One of my favorite tricks when I’m looking to brighten up my apartment (and my mood!), is to add some fresh cut flowers around the place. I like to make a habit of heading over to our local San Francisco Flower Mart on Fridays, so I’ve got fresh bouquets all weekend long, when I’m around to enjoy them and have friends coming by. The flower mart is good, because you can can get great flowers and plants at slightly higher than wholesale prices (unless you have a resale license, in which case you can buy them at wholesale prices!). I’m a sunflower or gerber daisy kinda girl – they’re such happy flowers and I can usually find a good bunch for under $10. Another of my favorite spots for picking up fresh flowers are the neighborhood corner markets all over the city, and I like buying from the mom & pop shops.

Whether it’s cut flowers, or live plants, both add a fresh look and a bit of color to your home. And live plants (I’m not talking crazy vines everywhere!) obviously last much longer, so they’re even less expensive and get you more bang for your buck, so to speak. And growing fresh herbs is the best! Not only do they look great and smell so tranquil, but there’s also a really good feeling you get when you trim off a sprig of your own rosemary to toss into your recipe. I don’t know why, it’s just gratifying and makes me smile. If you’ve had trouble growing your own perhaps check in with You Grow Girl for forums and advice.

This weekend, I also brightened up my little terrace, adding new fresh herbs and succulents (they don’t need much water). I also turned it into a little zen oasis – complete with old kilm rugs and a new floor lounger and lounging pad I found on sale at West Elm, so I can stretch out and enjoy the garden and some sun (at it folds up into thirds for easy storage inside). It brings a little bit of the outdoors, indoors! Flowers and plants, nature’s little way of brightening your home on a budget.