How to decorate with green

How to Decorate With Green

Ashley Knierim

Ashley Knierim is a home decor expert and product reviewer of home products for The Spruce. Her design education began at a young age. She has over 10 years of writing and editing experience, formerly holding editorial positions at Time and AOL.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process

Updated on 07/04/20

One of the trendiest colors in home decor right now, green is an incredibly versatile shade, especially when it comes to decorating. This earthy hue ranges from bold and bright to subtle and warm, giving it the ability to transform your space depending on the shade. From walls to furniture to accessories, there are endless ways to sprinkle this hue into your home decor.

What Type of Color is Green?

Green is one of those colors that can be both trendy and traditional. An earthy hue that evokes images of lush grass and fresh air, green is a color that easily brings the outdoors in.

When it comes to feng shui, green belongs to the wood element and is a calming, balancing color that is all about fresh, new beginnings and renewal.

It can be both warm and cool, depending on the shade, but often lands more on the cooler spectrum. You'll often find other cool shades that derive the "coolness" from green undertones. But while the majority of greens are cool, there's a wide variety in green and will often feel vastly different depending on the room and natural light.

kiara_thegr8 / Instagram

The Basics of Decorating With Green

Whether you want to paint your walls green or invest in an eye-catching piece of green furniture, the shade of green you should opt for depends entirely on the mood you want to set and the space you are trying to fill.

Dark Green

A dark, jewel-toned green is the perfect backdrop for a moody living room or bedroom. It instantly creates a sense of elegance and class, no matter the size of the space. Because a darker green paint such as Farrow & Ball Green Smoke No. 47 will appear smokey and rich, it's a great choice for a larger space that needs grounding or an accent wall behind a bed.

Another way to embrace the jewel-toned look is with a lush velvet green couch or a pile of hunter green throw pillows atop a leather couch. A deep green makes a statement, so even a single piece of furniture can set the stage for the rest of the room.

Muted Green

On the other hand, a lighter pastel or muted green will make a room appear light and airy. It's a comfortable shade, perfect for guest bedrooms or office spaces. A paint color such as Benjamin Moore Soft Fern 2144-40 will create a sense of tranquility and peace in a bedroom or bathroom and acts as an updated neutral.

This shade is also a great choice for bedding in a minimalistic room as a way to add a little color without taking away from the original palette. Vintage landscapes will also often draw from muted greens and can be a great way to add the color into your Mid-century modern or eclectic style home.

Warm Green

When it comes to decorating with warm greens, look for shades with a yellow or orange undertone. A warm green such as The Spruce Best Home Matcha SPR-07 feels both energetic and rejuvenating. It's a great choice for a powder room or even a guest room, any space you want to add a little more color without coming off too bold.

maxmademedoit / Instagram

Colors That Go With Green

The greatest thing about green is that pairing it with other colors is easy because there are so many shades of green.

One of the most popular color palettes is a neutral and green one. Pair crisp, linen-like whites with a deep moody green is a great way to add contrast and visual interest in a space, while keeping the feel fresh and modern. A black, white, and green color palette is a dependable and classic one that looks great in nearly any style of home.

If you're opting for a more vintage or eclectic feel, consider pairing a hunter green with a burnt, rustic orange. This combo feels very welcoming and calming. You can add lighter shades of green, too, such as sage to keep the palette light and airy.

For a super jewel-toned room, mix rich earthy shades of green with deep navy blues and burgundies. This palette is perfect for large living spaces with room to experiment. Look for vintage Turkish-style rugs that pull in rich, deep colors.

Using the color green in home decor can add an earthy, grounded feel to any space. Plus, unlike some other bold colors, green can lend itself well to many different color palettes and appear both calming and energetic at the same time.

with paint, pattern, or accents |

(Image credit: Sayuri Jade wallpaper by Romo)

With the alluring connection with nature, there is so much scope for decorating with green walls. Pale shades can create relaxing spaces, rich, velvety greens offer a sophisticated aesthetic, while vibrant tones can feel enlivening and exuberant.

A naturally organic shade, green is very easy to live with. Take inspiration from the varied greens and textures of the forest. For a soothing ambiance, layer lighter or darker tones with tactile fabrics such as linens and velvets.

There are many different shades of green across the spectrum that pair well with many other colors within interior design. The important thing is to pair whatever hue you choose with the right accent color to create a feeling of flow throughout a room. This is why it is important to know how to use a color wheel.

‘Green reassures us on a very primitive level. We know we can find food and water, which means green equals life. Using greens in our home, we can bring in these feelings of rest and reassurance,’ says Karen Haller, color and design psychology specialist and author of The Little Book of Colour .

