What does a residential plant design proposal typically include?
A residential plant design proposal is a written plan for how living and faux plants will work in your home — room by room, with the reasoning behind each choice. It is more than a list of plants to buy. A good proposal explains what belongs where, why it fits the light and the way you actually live, and what it takes to keep the space looking intentional months after installation. For Boulder, Denver, and Front Range homes, that clarity matters, because light, dry air, and everyday habits shape which plants will thrive and which will quietly struggle.
The proposal usually follows a 60-minute walkthrough consultation, currently priced at $75. The consultation is where we read the space. The proposal is where that reading becomes a concrete plan you can picture, budget, and approve.
Scope: which rooms and moments the plan covers
The first thing a residential proposal defines is scope. It names the specific areas being addressed — an entryway that needs a warmer welcome, a living room corner that feels unfinished, a kitchen shelf, a primary bath, a home office. Rather than scattering plants evenly through the house, the plan focuses on the moments where greenery will do the most for how a room feels and functions.
Defining scope early keeps the project grounded. It makes the difference between a few high-impact statement plants and a fuller, room-by-room plantscape clear before anyone starts sourcing.
Plant palette and the living-versus-faux strategy
Next comes the plant palette: which species or greenery are recommended for each zone, chosen for the light and conditions in that specific spot. A bright south-facing window, a dim hallway, and a bathroom with almost no natural light each call for different plants, so the palette is organized by area rather than treated as one blanket recommendation.
The proposal also spells out where living plants make sense and where high-end faux is the smarter design choice. Living plants bring movement and natural variation when there is enough light and reasonable access. Faux earns its place in dark corners, on hard-to-reach shelves, or in homes where consistent appearance matters more than growth. Many residential plans land on a hybrid — living where conditions support it, faux where they do not — and the proposal makes that logic visible so nothing feels arbitrary.
Planters, placement, and how it all fits the room
A plant is only half of the picture; the container and its placement carry the design. So a residential proposal includes planter and container recommendations chosen to match your interior, along with placement notes that account for ceiling height, furniture scale, walkways, and sightlines. A tall fiddle leaf fig that anchors one corner might overwhelm another, and a cluster of smaller pots can sometimes do more than a single large specimen. Those proportions are worked out on paper before the plants arrive.
This is where the design-forward part of the process shows up. The goal is a plantscape that looks composed and deliberate — as if it was always meant to be there.
Sourcing, installation, and timeline assumptions
A useful proposal is honest about logistics. It outlines sourcing direction and the assumptions behind installation, including a typical lead time of about two to four weeks depending on plant and planter availability. Installation generally begins with a 50% deposit. Because sourcing timelines depend on what is in season and in stock, the proposal keeps those estimates conditional rather than promising exact dates.
Maintenance recommendation
Care belongs in the proposal, not as an afterthought. The plan notes what the recommended plants will need and offers a maintenance rhythm — whether you would prefer to self-manage with guidance or hand off care on a weekly, biweekly, or as-needed basis. Maintenance is available at $75/hour, and the right cadence depends on the plant choices, light, access, and season. In Colorado, where dry indoor air and strong sun shift care needs quickly, planning maintenance up front keeps the installation looking good in real life, not just on install day.
Budget: what the numbers usually look like
Finally, a residential proposal makes the investment clear. The proposal itself typically falls in the $300–$750 range depending on scope. Once plants, planters, sourcing, and installation are included, smaller room projects commonly start around $1,000, with fuller, multi-room plans scaling from there. Talking budget early lets the design match both the space and the level of investment, so the plan you approve is one that actually fits your home.
You can see how a home plantscape comes together on the residential plant design page, or review common questions about process and pricing in the FAQs.
