At Ora, of course, we think that kitchens, supper, and dining tables can be no better dressed than with a stack of Ora in a stylish coloured base. So, it goes without saying that we’ve just released a limited-edition range of bases in colours to help you do just that.
So say hello to Awesome Aubergine, Fabulous Forest Green and Irresistible Indigo Blue, all shades which complement some of the hottest interiors colour palettes of the year.
As the festive season approaches, if you’re looking to break from the traditional red and gold, you could look at introducing aubergine to your tablescaping. It works a dream in sumptuous yuletide settings, bringing a richness that works especially well alongside greens and metallics.
Meanwhile the trend for bringing the outside in continues long into the winter, making Ora’s Forest Green base an excellent addition to any home which has embraced this look. On that note, anyone else acquired so many indoor plants that watering them takes longer than cleaning the kitchen after a dinner party? No? Just us then… whoops! Anyway, we digress.
Finally, Indigo Blue is one of the most versatile colours of the moment. Simply by pairing it with another colour, it can adapt to a host of different looks. Pair with white and you have a classic coastal look; yellow for a French country interiors feel or, for something really striking, mix it with other dining table accessories such as glasses or napkins in the on trend lime shade of chartreuse.
The bases are available in limited quantities and are exclusive to our Ora store. If you’re on Instagram, you may have seen that we are running a competition to mark the launch of these colours. If you’re not already, then it’s worth giving us on @Ora-Home a follow as it’s where we first announce news on promotions and new products. If you are already following us, why don’t you tag us to share how you style your Ora at home? We love being inspired by how people incorporate Ora into their homes, and we’re especially keen to see our new limited-edition colours are settling in!
]]>We've currently all got all limbs and digits crossed that the sun will finally make an appearance in time for the bank holiday weekend, because to us, no summer bank holiday weekend would be complete without firing up the barbecue. Here are six ways Ora makes your sizzling socials just that little bit easier.
]]>At Ora we love a barbecue. We've currently all got all limbs and digits crossed that the sun will finally make an appearance in time for the bank holiday weekend, because to us, no summer bank holiday weekend would be complete without firing up the barbecue.
The buzzy informality of a get together with friends and family of all ages in sunny weather brings a hazy happiness that’s hard to replicate with other types of gatherings. A barbecue during the day means kids can run around playing hide and seek in between burger bites while adults enjoy laid back chatter. And if an evening barbecue is more your thing, a gathering of mates and favourite playlists bring an instant backyard festival vibe to any weekend.
But the best barbecues serve simple, honest and tasty grub that can be easily adapted to accommodate different dietary requirements. So having Ora’s to hand at your summer sizzler, feels like a no brainer to us. Here are six reasons why
1. Mopping up mess
Of course. Things get messy when people get together and have fun. That’s how it should be. So make it easy on yourself when it comes to clearing spills, sploshes and dollops and make the clean-up as fuss free and quick as possible. Grab an Ora and with one towel and a quick wipe, you’ll need to give it no more time than necessary.
2. Use them to serve up sticky wings and burgers
No barbecue would be complete without a selection of finger licking treats to enjoy. The problem is that sitting down to eat, can take the edge off the casual vibe at any barbecue. Instead of having a pile of plates and napkins when serving up ribs and burgers and the like, have a stack of Ora instead… and ta-da!... plate and napkin all in one.
3. You can dot them all over the house and garden
All the best barbecues have milling around. You might be cooking outside but it's mandatory for guests to wander in and out the house, pop to the loo, have a chit chat in the kitchen or pull up a rug at the other end of the garden around a firepit and entertain the chief BBQer whilst they're working their magic. It’s what makes a barbecue such a welcoming way to entertain. But that also means you run the risk of ketchup fingerprints on the light switch in the kitchen, half eaten burgers strewn around and left on the coat pile and the risk of spills and mess spreading beyond just the dining room table. A few stacks of Ora dotted around the entertaining space make it easy for people to help themselves to wipe up any mess and hygienically dry hands in bathrooms and kitchens. Plus, if you’ve not served the burgers the food up in an Ora – see point 2 – it makes the collection of half eaten burgers so much more pleasant.
4. Glass and food covers
Ora towels are strong and resilient, even when wet. If you need an impromptu cover for the jug of sangria, bowls of nibbles and even guests’ glasses left unattended on the side, simply wet an Ora towel, wring it out and then drape it over the tops of any serveware and glasses to provide a protective cover from insects, pollen and other airborne outdoor dining hazards. The weight of the water will keep it in place.
