Ever dreamed of creating a calm and cozy spot at home to relax and recharge, but don’t think you can spare the space? Plant stylist Hilton Carter says all you need is one corner indoors to create a cozy 'nature nook.' Make sure it has warm lighting, a comfortable chair and plants that make you happy.
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Probably not, doctors sayA Galapagos albatross' 3,000-mile detour to California puzzles scientistsSome people tape their mouths shut at night. Doctors wish they wouldn'tIt's freezing cold and you've lost power. Here's what emergency doctors want you to doYoung people are protesting ICE and reenacting immigration raids in online gaming platform RobloxHere’s what dermatologists are saying about your skin care routine: Keep it simpleRecaudaciones muestran a republicanos muy por delante de demócratas antes de elecciones legislativas | This 2025 image provided by Hilton Carter shows a plant-centered seating area at his home in Baltimore. This 2025 image provided by Hilton Carter shows a plant-centered seating area at his home in Baltimore. This 2025 image provided by Hilton Carter shows a plant-centered seating area at his home in Baltimore. This 2025 image provided by Hilton Carter shows a plant-centered seating area at his home in Baltimore. This 2025 image provided by Hilton Carter shows a plant-centered seating area at his home in Baltimore. This 2025 image provided by Hilton Carter shows a plant-centered seating area at his home in Baltimore. Have you dreamed of creating a calm and cozy spot at home to relax and recharge, but don’t think you can spare the space?One corner, warm lighting, a cozy chair and some plants, says interior and plant stylist Hilton Carter, who specializes in “nature nooks” — tiny wellness sanctuaries that calm the mind, body and spirit. Carter has hosted plant-forward specials for HBO and PBS, launched a plant and accessories line with Target and authored six books Carter, 48, found himself leaning toward plants a decade ago. “I was feeling overwhelmed by the hustle and grind working as a freelance filmmaker in Los Angeles when a project took me to Glen Mills, Pennsylvania,” he said.“I was all knotted up, and I walked in there and felt a change. It felt like a vacation,” he said. Not long after, Carter moved to New Orleans and bought a fiddle-leaf fig tree he named Frank. “I was at a crossroads in life, which all of us face, and I faced it with this plant,” he said, adding that he made a vow to love it and keep it alive. “Everything I’ve accomplished since then was all due to that moment.”Today, Carter, who lives in Baltimore with his wife and two children, has roughly 150 plants at home and another 200 or so in his studio, including Frank, now 14 feet tall. But creating a nature nook with as few as five plants can reap emotional benefits, he said.“There is no minimum or maximum size” for a nature-nook corner, he says. The important thing is “how lush you decide to make it.” Next, assess lighting. “If one side of the corner has a nice-size window and it gets southern-facing light for eight hours of the day, there are particular plants that you could go wild with that could thrive in that light,” Carter said. “But let’s say you have a north-facing window on one wall and it’s a standard-size window. You probably will want to bring in artificial light.”“Find those companies that make beautiful grow bulbs. Some have two-color tones, some daylight and others make warmer lights” that make the space inviting but still help plants thrive, Carter said. If relying on natural light, consider the seasons. “It may be brighter in the winter because all the leaves on the trees are gone, but in summer that’s a whole different situation.”Bring in “some sort of accent chair facing whatever direction is going to provide you with joy: facing out the window, where the joy is having that sun caress your face, or facing in if you’re reading,” Carter said.“Be self-aware about your ability to care for plants,” Carter said. Your nook might start out looking lush and beautiful, but if you don’t take the time to care for the plants, it will look terrible and uninviting within weeks.When creating nature nooks for clients, Carter asks them about their favorite vacations or where they spent honeymoons or anniversaries, because bringing in plants from those places can trigger happy memories. “Think about your happy place,” Carter advised. “Get a sense of what you want to replicate and where you want to be transported to.”When choosing plants, consider their foliage and how they look together. The glossiness of a burgundy Ficus elastica next to a Monstera ‘Thai constellation,’ for instance, is striking, he says. “But if you met your wife in the Pacific Northwest and you’re looking to create a look that’s similar to that, you’re going to get your more shaded plants -- ferns, Norfolk pines, things that refer back to that space,” he said. And don’t overlook pots. A beautiful terracotta planter that fits the space’s vibe will evoke emotion and set the mood of the nook.Consider how tall plants will grow, and how high the ceilings and windows are. Carter also advises being mindful of the type of flooring. “Use planters that will protect the floor” in case water drains out. Toxicity is another important matter. “Do you have pets? Do you have kids? What kinds of plants will thrive and keep them safe?” he said.Once your nature nook is in place, create a routine. Maybe drink your morning coffee there or read there in the evenings. Using the space regularly can be transformative, Carter said. “I’m much more patient, more kind, considerate and I’m a better listener because of plants,” he said. “I think I’m entirely a more loving individual than before.”Jessica Damiano writes weekly gardening columns for the AP and publishes the award-winning Weekly Dirt Newsletter. You can sign up
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