However, include green in a room carefully. 'Surrounding ourselves with too much green or the wrong shade can lead to feelings of stagnation and lethargy,’ Karen adds.

Whether you are decorating with green walls painted in a bold block color or introducing it through pattern, there are many green room ideas to inspire for every space in your house.

Decorating with green walls – and more

With so many ways of decorating with green walls, whether you are considering green bathroom ideas to green bedroom ideas, it’s advisable to first examine the architectural features and flow of your space before settling on room color ideas.

‘Green is incredibly versatile, but it’s important to consider the colors that already exist within the space, be that furniture, flooring, artwork or textiles; these are all elements that should be included as colors within your palette,’ says Ruth Mottershead of Little Greene .

‘Most importantly, consider the atmosphere you want to create; is it calm and cocooned or energetic and vibrant? Vivid, lively greens work well in rooms that are made for entertaining, such green dining rooms, kitchens, and green living rooms. But you don’t have to commit to all four walls: you can opt for just a pop of bright, rich contrasting green on dining chairs, woodwork or paint a single door – it’s a quick and easy way to add impact and an element of surprise to an interior. ’

In addition, there are different varieties of the various shades of green when you are decorating with green walls. For instance, 'dark green can have a warm, yellow undertone or a cool, blue hue,’ explains Justyna Korczynska, senior designer at Crown . ‘Deep green as a color family is incredibly versatile and can be paired with so many different shades and materials that will bring out either its warm or cool tone. Deep green really comes to life with plenty of natural light, so south-facing rooms would be best. However, it can work in a dark, narrow space too, when paired with terracotta shades and mid-tone wood to bring in warmth.’

Create a deep green cocooning backdrop

(Image credit: Botanical Noir by Crown Paints)

Highlight wall paneling ideas with a velvety rich green, such as Botanical Noir from Crown, taking it over architraves and skirting to ceiling height.

Painting all five walls (including the ceiling) in the same shade when decorating with green walls creates a cocooning effect, perfect for snugs.

Take inspiration from the forest

(Image credit: Sayuri Wallcovering Jade wallpaper by Romo)

The majesty of ancient forests has long inspired interior designers to experiment with decorating with botanicals and whether it is the grandeur of an oak tree or the enchanting shape of an acanthus leaf, rich velvety greens offer our imaginations and our homes a nurturing connection to nature.

For an elegant and relaxing living room when decorating with green walls, create an oriental forest scape inspired by timeless chinoiserie designs, such as this wallpaper from Romo , with its captivating silhouette of delicate wildflowers and elegant trees, for a dramatic, continual wallcovering. Contrast with chairs upholstered with floor-length pleated skirts in a light neutral fabric.

Use contrasting color blocks

(Image credit: Farrow & Ball)

Forget the old prejudices of not using blue and green together, and create a sophisticated color-blocked scheme with a carefully considered combination of the two.

In this two-tone kitchen, kitchen walls in Farrow & Ball's velvety green, Beverley, pair beautifully with cabinets and moldings in the brand's Selvedge blue, and pops of yellow and orange accessories add joyful accents for year-round cheer. This perfectly demonstrates the versatile choices open to you when decorating with green walls.

Offer a warm welcome

(Image credit: Paint & Paper Library)

Create a warm and inviting scheme by decorating with green walls. Green is a balanced and welcoming shade as a green hallway idea – and it is also practical as it will not show up the marks and scuffs often associated with high-traffic areas.

Here walls painted in Fynbos from Paint & Paper Library offer a wonderful contrast to patterned hall tiles and pale woodwork.

Dip into forest bathing

(Image credit: Shutterly Fabulous)

Turn your bathroom into a green sanctuary by custom matching shutters as bathroom window treatment ideas, to green wall paint as this stunning green bathroom shows.

This shutter idea of matching the color to the wall paint or wallpaper makes a striking statement.

For a fully immersive bathing experience when decorating with green walls, paint all five walls the same color, adding a reflective focal point with a brass or antique copper bath.

Contrast vine wallpapers with dark wood

(Image credit: Isabelle large green wallpaper, Sarah Vanrenen at The Fabric Collective)

Rich greens work particularly well with antique dark woods. Contrasting a pretty vine wallpaper design with upholstery in reversible geometric pattern linen looks wonderful when teamed with antiques such as mahogany and bobbin-turned furniture.

‘I use a lot of green because it is very calming,’ says interior designer Sarah Vanrenen . ‘Nature has really come to the fore and greens and blues evoke that very well.’

