The Indoor Sun Guide
How to Place Plants with Light, Rhythm, and Intention
Most plant problems don’t start in the soil.
They start with light or more often, how we misunderstand it.
We hear it everywhere:
“Put your plant in bright, indirect light.”
But what does that mean? And how does it translate into real rooms, real windows, and the changing rhythm of the seasons?
This guide is here to help you stop guessing and start placing your plants with clarity, purpose, and style.
🧭 Step 1: Map Your Light
Your home already has zones of energy morning light, filtered afternoon light, shadow pockets. You just have to track them. Use painter’s tape or an app like Sun Seeker. Watch how the light shifts from morning to evening.
If your hand casts a soft, blurred shadow, that’s bright indirect light.
A sharp shadow? That’s direct sun. No shadow at all? Likely too dim.
🔅 Step 2: Zone Your Space
Once you’ve mapped the light, divide your space into three tiers:
Bright Light (within 3 ft of a South/East window)
Great for Ficus, Citrus, Succulents, and CactiMedium Light (4–6 ft away or filtered)
Ideal for Monstera, Pothos, Philodendron, FernsLow Light (interior corners or North-facing walls)
Best for ZZ Plants, Aglaonema, Snake Plants
These zones shift slightly as seasons change so should your plants.
🔄 Step 3: Rotate & Adjust Seasonally
Your sofa doesn’t need to move when the sun shifts but your plants do.
In summer, pull plants back 6–12 inches to prevent leaf scorch.
In winter, move light-hungry plants into your brightest windows.
Use rolling plant stands for easy seasonal repositioning.
And remember: rotation = balance. Turn plants every 2–3 weeks to avoid lopsided growth.
🪴 Step 4: Read the Plant’s Language
Your plant is talking. Here’s how to listen:
Leaning = chasing light
Curling = stress (light or humidity)
Fading or brown spots = sunburn
No growth, pale leaves = too little light
Each of these is a cue to shift the plant not throw it out.
🎨 Style With Rhythm
At Roots & Roasts, we believe in soulful minimalism designing with rhythm, not clutter. Let plants anchor bright corners, soften direct light, and align with your furniture’s form.
Think:
Upright plants in clean-lined rooms
Trailing textures to soften hard architecture
Layered heights: tall in back, bushy in middle, trailing in front
Your plants shouldn’t just survive your space they should shape its mood.
📥 Get the Free PDF
We created a free Indoor Sun Guide PDF with:
A seasonal placement calendar
Light zone planning grid
Styling-by-light cheat sheet
Tool recommendations (from our Lowe’s Tool Hub)
📲 Need Help? Our Concierge Is Here
If you manage an office, retail space, or styled home and want expert support we offer personalized plant placement, rotation maps, and seasonal styling through our Roots & Roasts Concierge.
No fluff. No guesswork. Just growth.
Let your home reflect your rhythm.
Let your plants reflect your sun.
Tag us in your placements:
TikTok: @roots_androasts
Instagram: @focus_newyork