Come Inside Flora Amalie’s Urban Jungle Apartment in Berlin, Germany

I stumbled across Flora’s Instagram and was immediately drawn to the cozy apartment she has created in the midst of bustling Berlin. Her super stylish space is overflowing with gorgeous plants that hang from the ceiling, sit on shelves, and are propped up on books. They are the ultimate decorating accessory that make her rooms feel alive. Flora is passionate about creating and decorating. She’s an artist and interior decorator and says “home should be a place you can sit and look at for hours, a sanctuary, and something that brings you joy.”

HOMEWORTHY: How do you describe your interior design style?

FLORA AMALIE: Danish hygge meets an urban jungle! I’ve tried to create a country vibe in the city, so my apartment is a sanctuary away from grimy Berlin. I named my apartment the “Treehaus,” even though I’m on the ground floor, because I’ve always dreamed of living in a treehouse, so that’s the look I almost subconsciously go for. My decor style is largely shaped by the furniture I’ve collected over the years, some inherited family pieces and a lot of flea market finds. I have furniture from my childhood home, and mid-century modern pieces that I’ve found for cheap in Denmark, mixed with a lot of flea market finds furniture when I first moved to Berlin. Looking around my apartment and feeling a profound sense of joy, and seeing myself reflected back to me from the decor, is more important to me than following trends or having a home that looks good in photos (although I obviously don’t mind when it does)!

HOMEWORTHY: What are your favorite things in your home?

FA: I’d say my desk for sure! I got it back when I lived in Denmark, where mid-century modern was pretty easy to find, especially pieces like this one that are authentic, but not by one of the celebrated designers of that time. But it was still hard to find the perfect one, and I ended up getting it at an online auction house, and had to go through a bit of a bidding war for it! I don’t take as good care of it as I should, it’s full of scratches and paint marks because it serves as my art space too, but once in a while I give it a makeover!

FA: The matching teak shelves above my desk, I got them from my grandfathers apartment when he passed away, and they remind me of him. It also fits books, plants and art supplies perfectly. I’ve moved them around a lot too, I find them classic and versatile!

FA: I really like my kitchen dining corner setup at the moment! The table was the first thing my parents bought when they moved in together in the sixties in Copenhagen, and we ate all of our family dinners there when I was growing up, so that table has a lot of sentimental value! The plate rack above the table was made by my grandfather who was an artist and an architect. I never kew him but I have his paintings, and this. The chairs I found in an antique store in Copenhagen and they actually spent a couple of years as shop chairs in my best friends tattoo shop here in Berlin because I thought they wouldn’t fit in my apartment!

HOMEWORTHY: Any sneaky decorating tips?

FA: This isn’t going to revolutionize anything, but book stacks with little decorative items and plants on top of them are never a bad idea! And plants as book ends… plants everywhere actually!

FA: Things don’t have to serve their original purpose! I have a vintage floating wall cabinet in my kitchen that didn’t fit on any walls, and it’s working out fine as a floor pantry! And I use an old spice rack for my nail polish and an old hat rack for towels.

HOMEWORTHY: What is your go-to hostess gift?

FA: I’ll usually bring a plant! I feel like that’s something every home needs, and since I have a lot, I can usually pick something with a high chance of survival even in the home of someone who doesn’t have a green thumb! Oh, and snacks. Who doesn’t like plants and snacks.

*Photos by Flora Amalie