When homeowners decorate their houses in the Washington, DC metro area, the finishing touch for many is a vase full of flowers that will greet them on a table by the front door. It's a wonderful treat that you can give to yourself, your family and your friends as they enter your home. Depending on your budget, flowers around the home can be done extravagantly or simply. Here are my Top 6 Favorite Ideas for decorating with flowers and plants in the home.

Stems Vases

I found these wonderful vases at a Sugarloaf Crafts Festival a number of years back when I was looking for a housewarming gift for one of our buyer/clients at Buyer's Edge. They are handmade by Mari Schultz out of Austin, Texas. What I love about their vases is that they can be filled with flowers, lemons, oranges, and even asparagus! They are so easy to use, their possibilities are endless and they make terrific gifts. 

Caterpillar Vases

Orchids

Orchids placed around the home give any room they grace a calm, elegant impression. My personal favorites are white orchids, but they also can be found in red, orange, purple, green and pink freckles! Today, orchids can easily be purchased at  Home Depot, Safeway, Giant and American Plant Food. Orchids are relatively inexpensive, easy to maintain and stay in bloom for months. American Plant Food in Bethesda, MD can create one-of-a-kind custom orchid floral arrangements that are out of this world! 

Large Green Leaves in Glass Vases

This idea is so simple and easy.  Just place three or four large leaves in a vase and you are done! They are lovely and last forever. This is a wonderful example by Designinaday.com who are highly recommended by many homeowners in MD, VA, DC.

Roses in Crystal Vases

One of my all time favorites is buying a large bunch of roses from Costco or Whole Foods and cutting the stems short so they peek over the lip of the vase. This is a quick and easy way to achieve a warm, welcoming, casual feel when guests are coming over for dinner or staying for the weekend. It also keeps the roses looking fresh longer.

Glorious Calla Lilies

Calla Lilies come in a variety of colors and they have a long shelf life. My favorite colors are eggplant, Spring green, and snow white.

Local Florists

There're many extremely talented and creative floral designers in the Washington DC metro area and Baltimore, MD region. However, one of my favorite places to run in and quickly purchase an elegant, professionally created floral arrangement for your home or condo is at Johnson's Florist and Garden Centers in Washington, DC. Just dash into the refrigerated enclosed area in the back of the store and you will find the "to-go" arrangements among the buckets and buckets of gorgeous flowers. Johnson’s also has an amazing selection of exotic flowers by the stem. This is where you also can purchase those large green leaves!

Flowers from Local Farmer's Markets

Buying fresh-cut flowers from local farmer's markets around Maryland, DC, and Virginia add a relaxed yet thoughtful approach to decorating with flowers and plants in the home. Nothing is quite so pretty and simple as an unconstructed bouquet of seasonal flowers from Wollam Gardens. They're perfect in a guest bedroom or centerpiece for a festive dinner party. Heck, put a bunch in your own bedroom and make yourself feel special!

In 2022, why don't you try adding some flowers into your living space on a more regular basis? When you walk through your front door, I hope the addition of beautiful flowers and plants will increase your sense of peace and contentment when you finally arrive home.