‘I also love using patterned wallpaper in green. I don’t think space is a barrier to going bold – don’t be put off by using strong colors and patterns in even the smallest spaces and use it on all four walls. The effect is dramatic and green works with so many other incredible colors too.’

This pretty large vine wallpaper combines well with a little sprinkle of blush pink by way of pleated lampshades and antique lusterware ceramics.

(Image credit: Future / Polly Wreford)

A pale green is restful, especially in a busy space; but in a bedroom that's lit warmly, it can feel incredibly soothing, especially if matched with a blush pink. Green is generally considered to be the best color for a bedroom by paint experts, as well as one of the most relaxing colors. You can use the color wheel to ensure the green you pick matches accent colors of the right tones. Conjuring scenes of romantic, flower-filled country gardens, pink and green is a natural pairing. The important thing is to pair whatever hue you choose with the right accent color, like the soft pink above, to create a feeling of flow throughout a room.

Try pairing warm, pale green hues such as Little Greene's Ulla with blush pink for a restful and romantic bedroom scheme.

Decorate with sage green for a relaxing living room

(Image credit: Polly Wreford / Kiera Buckley-Jones)

Chalky sage green walls are a restful choice for a living space. Pair with botanical design elements and fresh greenery to invite the feeling of nature indoors.

The smart bold stripe armchair and elegant rug with scallop edge detail add a modern note. It is fun to play with different shades of green in the mix, as here with the artichoke green of the armchair from Ceraudo and the celadon green of the cane side table from Trove .

'The wall canvas, with floral botanical design wallpaper from Designers Guild is a clever way to introduce a panel of pattern in a contained way, without overwhelming a room,' says stylist Kiera Buckley-Jones.

Dare to go for a wall-to-wall apple green for warmth

(Image credit: Little Greene)

An easy way to introduce color to a living room is to go bold with your walls. Whether you opt for a bright paint color, or choose a wallpaper in a vivid green tone, you can really transform a room instantly and easily.

For an optimistic space consider painting walls in vibrant, jewel-like peridot greens. Try walls in Sage & Onions, a shade from Little Greene's National Trust Greens collection, with a dado painted in the blue-toned Tea with Florence for a contemporary twist.

And as the two colors most regularly seen together in nature, combining green and blue room ideas requires our eyes to do little, to no, adjusting, which is perfect for creating a feeling of harmony – even in small dining rooms.

Decorate with emerald green for a heritage feel

(Image credit: Future)

With its roots in the timeless beauty of nature, mid-greens make brilliant backdrop for displaying artwork. Try a mid-green paint in a living room as a base for hanging a variety of your favorite plates for an interesting living room feature wall.

Be brave when choosing living room color schemes in small spaces. Keeping the wall the same color as the furniture helps to blend the room together – if nothing stands out, then your eye will flow around a space, and in a small living room this can be key to making it feel larger.

Create a vintage kitchen with leaf green cabinets

(Image credit: British Standard by Plain English )

Leaf green can be teamed with contrasting colors to create a vintage kitchen aesthetic, as this kitchen from British Standard by Plain English proves. Shaker-style cabinets in Little Greene's Hopper are paired with chequerboard tiles and exposed salmon-pink plaster walls for unique, homely look, but you could also pair with a paler green for a fresher feel.

'People are being braver and having more fun with color in the kitchen,' adds Richard Moore, Design Director at Martin Moore. 'Previously our clients were choosing bold colors, such as electric blue and hot pink, for smaller accent pieces in the kitchen. However, today we are seeing an increase in the number of people opting for bright colors throughout the kitchen, especially on kitchen cabinets and walls.'

Pair olive green with period patterns

(Image credit: Lorfords / Edward Bulmer living room in Light Olive)

With warm, earthy undertones, light olive shades are a brilliant choice for decorating with green and are a good match for rusty tones, natural materials and folksy fabrics as this scheme by Lorfords and Edward Bulmer proves.

‘Early recipes for olive green seem to have been a browny hue but by the 19th century the addition of Prussian blue meant that it was a full green close to the colour of a plump Mediterranean olive,' says Edward Bulmer.

'Too dark and the color tends to black when in the shade, so I have kept it a strong mid tone. It can be a great woodwork color and is also robust enough for exterior use.’

Bring vitality to a kitchen with olive green cabinetry or walls

(Image credit: Tom Howley)

Imbued with the nourishing powers of nature, green kitchen ideas are having something of a moment. This hasn't gone unnoticed by designers, who recognize the power of green and have introduced it into their kitchen ideas in a variety of smart, creative and sophisticated ways.

