Houseplant Guru
Care Guide

Indoor Plants for Dividers and Screens

By Rupert Foxton-Smythe

Indoor Plants for Dividers and Screens
On this page

Using plants as room dividers is one of the easiest ways to soften a space, hide a dull view, and bring natural beauty into your home. With a little planning and the right plant choices, you can turn greenery into a functional, stylish feature.

TL;DR

Plant screens divide rooms, hide poor views and add natural style. Choose structures like trellises, shelves or hanging baskets, and match climbers, trailers and large specimens to the available light. Proper planning ensures a functional, healthy and attractive green divider.

Properly planned, a screen of natural greenery can not only serve a practical purpose, but also make a decorative feature for a room. Give thought to choosing the right place and the right plants to achieve the effect you want.

You can use a screen of plants to section off one part of a room from another, or in front of a window to hide an unattractive view. In general, the larger the room the more effective your screen will be. But do check the level of natural light. Although a plant screen will allow some light through, it may reduce the amount of light to an unacceptable level.

There are several ways to make a room divider from plants.

Rigid trellising can make a permanent partition for climbing plants to grow up. To make the panels stand upright, screw short lengths of battening at regular intervals along each side of the base of the panel, to make ‘feet’. Then put plant containers each side of the trellis to hold it upright. Wire can also be used for climbers. Fix it to hooks secured into ceiling joists. Open shelves can house bushy and trailing plants. Specially designed units are available with cupboards below and open shelves above. If you want to make your own, hang a shelf about 30— 35cm (12-15in) below the ceiling, then place a floor-standing unit below. Put trailing plants on the shelf.

To mask an unattractive view from a window, you can put climbers in a trough placed on the sill, and train them up wires stretched in front of the window. Or fix glass shelves across the window and use these for plants. Baskets of trailing plants hung at different levels from the ceiling also make an effective screen.

Plant Selection

The plants you choose will depend on the type of screen you have decided to create, and how much light is available.

The list below gives climbers, trailers and specimen plants suitable for both sunny and darker areas.

Climbers

Sunny positions

  • Syngonium
  • Bougainvillea
  • Allamanda
  • Leadwort
  • Passion Flower
  • Madagascar Jasmine

Darker areas

  • Kangaroo Vine
  • Swiss Cheese Plant
  • Blushing Philodendron
  • Canary Island Ivy
  • Grape Ivy

Trailing plants

Sunny positions

  • Silver Vine
  • Passion Vine
  • Italian Bellflower

Darker areas

  • Piggyback Plant
  • Mother of Thousands
  • Staghom Fern
  • Sweetheart Plant
  • Emerald Fern
  • English Ivy
  • Maidenhair Fern

Large specimen plants

  • Kentia Palm
  • Weeping Fig
  • Parlour Palm
  • West Indian Holly
  • Sago Palm
  • Dieffenbachia
  • Japanese Aralia
  • Yucca
  • Indoor Lime
  • European Fan Palm
“A well-placed screen of plants can divide a room, filter harsh views, and transform ordinary corners into living, breathing décor.”

More Information On Indoor Plants for Dividers and Screens

Plant screens are one of the most flexible and attractive ways to shape the layout of a room while adding natural texture and life. When planned carefully, they serve functional and decorative roles, helping divide open spaces, soften architectural lines and disguise undesirable views. Before choosing plants or structures, it’s important to consider the room’s natural light, since even the most tolerant species still need enough brightness to stay healthy. While a plant screen filters light gently, it can also reduce illumination more than expected, especially in smaller rooms, so always evaluate lighting beforehand. There are several approaches to building a plant-based screen. Rigid trellis panels offer a sturdy backdrop for climbers and can act as a permanent or semi-permanent divider. For extra stability, simple wooden battens at the base can create “feet” to keep the trellis upright when paired with containers on both sides. Ceiling-fixed wires provide another option for climbers, allowing them to rise vertically without taking up much floor space. Open shelving units create layered green walls when filled with bushy and trailing plants; installing a shelf close to the ceiling for cascading varieties adds height and softness. In front of windows, trough planters with climbing plants trained up wires work well for disguising poor views while still allowing filtered light. Hanging baskets arranged at different heights can also form a floating screen that feels airy and organic. Choosing your plants is the key to success. Climbers like bougainvillea, passion flower and syngonium thrive in bright spots, while philodendrons and ivy handle dimmer areas. Trailing plants such as Italian bellflower or piggyback plant help add volume and flow, and large specimens like palms, figs and aralias anchor the screen with structure. With thoughtful placement and the right combination of textures, you can create a living divider that feels intentional, lush and perfectly suited to your space.

About the author

Rupert Foxton-Smythe

Rupert Foxton-Smythe is a seasoned horticulturist and avid plant enthusiast with over three decades of experience in the field of botany. As a leading expert at Houseplant Guru, Rupert brings a wealth of knowledge and a deep passion for all things green.

View profile →
← Back to all care guides

Related care guides