The perfect flowers for the perfect home... read more
Buying flowers for your home is a wonderful way of adding a pop of colour or scent to a room. If you’d like some advice on which blooms to buy and how best to look after them, here are some top tips from Rona who blogs at Flowerona…
When choosing flowers, think initially about which room you’re going to put them in. Consider the room’s colour scheme. Are you going to choose flowers which are the same colour as the room? So, pink flowers for a room with a predominantly pink colour palette. Or perhaps you’re looking to clash with an accent or complementary colour, like yellow blooms in a purple room?
Next consider where you’re going to place your flowers. Is there a perfect spot on a coffee table, console or side table? What about a mantelpiece or windowsill? Or perhaps a shelf or an empty hearth? Wherever you decide, make sure that you keep your flowers away from direct sunlight and radiators, as the heat will mean that they won’t last long.
You could choose flowers of one type for your vase. For example, roses or amaryllis. If you do, buy an odd number like 3, 5 or 7 and they’ll look visually better when arranged. Or you could choose a combination of different types of flowers.
As soon as you get your flowers home, follow these five simple steps to make sure that they last as long as possible.
- 1. Remove any leaves from the stems which will fall below the water line. If you leave the foliage on, it will rot and cause bacteria to grow, which will shorten the life of your flowers.
2. Cut approximately 2.5cm/1″ off the end of each stem with scissors or a sharp knife. And make sure you cut a slant for a maximum surface area for the stem to take up water.
3. Place the flowers in a clean container with tepid water.
4. Use flower food. Make sure that you add the correct ratio of water to food.
5. Change the water every 2-3 days and re-cut the stems.
Here are some ideas for botanicals to buy for rooms with green or blue colour schemes.
Timeless Country
With a green colour palette, you could choose white flowers like ammi or foliage like grasses. Alternatively, follow the current trend for houseplants, which is growing in popularity, by adding an olive plant to your dining table. Or perhaps herbs, like rosemary or thyme.
Modern Botanics
Powder blue hydrangeas massed on their own in a tall white ceramic vase add a wonderful floral statement to this front room. Bear in mind that hydrangeas love water! So, to make them last as long as possible, remove most of their leaves and cut their stems at a slant. You can also split up the centre of the stems at their base and mist the flower heads occasionally.
Ambleside
White lisianthus with purple-edges petals have been used in this front room. They come in several different colours and are long-lasting. Another flower which lasts well is alstroemeria.
Pastel pink tulips and scented purple stock have also been placed as a focal point on a coffee table in the centre of the room.
So, we hope you’ve found Rona’s tips useful. Don’t forget, if you’re looking for a vase for your flowers, there’s a lovely selection over on our website here. Let us know what flowers you have in your home below or on Twitter @LauraAshleyUK