I’m So Obsessed With This “Basically Invisible” Plant Display Trick (It Takes Up No Space at All!)

I’ve never been a plant person — I don’t have the patience and care it takes to raise flourishing flora. But it’s not just my lack of a green thumb that stops me from welcoming greenery into my home — it’s also the lack of space. My apartment has just two windows with abundant natural light, and they’re currently being used for an air conditioner and storage for miscellaneous items that don’t have another spot. 

However, I was instantly intrigued when I saw the greenery solution in Suzi Siegel’s 515-square-foot New York City studio apartment. After learning more about Suzi, it’s no surprise that she has a genius plant display in her home; she’s a master of making small spaces feel larger and is the author of Tiny New York. 

You might be wondering what this clever plant display that doesn’t make your space feel cramped actually is. And that’s in large part because I haven’t explained, but also because it’s basically invisible! 

Suzi’s apartment is east-facing and, therefore, gets a ton of natural light, and since it’s a studio apartment, she didn’t want to install curtains or blinds that would make it feel smaller. However, she was lacking privacy. 

“Hence, floating clear Lucite window shelves for plants. Found on Etsy,” Suzi explained at the time of the tour. The exact shelves she purchased are no longer available, but there are similar shelves on Etsy you can buy. “You get the privacy, the sun, and the greenery without taking up any floor space in a studio apartment with hardly any floor space. It’s the first thing people notice and love when they walk in the door.”

Another benefit of the floating shelves is that they don’t take up valuable real estate on the windowsill (which could also be used for potted plants). And if being a plant person doesn’t work out, you can always use the shelves for displaying objects that don’t require care. 

Perhaps I’ll start with a small potted plant and see if I’m able to keep that alive. But Suzi’s greenery display is proof that you can have the best of both worlds: privacy and natural light (with a bit of natural color, too!). As I mentioned before, Suzi knows a thing or two about designing in small spaces. So, if you appreciate her thoughtful greenery display, you’ll want to check out the full home tour for more ingenious ideas.