Livinghouse

Glass cloches or bell jars and terrariums are not new but they are having an impact on decor at the moment. Both were originally used for plants. The glass cloche seems to date back 400 hundred years to Italy but has been seen in gardens here too as a means of protecting plants from cooler winter temperatures or encouraging growth of young seedlings in spring.

Terrariums which are closed in were invented in Victorian times initially to encourage ferns to grow indoors and later for orchids and other tropical plants as they create a humid environment for the plants.

Classy come-backs

Now terrariums have been reinvented; they come in many sizes and shapes and not all are completely closed in. ‘Home-made’ terrariums could simply be a glass vase planted up often with succulents obviously with no cover over the opening.

If you fancy planting up your own glass vase terrarium, take a look at this step-by-step picture guide.

Both terrariums and cloches act like mini greenhouses and recycle the moisture from the plant and the soil through condensation. This means the plant stays wet enough while getting the light and heat through the glass ‘walls’. Of course it’s good to let the air in once a week to clear the condensation and make sure the soil is moist enough.

Glass cloches are multi-taskers. As they sit over the plant and have no bottom, they make instant plant terrariums, just like this instant one which contains a small potted plant and a place card under a wine glass. Great to grace a dinner party table.

Or use to add some early spring colour as part of your Christmas decor with a pretty pink Hyacinth. This is great if you find the perfume of Hyacinth too cloying.

And how beautiful does an orchid look under a dome?

No end of uses

Of course these cloches offer no end of opportunities to contain displays in any of your rooms around the house. Imagine any small collection of objects you want to keep contained and dust free can look really stylish in a cloche or two.

Image a pile of antique books, jewellery, even your beauty products in the bedroom or in your super stylish bathroom courtesy of Livinghouse.

Tantalising cake covers

Image how much more appetising cakes look under these domes too? It also means they can be left on show on the table before you are ready to eat them as they protect the cakes.

All over the house

They offer possibilities for adding little festive vignettes around the hone too. A cloche keeps everything together with a modern, old-world charm and also means you can have Christmas in many rooms.

They’re pretty simple to make as well. To fill a cloche with baubles: hold the cloche upside down and fill with your ornaments; put a plate or stand over the hole and turn it right side up.

If you want a snowy scene build it on your chosen base by adding imitation snow and placing your selection of decorations on it and then cover with the cloche.

For more inspiration and to see how simple it can be, take a look at this video.