I Invented a Gorgeous Way to Display Plants in Small Spaces (It Even Works in Low Light!)

I am lucky enough to work from home full time, which means I’ve had to create a home office in an apartment that doesn’t necessarily have a dedicated space for one. It’s a challenge many have faced in recent years — and boy, does it require a lot of heavy lifting and creative spirit. It’s especially true for me, in a very tight ground-floor apartment where I’ve rejiggered my layout a few times to find the right mix for me.

My office has to be functional enough that I can actually focus, but there’s an added element that many of my guests marvel at: a collection of houseplants that require a good dose of natural light. These two problems, it turns out, have the same solution.

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I moved into this partially garden-level railroad apartment after living in a bright and airy, third-floor space where I had a room dedicated as an office. As with most older, New York City apartments, my layout has a lot of quirks, so I knew that I’d have to be strategic with how I set up my workspace if I was ever going to get any real work done. 

The middle room featured the only full-size, south-facing windows — the perfect place to put a desk. The next step was to figure out how to create distance between the work area and the rest of the room, which housed my bed, the apartment’s only closet, and my dresser. 

It was a no-brainer for me: Turn those windows into a plant haven and isolate the workspace by surrounding it with houseplants. My secret weapon? A simple closet rod.

I learned the hard way that not all rods are the same — most window curtain rods and closet rods handle very different weights. Curtain rods aren’t designed to hold more than breezy linens or drapery; I’ve returned home to find coverings on the floor, holes ripped from the wall, broken planters, dirt everywhere and very unhappy plants. And curtain rods also aren’t made to hold both window dressings and, well, anything else (it felt hard to try to fit everything in one spot!).

A heavy-duty closet rod is a much different story: They’re made to carry a load — I purchased this painted steel adjustable version that holds up to 120 pounds, which is beyond sufficient. And they’re very cost-effective. My setup rang in at about $30 installed — $25 for the rod itself and $5 for a pair of closet rod sockets. Cheaper than most curtain rods! (I’d also considered using shelf brackets with closet rods so I could add a shelf above for even more plants, but decided that was overkill.)

Now I have a separate regular rod for my curtains, which means I can open and close them with ease, plus a second rod that holds a rotating cast of hanging plants in macramé and rope planters. The result is a layered, jungly situation that makes sitting down at my desk feel more like settling into a treehouse than logging on for another Zoom call.

This took all of 30 minutes (max!) to install. I knew I wanted to place the plant rod lower than the curtain rod — I wanted to be able to pull the drapes shut over the plants if needed — but not so low as the plants would interfere with my desk setup. Once I found the sweet spot, I marked where I’d screw in the rod sockets by measuring down from the top of the window on each side. 

Because I was drilling directly into wood, I didn’t have to use anchors (I would have if I was going into drywall). Once the sockets were set, I placed the rod, extended it to the right length, and voilà! I was done in the time it takes to stream an episode of 30 Rock.  

If you choose to create your own hanging plant display at home, finding the right kind of bar for the job is only one challenge; you’ll also need to consider which foliage is better for this unique setup. I had to also factor in that my planters also add weight — everything from ceramic, stone, terracotta, or even heavier concrete — and retain water (they can’t drain!) with more weight. A heavy-duty curtain rod stands up to it all, but I always choose to water my plants on solid ground (and let them dry out!) before I place them back on their display.

If you’re blessed with a southern-exposed window and full sunlight, the world is your oyster for this setup. But if you’re anything like me and have limited, indirect sunlight, you’ll need to focus on finding cute, low-maintenance classics. Think: Pothos, spider plants, philodendrons, and tradescantia, all my go-tos. Not only are they unfussy, but I love the way the different leaf shapes, textures, and growth patterns complement each other. 

I suspend the plants with a basic S-hook looped over the rod. For planters that have a closed loop or ring (versus a “clothing hanger” style hook), I prefer this method as it allows for easy removal for watering. I also use a mix of macramé hangers I’ve collected over the years, many of which I’ve made myself. The varying lengths, sizes, and colors are key — they create depth and make the whole thing feel intentional rather than just “a bunch of plants in front of a window.”

In winter, many of my plants migrate to the grow lights I have set up in a separate living room space, so the window display thins out considerably. What’s left is more minimalist — a couple of hardy hangers that don’t mind the shorter days and lower light — and honestly, there’s something I’ve come to appreciate. Moving things around keeps the space novel and refreshing.

I’m not someone who can work in a sterile environment — and live foliage has created an oasis space that helps me focus and feel more comfortable at home. Whether you’re looking to re-create my particular setup or are searching for a way to layer plants into your home, tapping into the genius of a closet clothing bar lets you fully lean into hanging plants. 

Using the closet rod as a structural part of that display has been one of the best low-effort, high-impact moves I’ve made in my home to truly boost my day-to-day happiness.