10 Design and Declutter Ideas to Spiff Up Your Home

"To really breathe life into your space, add something alive."

I love to fill my rooms with people, pets and plants. But I don't have a green thumb, so I buy plants I can neglect. My favorites are pots of hanging ivy, big philodendra (the large-leaf variety) and cacti, which thrive not just on neglect but abuse. I've had excellent luck buying all these at big-box stores and supermarkets. Then I drop them into waterproof clay pots or jardinieres and plop them in my front hall, on a countertop, or in the corner of my living room. I keep the leaves dust-free with a weekly shower in the tub—or to add shine, I just spray them with some watered-down milk.