‘Serpentine, our striking olive green, is used to splendid effect here in our latest Devine design. It’s a stunning color with earthiness and depth that leaves you feeling nourished and full of life, perfect for kitchen environments,' says Tom Howley of the eponymous kitchen company.

'This bold color may pack a punch, but you have a scheme with undeniable appeal when combined with burnished brass hardware and Caesarstone Organic White worktops.’

Equally, olive green walls can make a dramatic impact when paired with paler cabinetry for a timeless aesthetic.

Bring the outside in with a bold botanical wallpaper

(Image credit: Future / Polly Wreford)

With green available in a whole host of shades, it’s easy to find green living room ideas that will suit your look and give your scheme a seasonal lift, whether it’s a large-scale makeover for the living room or simple styling project.

Fabric and wallpaper ideas featuring botanical prints are pretty without being too feminine, and they work just as well in both modern living rooms and country living room schemes. In this botanical-inspired green living room, Cole & Son trellis wallpaper speaks of blissful spring and summer days in the backyard.

Choose a delicate mural for a beautiful finish

(Image credit: Polly Wreford / Kiera Buckley-Jones)

Wall mural ideas are having a real moment, and foliage wallcoverings and botanical designs work really well at evoking an elegant, almost conservatory-like feel, linking the room with the outdoors. This delicate Romo wallcovering of wistful willow branches performs as an elegant backdrop for gathering at the table with friends and family, a beautiful example of green dining room ideas.

The table is decorated with a wonderfully whimsical, ruffle-edged cloth from Amuse La Bouche , in this fresh minty stripe, which enhances the overall fresh and informal feel.

'The combination of delicate foliage and perky stripe is a heavenly combination here, evoking a fresh and airy dining space, elegant but not too formal,' says Kiera Buckley-Jones, the stylist who created this space for us.

Combine green abstracts with white for a fresh feel

(Image credit: Future)

Is there any color more suited to this current climate than green? At at time when our happiness and health have seemed more important than ever, it's only right that we'd want to surround ourselves in shades that symbolize growth and renewal.

If papering wall-to-wall with green prints is too daunting a prospect, consider using green fabrics to bring a fresh twist to a neutral living room which can be introduced through window treatments, upholstery or on lampshades, and then choose a white wall paint with a green undertone.

Bold abstract prints in leaf green including Schumacher's Full Circle fabric (on curtains) and Rapture & Wright's Albaicin linen mix fabric (on chair), with its Moorish feel, both help create a to a lighthearted, cheerful look.

Mix green plains, stripes and florals for elegance

(Image credit: Future / Simon Brown)

Opting for curtains and upholstery in contrasting leafy green fabrics is a good way to soften and liven-up large rooms with high ceilings. Pairing prints which are complementary in tone, but which feature contrasting designs and scales will help the look feel coherent – while also creating layers of depth and interest. Try Charlotte Gaisford 's elegant Chandolin Flower fabric on curtains.

'I have lots of green fabrics in my collections and in my own home. I love the uplifting feeling that a swathe of fresh green can bring to a room, whether in curtains, wallpaper or soft furnishings. Furniture in contrasting patterns but similar colors pull it all together,' says Charlotte Gaisford.

Put green on the ceiling for a contemporary twist

(Image credit: David Tsay/Otto)

Make working from home a more inspiring experience by papering a small home office with a whimsical, uplifting green wallpaper. Ceiling ideas like this are making a real splash in interiors at the moment. Here Lake August 's Nasturtium wallpaper makes a real statement as a ceiling wallpaper and gives a cocooning effect when used on walls and across the fifth wall – the ceiling.

Frame a green wallpaper with a bold border

(Image credit: Future / Simon Brown)

Including wallpaper among your green hallway ideas not only helps bring visual interest to transient spaces, they are also a vehicle for showcasing your personality.

Occupying only a small part of your home and one that is used for short periods of time, entryways are also the perfect location for those big patterns and color that might feel overwhelming elsewhere.

Try a decorative green wallpaper complete with a border for an elegant, vintage feel. Here, the traditional green scheme gives this otherwise neutral entryway a light touch, despite the pattern-on-pattern approach.

Decorate a green bathroom for an Art Deco appeal

(Image credit: Drummonds)

Regardless of the size of your space, you can still have fun with an array of colors, patterns and bathroom paint ideas, as this stunning green bathroom shows.

Conjuring the luxury and grandeur of the Jazz Age, emerald green was a popular shade in the Art Nouveau and Art Deco periods and was often used in glass products by the likes of Lalique glassware and Pilkington. These emerald green ceramic bathroom tiles contribute to a luxurious sleek feel in this bathroom, especially when teamed with luxurious brushed brass fixtures and fittings from Drummonds .

