When I encounter a home with no plants or cut flowers to enjoy something is lacking. Yes plants can be a responsibility with watering and without adequate light they will perish, but with a variety of low light hearty drought tolerant plants it's tough to find an excuse.
There are makers of self watering planters for the busy traveler and ignorable plant that will do fine just about anywhere you put them. I will not resort to the faux variety but I must admit being duped a few times with excellent impersonators. If you need a little push and direction on these matters read this POST or this great article from NY Times Home & Garden.
The Fall is an especially great time of year to bring plants indoors to liven up the space while the outdoors wilt away from frosts. It's also a good time of year for budding gardeners to save up and pre-order zippy planters which inevitably cost more than the plants. At my work Sprout Home I splurged on this incredible geometric planter from Planter Worxs a local Brooklyn company and planted two gorgeous orchids for my mantle. This beauty satiates my cut flower needs nicely.
If you still don't get the drift houseware items that evoke the outdoors is a nice way to bring nature in. Such is this forest lamp shade I have over my table.
Or fun textiles and prints inspired by nature, rest your eyes on these textiles from Voyesy
and Obrist embroidery similar to a botanical plate showing plant leaves, bud, flower and root.
Is it too much to ask for a lemon tree for Christmas?