5. Ice lolly drip catcher
If it’s a family get together, you can be sure that bringing out the ice cream and ice lollies will be a hit with everybody. Ensure the Tongue Twisters make it into bellies and not your furniture and pop the lolly stick through the centre of an Ora to act as a drip catcher. The temptation to wipe hands on rugs, tablecloths and beanbags once their finished will also be diminished if an Ora comes with a lolly at the start!
6. Introducing a colour scheme
If you want to dress your barbecue space, an instant and cost effective way to create instant impact is to introduce a colour scheme. Balloons, table centres made with freshly cut flowers and candles are readily available and practical ways to do this. Unlike venue dressing props like an inflatable cactus or oversized sombrero, you certainly won’t be left wondering what to do these items after entertaining. Ora’s permanent bases can also provide the colour injection necessary to give a get together just a little more polish. They come in a range of colours that coordinate with a host of popular interior colour combinations and looks. If you’re after a New England feel then our Taupe and White bases will fit right in. Something more beachy and nautical? Perhaps the Red base with navy blue accessories. Or our Lime Green bases complement classic floral green and white displays perfectly.
If you’ve got any more suggestions on how Ora can be a helping hand at a barbecue or get together get in touch and let us know! We love to hear fresh ideas from our Ora Circle. We can be reached on hello@ora-home.com or find us on Instagram or Facebook on @ora_home.
]]>Ora’s yellow base is a simple and practical way to introduce this year’s sunshine yellow interior colour trend into living rooms, kitchens and outdoor spaces. The vibrancy of the colour yellow has been scientifically proven to improve moods and add energy, so it’s no wonder that as we all look ahead to brighter days, we’re embracing the colour yellow at home. Team the base with yellow flowers or candles and straight away, you’ve a scene stealing look that is sure to bring a smile to your face.
The base is exclusive to our Ora store and available to order for a limited period only. If you’re on Instagram, you’ll know it’s already received a lot of love from some of our friends in the Ora circle. It’s worth following Ora on Instagram or signing up to the newsletters as this is where we first announce news on promotions and new products – including limited edition colours of our bases. There’ll be more announcements on base colours later this year, so it’s worth staying tuned!
]]>That’s because we’ve changed our packaging to make it obvious that what’s inside, is also now a little different. But different in a good way. In a better way. For you and for our planet.
The origins of Ora have always been rooted in trying to find a way to reduce the unnecessary waste typically associated with household towels. Since then our production and design of Ora has evolved to become even more eco-friendly.
Our stacks of Ora Household Towels now come with a paper top cone, instead of a plastic top cone. The sleeve is now clear, using a different plastic, which makes it even easier to recycle. We’re also proud to have managed to develop a process which allows for our bases to be made using the waste from our manufacturing process.
We don’t plan to stop there though. We are committed to always striving to find a way to ensure we waste less to help you waste less too. After all, according to the legendary conservationist David Attenborough, if there is one thing we can all do to help the environment, it is to waste less. And although we like to break the rules every now and again, we think this is one rule worth following.
]]>Thanks to Ora being so versatile, picnics are as easy as chomping crustless cucumber sandwiches. They treble up as napkins, food holders, and on the go cleaning wipes thanks to our wring and repeat technology. We’ve rounded up five of our favourite picnic foods to inspire you to head off and explore the great outdoors without rumbly tummies. Naturally we’ve focused on easy to prepare, picnic finger foods to save you taking more along on your picnic than you need. Just grab an Ora and voila, plates and napkins all in one with these finger food ideas. And yes, you can still have salad and there’s not one soggy sarnie in sight!
Ingredients: Punnet of cherry tomatoes, 150ml vodka, 2 tbsps tabasco sauce, 2 tbsps Worcestershire sauce, ground pepper and celery salt
Ingredients: Ready made Puff Pastry Sheet, jar of pesto, parmesan/cheddar cheese, egg
Ingredients: 2 whole cucumbers, 100g feta diced, handful of cherry tomatoes quartered, 2 tbps black pitted olives halved, 1/4 finely diced small red onion, glug of olive oil, tsp dried oregano, a few mint leaves finely sliced, lemon juice, seasoning
Ingredients: punnet of strawberries, 200g cream cheese, 50g icing sugar, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 2 digestive biscuits
Ingredients: Giant bag of flavoured popcorn; sweet, savoury or a mix!
Ora’s other picnic food favourites that travel well, taste good and are easy to serve up include
And of course, you need to have something cold to drink, preferably with bubbles, because we like things that are round.
All that’s left to ensure you have the perfect picnic outing is some rays of sunshine, a beautiful spot in the British countryside, a stack of Ora and you’re away! Enjoy!
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