meilun

Indoor plants have been having a major moment for the past several years and have only begun to become more popular as we’ve started to spend more time at home. But green friends don’t just belong inside individual apartment units—they deserve to shine in building lobbies, too. 

The good news is an overly green thumb isn’t required in order to maintain a beautiful floral or plant display for all residents to enjoy. Even something as simple as a bouquet of gorgeously arranged fresh flowers can easily be replenished each week and will add instant elegance and charm to any lobby. Additionally, there are plenty of ultra realistic-looking faux plants on the market these days, too, if you’re most inclined to go that route! 

It’s simple enough to create a stunning indoor garden in the lobby in just a few steps. All it takes are a few energetic residents who are willing to volunteer to tackle the below tasks—the results  of which will make a major impact on daily life in the building.

1. Find the Right Planters

Toss those plastic pots that plants are housed in at the nursery and invest in some stylish planters that will correspond with your lobby’s existing decor. If you’re not sure where to begin, Mediterranean-inspired vessels are particularly on trend at the moment and look lovely with a variety of furniture styles and color schemes. If you’re looking to add more color to the lobby, you can also do so by way of planters—choose striped or patterned pottery that will add some pep to the entrance of your building.

2. Purchase Moss

Purchase a bag of moss that can be reused with each new plant. You can buy this while sourcing your plants and planters—Home Depot and Lowe’s are excellent one stop shops for all things gardening. Moss can improve indoor air quality, but let’s face it—it’s also simply more pleasant to look at than dirt, making it a worthwhile buy.

3. Pick Your Plants

Green friends come in all shapes and sizes, but don’t let too many options wear you out. Perhaps you can switch up the lobby’s plant display each season. In that case, I suggest purchasing healthy looking flowering plants such as mums for the fall. In the winter, opt for amaryllis, then display bulbs for the spring. Orchids look wonderful any time of year. If you wish to shop locally, these can be found at farmer’s markets around the city, supermarkets or garden/floral shops. They do not need to be expensive to make an impact! 

If you wish to streamline the process and purchase all of your necessary supplies online, there are many resources for doing so, too. Companies including White Flower Farm, Bloomscape, and The Sill, just to name a few, will deliver gorgeous, healthy, potted plants straight to your door in just a click. These websites are also an excellent place to go should you have questions about caring for a specific type of plant or determining how much sunlight a plant needs before you make your purchase. 

With a little TLC, it’s incredibly easy to add much-needed life into a lobby and create a space that will soothe and inspire residents each day.

As a New York City hallway and lobby designer, I pay close attention to the signage present within a building, keeping it top of mind throughout the design process—trust me, I have definitely witnessed cases in which signage was clearly an afterthought!

Signage is so critical within a building from both a practical and an aesthetic perspective. In my work focusing on New York City hallways and lobbies, I consider signage to be an essential component of the design process, just as important as carpet, lighting, wall treatments, and the like. After all, the signs hanging in apartment buildings tell us so much. Signs help residents and visitors—and the authorities, in the case of emergencies—navigate their way throughout a building and locate specific stairwells, floors, and units. In the event of a fire, proper signage is critical in directing rescue workers where to go and conveying which doors are accessible and functional.

From a design perspective, signage is its own form of branding with a building. And today, adequate branding is extremely important in a competitive resale marketplace. Factors to consider when selecting signage include the building’s overall color scheme, use of specific metal finishes, and the period of the building (historic, contemporary, et cetera). These factors may influence decisions such as what typeface and motifs should be incorporated into the signage. Elements used on interior and exterior signs can also be woven into staff uniforms, the building’s entryway awning, and the like, in order to solidify a building’s brand.

When it comes to signage within a building, consistency is key. You will want signs to be uniform throughout the interior and exterior of a building, both for aesthetic and branding related reasons. You can always opt for a two-toned option to play off of mixed metals incorporated into a building’s existing design if needed. Not sure what font to select? Picking a typeface can definitely be a fun process! If you need some inspiration, look to the building’s history.  Typefaces that were popular in the early 1920’s are quite different from ones used in the 1950’s and 60’s. Residents and visitors alike will appreciate thoughtful touches and close attention to detail, so don’t hesitate to get a bit creative!

So take it from me: No NYC hallway or lobby is complete without well thought out signage that will shine in these areas and beyond.