COLUMN: Gail Mayhugh

DEAR GAIL: What are your thoughts on decorating with plants? Should we get real ones or silk, and what type and where? -- Suzanne

DEAR SUZANNE: I love decorating with plants. They bring the outdoors in, breathe life into any room and soften your décor. Green represents life, nature and growth. It is the most prominent color on the Earth's surface. It is so prevalent in nature that we never question its place in any room, no matter the color scheme.

So, with that said, how green are your thumbs? If you have the time, and can grow and maintain healthy, good-looking plants, by all means decorate with real plants. Live plants breathe oxygen into the air and make us feel good about having living and growing items in our homes.

But, if your thumbs are brown like mine, silk plants are the best way to go. There is nothing worse than seeing brown, limp and dying plants in a home. It immediately gives the feeling and impression of being unmaintained.

With live plants, first consider where you are going to place them. How much light will they get? What size container can you use? Have this information in mind when you start shopping for your plants. You'll want to select plants whose lighting requirements and container needs are suitable for the area you are placing them.

If you're new to growing house plants, go to a nursery to purchase them. Talk to an expert who can properly direct you to a plant that will do well in your home. Some that even I've had success with are philodendron, mother-in-law tongue, Boston fern and jade plant.

If you prefer silk plants, there are some guidelines you'll want to follow.

First, even though they are silk, you want them to look as real as possible. To do this, select greenery and flowers that are also found in nature. Purchase the best quality you can afford because good-quality silk more closely resembles real plants.

Also, silk plants require maintenance. Clean them on a regular basis so that dust doesn't build up, and shine the leaves to give them a healthy appearance.

If you are going to place silks on your front porch or back patio, in addition to using only plants normally seen in nature and especially in our environment, place them in outdoor containers and add dirt to the top instead of fake green moss. The dirt gives the illusion that the plants could be real and, if you do spend a little more on them, you'll have your guests guessing.

Whether live or silk, you'll want to select plants that coordinate with your rooms' theme, mood, style and color scheme. Classic traditional arrangements could include roses, irises, snapdragons and carnations. If your décor is more casual, consider mixing greens such as pothos and ivy with flowering plants such as sunflowers and daisies. Have more clean lines and smooth surfaces? Use bold exotic flowers. Orchids are a favorite; they have strong lines that look wonderful standing all on their own.

Another tip is to cluster plants giving them identity and weight, especially if they are too small to be placed alone. Group plants in odd numbers and with different heights.

Create interest by elevating plants. Ferns are especially attractive on a pedestal or in tall iron planters.

Also, place plants so that they relate to the rooms' furnishings. Use trees and floor plants to anchor artwork on the wall to the floor or to soften and break the vertical line of a bookcase, armoire or entertainment unit. Avoid placing trees in corners just to fill the space. If you have an empty corner, bring the plant out into the room a little.

Greenery is an excellent filler, so I would definitely add it to your décor. Just one word of advice: too much of anything is not always a good thing. Don't overdue and have so much greenery that you can't see "the forest for the trees."

Gail Mayhugh, owner of GMJ Interiors, is a professional interior designer and author of a book on the subject. Questions may be sent by e-mail to: gail@gmjinteriors.com. Or, mail to: 8170 S. Eastern Ave., Box 4-275, Las Vegas, NV 89123. Her Web address is: www.GMJinteriors.com.

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