AUTUMN IN BLOOM COLORFUL FLOWERS IN EYE-CATCHING ARRANGEMENTS BRING WARMTH TO THE HOLIDAYS.

Byline: Myara Sherwood Correspondent

Sure, you can transform walls from drab to fab with paint, slipcover a worn-out sofa and update dreary kitchen cabinets with brand-new hardware.

But it's fresh-cut flowers that make a room and will give your home instant pizazz this holiday season, say floral experts.

``Nothing changes the feel of a party like flowers,'' says Sherman Oaks floral designer Mark Held, of Mark's Garden, who created the floral decor for the weddings of Britney Spears, Shaquille O'Neal, Jennifer Lopez and other celebrities. ``Flowers make it special. It sets the mood. It's flowers that really make for a festive event.''

Fresh flowers can revive a room, be used as accent colors or as a dramatic flourish to a Thanksgiving Day feast. And you don't need to break the bank to achieve your desired effect. Floral shops, farmers markets and even your own back yard offer a wealth of greenery you can use creatively to bring fall colors indoors.

``Using flowers is a fun and inexpensive way to enhance interior design,'' says Rene van Rems of the California Cut Flower Commission. ``There are lots of creative ways to use flowers to bring the fall color inside.''

For Thanksgiving, Held prefers a passionate color scheme of ambers, rusts, purples and jewel tones. Roses and dahlias play a special role in his floral arrangements.

``We use a lot of roses. They're kind of dry and if they're supported by hydrangeas, bitter sweet and pumpkins, that's an arrangement that's going to last.''

Dahlias are also a staple in Held's floral arrangements because of their rich, deep autumn colors. While they don't last long, they make for wonderful centerpieces, he says.

``They're great in burnt oranges and purples, and they're big and showy.''

To capture the change of seasons, Held incorporates crisp autumn leaves, such as liquidambar and oak, to accent the reds and earth tones in his personal projects. Rosemary and eucalyptus are also two of his favorite decorative plants.

Chrysanthemums, which come in a variety of flower forms, colors and sizes, make great accessories for the Thanksgiving Day table, says Jill Slater, spokeswoman for the California Cut Flower Commission.

``Mums are very much in season and very much in style,'' says Slater, who prefers Fuji mums, a single-head variety that provides a mass of color. ``They grow in yellow and white and bronze. They're very clean and very striking.''

To decorate with mums, ask your florist for varieties in fall colors and place one or two in an unconventional bottle on your mantelpiece, Slater advises.

``One Fuji mum in a soda pop bottle makes a great statement.''

Gerbera daisies are another excellent choice for fall home decor. Available in more than 200 different varieties, they come in myriad colors, flower shapes and sizes.

``Whatever your home decor, gerberas can really create whatever palette you're feeling,'' Slater says.

Because of their contemporary, fun look, gerbera daisies can be displayed in unconventional spaces such as a child's room. And they have no fragrance, making them a good bet for those with allergies. With proper care and watering, they can last up to a week. For traditional display, leave their stems uncut, between 14 and 18 inches long.

Lilies, too, make great fall accessories for the home. They're available in many colors, including yellow, orange, deep purple and white; some are fragant. Alone in a vase, they can add a dash of glamour to a room.

The life expectancy of a cut flower is brief, so if you want to avoid weekly visits to your local florist, use other options that crave less attention and still ensure a festive Thanksgiving.

As an offbeat alternative to flowers, floral designer David Mark uses gourds, artichokes and eggplants in his Thanksgiving themes.

``I keep it organic,'' says Mark, who has revamped the elaborate abodes of Barbra Streisand and Pamela Anderson. ``Whether it is a centerpiece or an archway, I want to ensure that my designs rebloom and stay growing.''

For long-lasting flowers, Held recommends calla lilies, amaryllis, orchids, chrysanthemums and hydrangeas.

``If you want to choose flowers that are going to last a long time, you want to go with rust-colored calla lilies. They will last beautifully,'' he says.

Amaryllis and orchids, in seasonal brown tones, are good choices, too. Although they tend to be pricey, they will last a long time with proper care, Held says.

Mums especially are noteworthy for their hardiness. ``That flower is like iron; it'll last forever.''

Hydrangeas have the longest life span and bloom beautifully without much care.

``Hydrangeas are fantastic because they're dry,'' Held says. ``I like to leave them alone and you can reuse those in Christmas wreaths or on the hearth.''

Decorating tips

--Create your own horn of plenty with a cornucopia of lilies, roses, dahlias and celosia in yellow, ocher, rose and purple.

--Accentuate serving dishes and platters with petals from fall flowers. Choose flower colors that complement the dishes you'll be serving.

--Adorn menu cards with flower petals or a single small blossom.

--Personalize table settings with a floral ``favor'' at each place: Hollow out miniature pumpkins and prepare them with floral foam, then tuck in tiny bouquets of marigolds, small chrysanthemums, safflower or a single orange rose.

--Flowers make the perfect decorative napkin ring. Pick a single flower variety that complements your table linens. Fold the napkin attractively and place a flower on top. Add a sprig of greenery for a sophisticated touch.

- Source: California Cut Flower Commission

For an edgier look

--Hydrangeas can be dried and painted gold to formalize a dinner table or accent a bouquet.

--Succulents and cinnamon sticks offer a modern and minimalist look to the classic elaborate floral arrangement, adding character and pizazz to your personal space.

--Create a looking-glass centerpiece. Take a 6-inch cylinder vase and pour in just enough water to cover the bottom to a depth of 1 to 2 inches. Cut flowers to the height of the vase so their tops meet the rim. You now have a fun looking glass for your holiday table.

- M.S.

Flower care

1. Buy the freshest flowers available. Look for tightly closed buds and shiny leaves; avoid nodding or browning blossoms.

2. Use a sharp knife or shears to cut stems on a slant under running water.

3. Place freshly cut flowers in a deep container of warm water and let them sit at room temperature before arranging.

4. Remove all foliage from below the waterline.

5. Add a preservative to the water to kill fungus.

6. Place your arrangement in a cool spot away from direct sunlight.

7. Change the water every other day. If the blooms look wilted, recut the stems.

8. Cover wilting blooms with a thin film of plastic, a paper sack or a newspaper until plump again.

- Source: www.ehow.com

Make it an autumn to remember

Create this simple harvest centerpiece with a fresh pumpkin, autumn leaves and roses:

Materials

1 brick floral foam

1 large classic dinner plate

1 small pumpkin

Assortment of autumn leaves

Two dozen roses in rust, amber and burgundy colors

At least nine candles (optional)

1. Soak floral foam in water until well saturated.

2. Place floral foam in center of plate. Place pumpkin on top of foam. Surround the pumpkin with a variety of autumn leaves.

3. Cut rose stems to about 6 inches in length. Insert them into the sides of the floral foam. The flowers should encircle the pumpkin.

4. Light candles and place them around the centerpiece for an extra holiday glow.

CAPTION(S):

8 photos, 4 boxes

Photo:

(1 -- color -- cover) Harvest house

Celebrate fall with season's blooms

(2 -- 5 -- color) Harvest centerpiece steps

Gus Ruelas/Staff Photographer

(6 -- color) no caption (Holiday dinner table)

(7 -- color) no caption (Holiday wreath)

(8 -- color) no caption (Decorative pumpkin)

Photos Courtesy of California Cut Flower Commission

Box:

(1) Decorating tips (see text)

(2) For an edgier look (see text)

(3) Flower care (see text)

(4) Make it an autumn to remember (see text)