When Meghan Carter came to interview us, we wanted our home to look its very best. We stocked the kitchen clam-shell fruit bowl with a neat assortment of apples and laid out fresh towels in each bathroom. We even used a bit of fabric refresher for a light, welcoming scent. Instead of filling the rooms with expensive floral arrangements, we chose to use lush leafy greenery that complements our simple neutral palette and is readily available just steps from our backdoor.
We clipped a few fresh fern fronds to tuck into small bud vases in the bathrooms for an understated, natural touch:
For a bolder statement, we brought in larger leafy branches to display in oversized glass bottles in the living room. The scale of those branches fills the space without looking cluttered and adds an organic focal point.
Those green branches really pop against the red front door — a great reminder of how complementary colors can enhance a room’s impact without much effort.
Do you have rituals for preparing your home for special guests? Are there inexpensive decorating tricks you rely on, like harvesting interesting branches and twigs from your yard? We’d love to hear what simple, budget-friendly touches make your space feel welcoming.