Each month we like to brighten the house with an inexpensive—or sometimes free—bouquet or potted plant. The tradition began with a thoughtful holiday gift from my partner, and it’s become a simple way to keep our space feeling fresh. This month I strayed from our usual grocery-store flowers when I found a small, leafy plant in a turquoise ceramic pot for just $2.50 at Walmart. It costs about the same as a typical bouquet, but because it’s in a charming planter I can reuse it even if the plant doesn’t survive.
So far the plant is thriving. It’s a low-light houseplant, which suits the right side of my desk perfectly since that area only gets partial sunlight. I love how the cool blue of the pot looks next to my glossy pink Crate & Barrel vase—an item that’s made frequent appearances in our monthly flower posts. I couldn’t help but anthropomorphize them a little, calling the blue pot “him” and the pink vase “her.” It’s silly, and obviously blue is just as fitting for a girl as pink is for a guy. Color doesn’t need a gender.
One of the benefits of buying a small potted plant in a pretty ceramic planter is that it functions as decor even if the plant fades. A well-made ceramic pot adds texture and color to a desk, shelf, or windowsill. If you can’t find a decorative pot, simple alternatives—like a crisp white ceramic planter from Ikea—work beautifully and keep the overall look elevated compared to basic plastic nursery pots.
These days I recommend keeping an eye out for bargains on potted plants. Budget-friendly stores, discount sections, and grocery stores often stock small houseplants at low prices, and the ones that come in ceramic pots are especially good finds. Ceramic adds an immediate visual upgrade and tends to fit a wider range of interior styles, from minimalist to eclectic. Even if you’re buying purely for the greenery, a nice planter makes the investment feel more intentional.
Beyond shopping, there are other ways to enjoy plants indoors. Snipping branches or cuttings from your own yard can create informal, free arrangements that bring the outside in. If you have flowering trees or seasonal blooms, a few carefully placed stems can change the mood of a room. Personally, we had cherry blossoms on a tree out front recently, but we opted to leave them outdoors because allergies sometimes flare up when blooms are brought inside. This year our allergies have been milder, but we still exercised caution.
Grocery stores with floral departments remain a reliable source for affordable blooms. Trader Joe’s, for example, often has budget-friendly daffodils or small bouquets that provide an instant pop of color. If you’re shopping on a budget, look for seasonal sales and shop at the end of the day when florists sometimes discount floral arrangements that need to find a home quickly. Another tip: repot inexpensive plants into decorative ceramic planters to give them a longer life and a more polished appearance.
For anyone decorating with plants, consider placement and light conditions first. Low-light plants are perfect for desks, bathrooms with small windows, or corners that don’t receive direct sun. If you want to mix cut flowers and potted plants, aim for complementary colors and heights to create a balanced vignette. Grouping a small potted plant with a simple vase of flowers can make both elements stand out more than if they were displayed alone.
What plants and arrangements are you choosing these days? Have you found any great deals or creative ways to bring foliage into your home? Are you cutting blooms from your garden, or picking up seasonal bouquets at the grocery store? Share your tips and favorite finds—there’s always room for one more idea that brightens an indoor space.