Turn your bathroom in a vintage-inspired haven

(Image credit: Penny Morrison / Mike Garlick)

For a more traditional bathroom scheme, switch the modern wet room look for a panelled bath and a decorative botanical wallpaper. ‘Decorating with green works very well in bathrooms as it reflects and complements the aquatic tones of water. We love using wallpaper in bathrooms to add a pattern and texture, which can have prepped or glass lining to prevent it getting wet,’ explains Penny Morrison, Founder and Design Director at Penny Morrison Studio .

This Aspa design by Sarah Vanrenen for Penny Morrison at The Fabric Collective would be perfect for a country manor.

What color goes with a green wall?

There are many colors that go with a green wall. Green is a hugely versatile color that can pair well with all sorts of shades, but works particularly well with earthy, natural tones, as Ruth Mottershead of Little Greene explains.

'Green combines fabulously with earthy tones, along with paler shades like creams and stone, and darker, richer colors such as browns, blacks, cherry reds and ochre which can give a more dynamic effect.'

‘Used in its wide range of hues, green is incredibly versatile and can add drama or calm to a room,' adds Edward Bulmer. 'I also believe that because of its make-up, it forms a very reliable background for a whole range of other natural materials like wood, stone and terracotta. For this reason, it is often a very good choice for hanging pictures on.'

Mirroring the landscape, green and blue is also a combination that can work well in interiors, suggests Tricia Guild, founder and creative director of Designers Guild.

‘People feel nervous about teaming blue with green, but I believe it’s a quintessential pairing. Just imagine the landscape – the endless blue optimism of a summer sky against a green and pleasant land. It's a classic combination that evokes familiarity and comfort. Make it more dynamic by using glamorous fabrics, such as our Varanasi printed silk taffeta.’

Neutrals offer a fresh contrast as well as colors such as turquoise, blush pink, and copper.

When it comes to decorating with green in kitchens, pairing green with crisp white can be particularly effective.

‘Bright white is a great choice for creating crisp contrasts that will freshen and lift earthy greens. Two-toned kitchens have been in popular demand over the past year or so, not only combining colors but materials too. With bold color now materializing in kitchen design, using a two-toned palette enables you to add a bright shade without overwhelming the space,’ says Tom Howley, Design Director at the eponymous kitchen company

‘Another underrated combination to consider is light green and pink. A lush sage and blush combo are a match made in heaven for feminine bedroom scheme,’ say Rob Abrahams and Rob Green, co-founders of Coat paints.

How do you add green to a room?

If you are thinking of painting a room in green then consider the tone and warmth of the color as well as the position and lighting of the room. While many greens are beautifully neutral and work well in all sorts of situations, there are certain paint ideas which will work better in different rooms.

Energizing and uplifting, zesty lime, vibrant apple and botanical leafy shades are an uplifting choices for green kitchen ideas while greens with warm undertones, like olives as, are great for creating cozy green living rooms and for north-facing rooms. Alternatively, those at the cooler end of the spectrum such as soft mints and verditer shades are often well-suited to calming green bedrooms.

'Light greens are a great choice for north-facing rooms because of their warm undertones and are super adaptable, calming and reliably pair with both dark and neutral colors to create the perfect room combination,’ say Rob Abrahams and Rob Green, co-founders of Coat paints.

‘Dark greens are also a great choice for smaller spaces such as a narrow hallway or small bedroom. It may sound unusual to choose a dark shade for a small space, but it’s a great way to embrace the coziness that comes with compact areas. Try painting the walls, skirting boards and ceilings in one deep shade to soften the edges of the room to make it appear bigger than it is.’

What color trim goes with green walls?

There are many color trims that can go with green walls. You can pair them with a lighter or darker shade of green than your chosen wall paint or wallpaper, or pick out another color used in your decorating scheme for a complete contrast. For instance, anchor the look of kitchen cabinets by using a trim in a matching shade, add a contemporary edge to pale green walls with dark trim, or pick up on the hues of soft furnishings and accessories by reflecting in the trim color.

Pippa is Content Editor on Homes & Gardens online contributing to Period Living and Country Homes & Interiors print issues. A graduate of Art History and formerly Style Editor at Period Living, she is passionate about architecture, creating decorating content, interior styling and writing about craft and historic homes. She enjoys searching out beautiful images and the latest trends to share with the Homes & Gardens audience. A keen gardener, when she’s not writing you’ll find her growing flowers on her village allotment for styling projects.

