Greetings & Salutations
Roll out a red-carpet welcome with a vignette of seasonal flowers, a distinctive vase and a textured table
Image courtesy istock
The importance of a first impression is as irrefutable as the frustration that arrives with tax time every April. And this doesn't just hold true for face-to-face meetings, but for welcoming people into your home for the first time, as well.
But don't worry - creating an inviting entryway to welcome your guests doesn't have to cost a lot of money. There are tricks of the trade that can make all the difference, according to Petal Harvill, the owner of Petal Designs in Boca Raton, Fla.
Harvill recommends dressing up the foyer with orchids - "They are whimsy looking. It's a welcoming, bright feeling to enter into."
New York City-based florist Sal LoMonaco, president of Academy Floral Company, agrees that orchids are the best way to get the most bang for your buck in the entry.
Another route LoMonaco recommends for the foyer is to invest in a decorative vase and place just a couple flowers in it.
"We find a lot of people buying nicer vases and then putting a few flowers in them. Just a few," he cautions, "as opposed to having a whole bouquet. They come in and pick out the vase and then we match the color flowers with them."
Harvill warns against putting flowers with a strong odor in the entryway. These flowers, such as lilies, usually have more pollen, which can be a turn off to some guests.
"Also avoid flowers that shed easily, and anything that's spiky with thorns that may snag on sweaters," Harvill says.
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