Inside the orangery at Amal and George Clooney’s Oxfordshire estate, there is a whole different world from outside. A jungle’s worth of terracotta pots overflowing with citrus, roses, and Mediterranean greenery makes you want to abandon your own living room completely. If you think you need several Oscars and a blooming law career to get this, think again. With a few well-chosen pots and a plan, you can easily achieve this look.
Photographed for Vogue by Annie Leibovitz, the space offers greenhouse ideas and inspiration for all gardeners and houseplant parents – whether you have your own orangery-style greenhouse or a light-filled cozy corner.
Plan the Room Before You Plan the Plants
Xhensila Lala, Marketing Manager at William Morris Wallpaper Co., spent years studying how physical spaces affect how people feel before moving into garden design, and she says the biggest mistake people make is starting with plants instead of layout. “The first thing I say to anyone is to first use it as a floor plan and then develop your plant plan. A good rule of thumb is to have approximately 60% of the floor space covered with walking or open space and build from there.”
That’s the difference between a garden room and what Lala calls plant storage: “Greenhouses can also fall into this trap when the plants that are displayed are grouped by either their species or size instead of how a client or visitor will use the space when they are working or walking through it.”
Layer by Height, Not by Type
Height variation is what makes a small space feel full rather than cramped. Lala explains: “Floor-level pots, mid-level pots, and pots on the wall should each be approximately at three different heights. Not only do these pots all take up the same amount of square footage, but they also create the illusion of a fuller space.”
Loren Taylor, Owner of Outdoor Fountain Pros, uses a classic container technique to achieve something similar: “I often use the ‘thriller, filler, spiller‘ approach when planting containers. A tall plant, surrounded by other plants, and finished off with the third type, will create perfect harmony.”
Get Amal and George’s Rustic Pot Look
Choose Pots for Function, Not Just Looks
Container material isn’t just an aesthetic choice; Lala says it directly determines your maintenance workload: “Terracotta pots promote airflow into the root system, which helps reduce root rot due to excessive heat. Glazed ceramic pots retain moisture for a longer time period than terracotta, making them much better containers for the basil and parsley you will harvest at a minimum of once every few days. Getting this pairing correct from the start will dramatically lower your weekly maintenance upkeep.”
A set like these D’vine Dev terracotta pots on Amazon, which come in three sizes with built-in drainage and saucers, is an easy way to start layering your container heights while keeping that breathable terracotta material for plants prone to root rot.
Pair them with glazed ceramic pots, such as this Vancasso set in three sizes, also available on Amazon, for moisture-loving herbs such as basil and parsley that you don’t want to dry out between waterings.
Restraint Beats Abundance
It sounds counterintuitive for a “lush” look, but Taylor insists the secret is holding back: “Do not put too many plants in one container. Choose only the flowers that are important to you, repeat some of your favorite plants, use containers of the same style, and select plants within the same color range. Such repetition will bring harmony and balance to your garden.”
He flags overcrowding as one of the most common pitfalls: “The three most typical mistakes of greenhouse or container gardening are a bad watering system, bad drainage, and overcrowding of the plants. An overcrowded garden looks fantastic at first glance; however, after some time, plants will suffer.”
Don’t Forget Light – or Function
Lala says light is where people most often go wrong: “South and east-facing glass panes will provide approximately 6-8 hours of direct light for just about every type of plant, so tomatoes and dwarf citrus will be able to produce fruit for you from that full range of light. Drop your direct light below 6 hours, and your plant types will very quickly dwindle to just ferns and begonias.”
For plant choices, Taylor recommends mixing structure with edibles: “Choose plants that are easy to maintain and provide year-round interest, such as rosemary, ornamental grasses, sedum, boxwood, and dracaena.” And on the ornamental-versus-edible debate: “The answer will always be – use both of them! Rosemary, lavender, chives, strawberries, and even compact peppers produce fruits and look amazing at the same time.”
Make It a Room, Not a Shelf
Finally, Taylor suggests treating even a tiny container garden like a place to actually be: “Create paths, put a small bench there, and create different spots where it will be comfortable to relax. Hanging plants and soft lighting will definitely make the greenhouse more comfortable.”
Self-watering hanging planters, like these from UOUZ on Amazon, take the guesswork out of one of the biggest container garden mistakes Taylor warns about – inconsistent watering.
As balconies shrink and city gardens get smaller, that instinct is only growing more popular: “It is amazing how sometimes the smallest spaces may make us happy, especially with the right garden design ideas.”
You may not have an orangery like Amal and George Clooney, but with the right pots, a little restraint, and 60% open floor space, you can absolutely achieve the vibe.
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