Floral 'n' Pretty: Flowers and Greenery Around the Home

With Shavuos only a few days away, I decided to take a slight detour and discover the magic that flowers and greenery bring to our homes.

Start with the dining table

Never underestimate what a beautiful floral arrangement at the centre of the dining table does to a room. This fresh greenery shrub base with tall white orchids lends itself to the elegance and opulence of its space.

Personally I love arrangements — I much prefer an arrangement to a bunch of flowers dumped in a vase. Let me let you in on my own secret: I keep a supply of green oasis, wire and arrangement bases, and instead of ordering a ready-made arrangement, I buy good-quality flowers and arrange them myself. For the creative mothers out there, give it a try and enjoy looking at your own masterpiece on your yom tov table.

Fresh arrangements aren't always feasible, though, so you may want to consider a fake arrangement that lasts. (That is, good fake, rather than fake fake — if you know what I mean.) These attractive fuchsia orchid arrangements were bought for a client's dining table and mantelpiece. Yes, I'm fond of orchids — can you tell?

Let's face it: here in Yerushalayim not many have the luxury of a green garden. So instead of a back, front or side garden, can we at least have a fresh green plant in the living room to compensate?

Where you wouldn't think to put flowers

The bedroom. Two posies are far more aesthetic and artful than a pile of messy magazines — especially as you aim towards your hotel-inspired bedroom.

The bathroom. Continue the hotel theme into your en-suite or guest bathroom. A neat tray with rolled hand towels, a candle, some pampering lotions and a modest floral or greenery accessory, and you've upscaled the room a notch or two.

Or something simple yet effective: small potted plants that add the pop of colour an anemic bathroom badly needed. It works because of the repetition — simple and economical, yet a group of three gives it a wow look. These can be bought almost anywhere: Zol Stock, IKEA, Max Stock. An inexpensive item for an expensive look.

Or use the same threesome idea with hydrangeas for a different feel.

The kitchen. As a table centrepiece, in a corner, or along your bar. Use the threesome again, but this time add whole or sliced fruit to the vases for a summery, fruity look.

The entrance. Three again, but different heights add interest and give a composition-like feel rather than a linear one. These topiary balls can be found in Geulah, especially around Succos.

And one more idea

Who said floral arrangements have to rest on the table? Why can't they come from above?