'Everyone just got sick of minimalism': Stylist Tahnee Carroll on why indoor plants are back

Some well-placed greenery can transform a humble home into a lush oasis, but it isn’t always easy to keep these potted friends alive and well. 

Our new book Leaf Supply is your guide to having healthy indoor plants, and in the extract below, we speak with stylist Tahnee Carroll on why plants hold such value in Australian homes today. 

Tell us a bit about yourself: Your background, what you do, the space we are shooting you in.

I’m an interior stylist. I studied interior design straight out of school and gradually made my way across to the media industry.

I have worked my way up from an assistant stylist to where I am now. I now style large campaigns for furniture and homewares brands as well as major publications, such as Real Living.

I am the co-creator of Citizens of Style, a photographic and styling agency that creates imagery and motion for brands, artists and magazines.

I live in a two-bedroom semi in Sydney’s inner west with my dog Rue, a Catahoula cross Border Collie and my housemate Cloud Tuckwell, a ceramicist who works at Mud Australia.

Our house has a very eclectic mix of old and new; I am quite the queen of finding amazing stuff on the side of the road, but I also have a taste for expensive mid-century antiques and ceramics.

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The colour palette is earthy with black and brass accents and loads of plants in every corner.

Indoor plants were incredibly popular in the 1970s and it seems that trend is well and truly back. Why do you think they’ve had such a resurgence?

Indoor plants can provide a much needed ‘breather’ for inner-city dwellers. Photo: Luisa Brimble

I guess everyone just got sick of the minimalist trend – I know I did.

I think indoor plants have become popular again because people are realising the benefits they bring, especially living in the city.

With so much pollution outside it’s nice to come home to clean fresh air.

As a stylist you’re constantly creating beautiful images, how do plants play a role in setting these scenes?

Plants of different shapes, shades and sizes will each bring a unique presence to a room. Photo: Luisa Brimble

I feel as though a room isn’t complete without a natural element and, for me, it’s as simple as adding an indoor plant, whether it be a large sculptural plant to add height and depth to a room, or a trailing vine draping from a fireplace or shelf.

A touch of greenery instantly removes any clinical vibes a room might give off.