Decorating dishes with greens - Ideas from a photo

Everyone knows that greens are healthy, that they are rich in a variety of vitamins and minerals, and that you need to eat them as much as possible. But only an avid vegetarian will agree to replace the usual meal with several bunches of various greens. Decorating dishes with herbs is one of the easiest ways to make a dish not only beautiful, but also healthy. To decorate a dish with greens, it is not at all necessary to have a rich imagination, the most ordinary homemade cutlets laid out on green lettuce leaves will already look just fine. Fantasy can come in handy if you want to decorate your child's dish with herbs, you will have to try hard, each time inventing something new. nine0003

Before thinking about decorating dishes with greens, make sure that the greens you have on hand are fresh. Withered parsley and yellowed dill are unlikely to be able to decorate something; rather, on the contrary, they will lead to a very sad result. As a rule, all our decorations come down to sprinkling the finished dish with chopped herbs. Not the most original, but a simple and quick way to decorate a finished dish, which has the right to exist only if you do without stems. We should not forget about the size of the greens, it should be either whole leaves or very finely chopped. A crooked and coarsely chopped onion or dill is unlikely to win an audience award at your table. nine0003

Decorating dishes with herbs is not such a difficult task as it might seem at first glance. The most common and familiar greens can also be useful for decorating children's dishes. Separate leaves can be used not only to create all kinds of fairy-tale characters and animals from food, but also as a background. From ordinary pieces of bread cut into triangles, make sandwiches and collect a butterfly from them. As a body, you can use a piece of carrot or cucumber, grease the “wings” of the butterfly with cheese and use carrots, bell peppers, parsley or dill leaves to lay out a pattern on them. Of course, such a butterfly in itself may already be of interest to a child, but you can also place it in its natural habitat, i.e. in fresh greens. Put a dense layer of parsley on a flat plate, and put the resulting butterfly on it. Thanks to the greens, such a dish will turn out not only beautiful, tasty and interesting, but also healthy. nine0003

At home, chives or chives are rarely used to decorate dishes with herbs, meanwhile, professional chefs have long appreciated these greens. The feathers of such an onion look like very thin tubes, it goes well with almost all vegetables and herbs, so it can be used to decorate any dish, such as miniature snacks, canapes or sandwiches. To decorate dishes with this onion, neither special imagination nor supernatural accuracy and accuracy is required, it is enough to cut the onion into pieces of the desired length and put it on the finished dish. Chives are also suitable for decorating children's dishes, with it you can make all the fine details, such as animal mustaches. It will turn out neat, beautiful and very tasty! nine0003

Almost always, when setting the table, in addition to the main course and salads, we also use all kinds of snacks. As snacks, there can be both completely independent dishes, and various preparations, such as canned olives, black olives, mushrooms, cucumbers, tomatoes, etc. Instead of just putting all these snacks on different plates, you can use the techniques of decorating dishes with herbs. Not as common as dill and parsley, but still, fragrant rosemary sometimes appears in our kitchens. It itself looks very unusual and beautiful, and if you use it for decoration, the original look of the dish is provided. Make a small wreath out of the rosemary to fit on the flat plate you prepared for the appetizers. Arrange olives, black olives, mini mozzarella cheese balls, gherkins, canned cherry tomatoes and any other snacks on the finished wreath. Such a decoration will remind you of the celebration of the New Year, and rosemary with snacks will look like a spruce branch decorated with toys. nine0003

Rosemary is a rather expensive herb, so if you don't grow it yourself, then the described decoration option can greatly lighten your wallet. To avoid such unpleasant consequences, you can use a less expensive way to decorate dishes with herbs. For example, if you decide to bake a cake with a hole in the middle, then this middle must subsequently be decorated with something. For example, a candle in a beautiful low candlestick and rosemary. Use an unscented candle, fill the space between the candlestick and the cake with rosemary sprigs. From the heat of the candle, rosemary will heat up, and its delicate aroma will soar in the air. The smell of fresh baked goods, combined with the flickering candlelight and the scent of rosemary, will create a cozy atmosphere at your table. nine0003

No hostess can do without mint, we make tea with it, make refreshing cocktails and, of course, use it to decorate a wide variety of dishes. Mint is perfect for garnishing almost any dish, from soups to drinks and desserts. Decorating dishes with herbs turns into an absolutely simple and easy process when it comes to mint. Fruit salads, drinks, ice cream and other desserts will only benefit in taste and appearance if you decorate them with mint leaves. In addition to mint, in some cases, you can add a berry. For example, a scoop of ice cream garnished with a couple of mint leaves and a raspberry will look very appetizing. Mint becomes a real salvation when a home-made cake is already ready, and there is sorely not enough time to decorate it. Just apply an even layer of white cream on it, put mint leaves in a circle and in the center, sprinkle with cinnamon and serve. You will hardly find a decoration tastier and more fragrant! nine0003

