• Are there going to be plant displays in the working parts of the building, such as offices and meeting rooms?

• Are you concerned about the benefits of the plants or just their aesthetic value? 

• Do you want to reflect the style of the building in the displays or create something contrasting and provocative?

• Will the people working in the building be consulted about the style of plant displays?

Hotels, restaurants, bars and lounges

• Do you want plants to break up the space to provide privacy for customers?

• Do you need to change the layout of the room to cope with different types of event?  If so, would container plants be a better choice than built-in features?

• Is there a cultural, ethnic or historical theme?  Do you want the plant displays to reflect that theme?

Shopping centres

• What image are you trying to portray?  Is it an upmarket shopping centre trying to attract a wealthy clientele or somewhere a little more functional?

• Do you need to change the layout to accommodate special events?

• Do the individual shop owners have a say in the design of the centre?

• Can plants be used to reflect different themes in the centre?

• Can plants be used to aid the flow of pedestrians or direct them to specific places?

For more ideas, the Gallery has hundreds of pictures of interior landscapes from all around the World and in different types of building.  Also, the article on making a design statement provides some more ideas about where and how to use plants in buildings.