This might not be the case for everyone, but when I was in college, newly activated stoners commonly decorated their dorm room or apartment with Bob Marley tapestries and stocked Nag Champa incense boxes in bulk. There was a quintessential Millennial aesthetic fit for the freshly sprouted cannabis aficionado.
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As the former slouchy-beanie-wearing crowd grows into full-on adults with kids and mortgages, how has that aesthetic evolved? In my house, I add cannabis moments that will catch the eye of a visitor keen on the plant.
I’m a new mom getting used to what social cannabis consumption means to someone tasked with keeping a child alive. Though cannabis comes up pretty quickly at toddler parties due to my line of work, I don’t necessarily bring a joint to every barbecue anymore. Nor do I have a bong packed and ready for guests when they arrive. As we get older, the plant isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.
These subtle interior design hints can serve as a way to open the conversation. They won’t necessarily scream “I SMOKE WEED” to everyone who walks in, but someone keen on the plant will key in and probably ask more questions. It’s a solid way to identify whether a guest might want to partake.
Hang it on the walls
Hanging a framed piece of art on the wall is very adult, and the maturity levels don’t always change if it’s cannabis art. Photographers, painters, and illustrators are creating elevated pieces inspired by the plant that could be hung in a gallery.
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Liam Wesley Goodman spends hours on hyper-realistic pencil drawings of cannabis plants and trichomes. The realistic pieces always have me questioning whether it’s a drawing or a photograph.
Speaking of macro cannabis photography, those are also a stunning addition to a cozy space or gallery wall. Cannabis photographers like Chris Romaine aka Kandid Kush and Devin Stein from Things From Stein Farm sell prints of their detailed macro photography.
These artists are ideal for someone looking to display their love for the plant without pinning up a tapestry or relying on psychedelic art to deliver the message.
Art you can smoke out of
Gone are the days of having a bong on the coffee table, at least for me and my two-year-old. But that doesn’t mean your cute bong has to be hidden. Yew Yew comes to mind when considering a bong that hides in plain sight.
The Yew Yew Wavy Mini and Sunset Bongs can slide into shelves as a bookend or on a table displaying a fresh bouquet of summer blooms. Their artistic shape and striking colorways give these pieces authority to stand as more than just a cannabis accessory. They’re intentional design elements.
Sackville Crystal Ball pipes are also stunning and wouldn’t look out of place amid decor choices–as long as you keep it clean. Find a colorway that meshes with your interior design style and easily display this aesthetic accessory on the bar, on an apothecary shelf, or up on the mantle.
Cop a classy ashtray
There’s something classic about having a squeaky clean ashtray in reach but not on display for a function. Perhaps it speaks to ye olde times when cigarette smoking was more common, but as someone who loves cannabis and likes hosting– it’s a move that I like to make.
Thrift stores are stockpiled with Granny’s old crystal ashtray and kitschy options from long-lost bars. Before buying something new or splurging over budget, go to the nearest thrift and see what’s on the shelves. For buying new, companies like Houseplant have been bending the concept of the living room ashtray in recent years.
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Co-founder Seth Rogen was most recently seen promoting the new Side Table Ashtray on Instagram. That piece is enticing, but my favorite from the brand is the Standing Ashtray, though I love using my classic tabletop option from the brand. There’s no better vessel for someone who likes to have a joint on hand.
Elevate your reading list
Now I’m no interior designer, but I think when it comes to having a point of view, the most effective touchpoint in a living space is the coffee table book and/or magazine you choose. Those who love cannabis have probably leafed through Broccoli, a “publisher of unusual delights.”
Twice a year, the magazine looks at the plant through an artful lens, each issue looking from a new angle. While having Broccoli mag on display is one excellent way to bring the plant into a space, they publish books too.
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A Weed is a Flower is a classic art book featuring photography capturing ethereal flower arrangements. Still gorgeous but perhaps a bit more silly, Snail World: Life in the Slimelight transports you to an alternate universe where snails and frogs live in a world of miniatures. It’s eccentric and, at the end of the day, intends to remind people to appreciate the small celebrations of life.
Having anything from Broccoli on the coffee table serves as a conversation starter, just pick the one that suits your vibe best.
Be You!
At the end of the day, the greatest ambassador of the plant is you. How you consume, where you consume, and what you consume sends a message to those around you. If they want to join in, being your authentic self can serve as a good invitation.
It doesn’t hurt to add cannabis fashion into the mix as well. Be about the plant with streetwear pieces from Mesobis, hit the lounge in Sundae School, or check out some other cannabis clothing brands.
It’s not necessary to incorporate cannabis into your interior design, but it does make consumption feel normal instead of shameful.
Having your bong displayed as a gorgeous piece rather than coated with resin and hidden behind the couch shows that being a cannabis consumer isn’t shameful. In fact, with all of the cute cannabis accessories available now, it can be downright stylish.