You can move away from the standard ideas about decorating dishes with herbs and come up with something completely new. If you decide to serve ice cream for dessert, but consider simple mint leaves as a decoration boring, try making mint in chocolate. Chocolate will keep mint leaves green and fresh for several days, and such a decoration will look very unusual and original. To make such coins, you will need 20 fresh, beautiful mint leaves and a bar of milk or dark chocolate. Place mint leaves on baking paper 3-4cm apart. Melt the chocolate in a water bath and put it in a pastry bag. Using this bag, spread the chocolate evenly over the mint, cover with another sheet of parchment, and press down gently. The chocolate will completely hide the mint leaves and turn into thin round cakes, provided that you press evenly and the chocolate is laid out in the center of each leaf. If the result is not very even, the coins can always be trimmed with a round metal cookie cutter. Leave the chocolate in a cool place for at least 1 hour, then carefully separate the coins from the parchment. You can use them immediately to decorate a dessert or put them in a container, cover and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. nine0003

Basil is just as popular as mint as an herb garnish. They can also decorate almost any dish, be it ice cream, pizza or salad, but mozzarella cheese with tomatoes and basil is considered a classic combination, but in this dish basil plays not only the role of decor, but is also an integral ingredient. Often, caprese salad, this is the name of a dish that combines mozzarella, tomatoes and basil, is prepared by slicing all the ingredients into circles, and decorated with basil leaves on top. But even such classic and familiar dishes can be decorated differently than usual. Arrange large leaves of fresh basil on a flat plate in a circle, do not try to lay them out evenly, let them be laid out in random order and resemble a wreath. On top of the basil, also arrange cherry tomatoes in a circle, and put half a mini ball of mozzarella on each tomato. A familiar dish will acquire a new, no less appetizing appearance. nine0003

Decorating dishes with herbs doesn't have to be very difficult. It is enough that the greens that you use for decoration are fresh. Put the finished dish on lettuce leaves, put mint leaves, basil leaves or green onion feathers on top. The dish will immediately take on a finished look and will look very appetizing. Let the dishes prepared by you be not only tasty, but also healthy and beautifully decorated!

Alena Karamzina

Decorating dishes with herbs

Green is the most life-affirming color in the world. No wonder greens are so rich in vitamins and other beneficial substances. Everyone knows that you need to eat a lot of greens, but only the most enthusiastic vegetarians or raw foodists are able to replace their usual food with a bunch of dill or parsley.

It's good that chefs have come up with another way - to decorate a variety of dishes with herbs, including salads, soups and desserts. As a result, we get an aesthetic and healthy dish. You don't have to be a table decorator. It is enough to lay the cutlets on terry lettuce leaves - this will already be attractive. For other decoration methods, you will have to learn and spend some time with a magazine in your hands. And then handling any greens will become a habit, and your table will become a work of art. nine0003

What greens should be

Before experimenting, you need to choose the freshest greens. Dried parsley and dill with yellowness are more likely to make the salad unattractive, and all efforts will be in vain. You will not get any pleasure from such food. So, the most common way to give food a more “lively” and bright look is to sprinkle it with finely chopped greens. It's simple, fast, effective. One has only to take into account that the greens should be finely chopped - without pieces of stems or stubs of leaves. If you decide to decorate the dish with leaves or twigs, they must remain intact. Otherwise, all products for decoration should be cut finely. nine0003

We decorate with sprigs

Even the usual onions and parsley can become protagonists in filling the aesthetic qualities of the dish, if skillfully used. If you don’t want to constantly chop the herbs, try dividing the dill into small sprigs and sprinkle them on a large plate. It turned out the basis for many dishes: here you can put just halves of eggs poured with mayonnaise, shortbread baskets with salad, stuffed tomatoes and much more. Already this is enough to give the dish a special charm. And if you add more lemon or apple slices, you get a whole still life. Similarly, you can use parsley sprigs, lettuce or other greens that you like. Therefore, in the refrigerator there should always be a bunch of dill and parsley - this is the most minimal set that will allow you to bring a touch of novelty to the usual table design and give it completeness. nine0003

