Flowers always make people better, happier and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul – Luther Burbank
Few décor elements are more powerful and invigorating than a bunch of fresh flowers. An ideal ‘accessory’ that can instantly add life, color and panache to any space, fresh flowers can do wonders to the look and feel of your home. A must if you are a home décor enthusiast, flowers not only make the space bright and cheerful, it also adds a certain vibe that is positive and calming at the same time. So, if you are someone who has been shying away from using floral beauties in your space, read on to find out on the different ways you can use flowers to make your abode look and feel better. Moreover, the upcoming festive season is the perfect excuse for you to start!
Ideas aplenty
Fresh flowers have the quality of enhancing the aesthetics of your home irrespective of how you use them. While a bouquet of roses instantly perks up the space in and around your center table, an urli of floating flowers in your entry way adds an equal amount charm. Whether in old vessels, tin containers and bottles or with kolam and diyas, flowers work wonders to accentuate any setting. “Decorate thalis with flowers like marigold and rose and serve sweets in it. Use flowers to create a rangoli, also take traditional garlands to drape the doors asymmetrically continued on the floor to create a stunning look” says Priyanka Mehra, principal architect, PS Design.
Every festival is unique and it is a great idea to mix flowers associated with core elements of each festival. “Flowers are a symbol of celebration and just like plants and fruits, flowers symbolize offering and thankfulness which make them perfect for brightening your home in the festive season. Whether it is the color powders of Holi, the diyas of Deepawali or the angels of Christmas, intersperse your floral arrangements around it and see the décor transform magically. It is surprising how the everyday becomes enchanted when surrounded with flowers!” says Lathika Khosla, Founder and Owner of Freedom Tree Design.
Highlight your tablescapes using flowers like orchids, lilies or even axora. Jasmine buds in glass bowls placed in the corners of the room fill the entire space with an enchanting perfume and is a perfect setting for festive evenings. Add a hint of quirk by arranging some birds of paradise in an old watering jug.
Flowers galore
Roses, marigold, mogra, orchids, rajanigandha, jasmine, carnations and lilles are just some of the commonly used flowers for decorations in India. Mix it up with foliage like ferns and palms and you have a great arrangement ready! “Bougainvillea is a wild flower that we all love; they are perfect to bring a riot of color to your living room. Chrysanthemums are great too as they are available in many colours, are very low maintenance, are easy to find, economical and beautiful to wake up to! Marigold is another favorite as the bright colours go beautifully with wooden interiors and are perfect for any traditional set up” says Rhea Karuturi Cofounder, Rose Bazaar India.
While lotus is a wonderful flower, it is not only difficult to get but also very delicate. If you are looking to make a bold statement with bright colours consider orchids, however, they may be quite expensive. “Softer flowers such as dahlia, iris, daisies, tulips, aster and hydrangea will make for a pretty cottage garden arrangement. These are flowers that are reminiscent of a summer meadow and are fabulous for creating soft, textural arrangements. Foliage, grass and herbs are a beautiful addition to flowers, available in lots of different hues of gray and green, it adds volume and interest to the flowers. Twigs such as magnolia branches or any interesting fauna can also be used within an arrangement of flowers to add a focal point” says Hariharan Subramaniam, Founder/CEO La Fleur.
Some dos and don’ts
- Choose your flowers carefully and avoid mixing flowers that individually have strong, conflicting scents. For eg, jasmine, lilies and say eucalyptus may emanate a fragrance that is a bit too strong.
- Adding elements like beads, sand and gravel can add a ‘wow’ factor to the arrangement.
- Following simple techniques like cutting the stems at an angle before putting the flowers into the vase and clearing all the leaves from the stem ensures that the flowers stay fresh for longer and the water does not emit any bad smell.
- When displaying lilies, always remove the pollen stamens as they have the tendency to leave stains.
An edited version of this article was originally published in Sakal times.