Greens for children's dishes

You can decorate children's dishes in the same way, only here you need to apply a lot more imagination. From greenery, you can make the basis for entire landscape sketches that mom and baby will do together. On the basis of finely chopped dill, you can lay out trees, figurines of animals and insects, mushrooms and bushes. Tomato ladybug, butterflies from carrots, cucumbers and cheese, bread stump and fly agaric mushroom from egg and tomato, mushrooms from olives and much more can be done on this green carpet. And sprigs of greens can be used as parts for making animal faces - mustaches or dill eyebrows look amazing. Even simple sandwiches laid out on lettuce leaves or a base of parsley will make a child look at them differently. After all, an appetizing dish makes you want to eat it faster, which is what we achieved with our efforts to decorate the dish with greens. nine0003

We decorate with green onions

Surrounded by stereotypes, we do not want to look for something new, and it is even in the decoration of dishes with greens. This is chives, which has long enjoyed good fame among professional chefs. These thin green tubes are a very handy thing to pair with any dish. They especially love to put it on canapes or other similar sandwiches - it gives them a more sophisticated look. It is very easy to use at home, especially since no special tricks are required here. Chives are simply cut into pieces and randomly laid out on top of any dishes. And in children's fantasies it can be used most successfully - no one has yet come up with the best mustache if parents want to lay out the muzzle of a cat or tiger out of porridge. Other than that, this onion is delicious. nine0003

Decorate with rosemary

How to decorate appetizers? If you use canned vegetables, then you can also decorate them with green sprigs or onions, and not just put them on plates. This will give the table more brightness and diversify the design. If you are a fan of everything new and like to experiment, try decorating the table with a rosemary wreath. This is an unusual decoration, and it will surely surprise and delight your guests and loved ones. This herb itself is very spectacular, and you can decorate any dish with it, but the wreath will become a more amazing and non-trivial table decoration. Lay the rosemary on a flat plate in the form of a wreath, you can even twist the branches slightly. The middle should be empty. Alternately arrange olives, small cubes of mozzarella, gherkins, cherry tomatoes and any other small products on the wreath. In the middle, you can put any canned vegetables or assorted vegetables. So you get an appetizer "in a wreath." You will get an unexpected memory of the New Year, because a rosemary wreath looks like a Christmas tree decoration. nine0003

The second rosemary decoration is even more romantic. It is proposed to decorate a pie or cupcake with a hole in the middle with rosemary. To make the cake look more attractive, it is better to fill the middle with something so that it looks like a finished work of culinary art. Often they put a candle there, and it looks quite beautiful. Let the candle be small, with a low candlestick. Scented candles are not used here - rosemary will play the role of a fragrant filler. We lay out its branches around the candle, and while it burns, its heat will warm up the fragrant grass, and you will feel the delicate smell of the pie and the elegant smell of rosemary. Together they will create a unique bouquet that none of the guests can forget. nine0003

We decorate with mint

Mint has been known for a long time, it is used in a variety of situations - for making tea, cocktails and for decorating dishes. Moreover, its filigree leaves can decorate soup puree, mousse, and drinks. And everywhere she will be in place. Therefore, it is so easy to brighten up any dish if you have fresh mint at home. Now many housewives simply grow it on the site, and in winter in pots and flowerpots. So this is a decoration for the whole year! What can be decorated with sprigs of mint:

fruit salad;
drinks;
ice cream;
desserts.

And if you add berries to the mint, you get a cheerful multi-colored assortment that will cheer up the guests. Any child will not resist yogurt if they see a mint leaf and raspberries on top. What about homemade cake? Here, mint may well play the role of a savior if there is nothing to decorate it with or if there is no time left for all sorts of delights. We simply cover the top cake with white cream or whipped cream, put a circle of mint in the center, and sprinkle all the splendor with cinnamon. No one will think that the idea was completely different. And the aroma will please the most capricious sweet tooth. nine0003

Some advanced housewives make a completely new and unusual decoration from mint: chocolate coins. They can decorate desserts, ice cream, cake and cake. In addition, in such coins, mint remains fresh for three days. And there is no need to talk about the original taste of jewelry. Take as many mint leaves as you need to garnish the dish and place them on parchment paper or foil at a small distance from each other. Melt a bar of dark chocolate in a water bath and pour into a pastry bag. nine0003

Now you need to carefully place enough chocolate from the bag on each leaf to cover one leaf. Lay another sheet of parchment on top and press down lightly on the table. After that, the chocolate should completely cover the mint leaves to make chocolate coins. If they are uneven, they can be trimmed with a knife or a round cookie cutter. Now the leaves on the tray need to be placed in the cold, and after an hour they can be separated from the parchment and immediately used as a decoration. They can also be stored in a container for several days. After a little practice, you will get excellent coins, and you will certainly surprise your guests.