Blooms are an effective way of livening up even the most minimalist of spaces. Whether picked fresh from the garden, bought at the morning market or made to look deceptively real, adding a bit of nature by way of flowers and greens is a perfect way to add warmth and color to your home.
While having a green thumb is a definite pro when it comes to finding the perfect plants to take indoors, it isn’t an absolute necessity. When dropping by the local flower shop, ask for tips in order to maximize your purchase—find out the best place to position your blooms, whether in direct sunlight or away from the windows, inquire about how often your plant needs to be watered and how much your water can should hold every time.
There are also a myriad of ways to arrange your flowers—whether you choose to pick a pre-arranged set from the shop and just plant them in a vase, or experiment and create your own DIY assemblage. Here are a few ideas to keep your imagination spinning and to get you inspired to plant some plants in your own home.
Tea and sympathy. If you’re entertaining friends and having an afternoon tea, dress up your buffet table with low-set floral arrangements in antique teacups and saucers. Create your own version of an English garden arrangement by mixing arrangements in tea-themed containers such as cups and sugar cube containers. Shopping in vintage stores around Kamuning and Bangkal can yield you pretty, vintage cups for low prices.
Branch out. Bringing in greens shouldn’t confine you to just flowers and blooms. Branches, twigs and leaves can provide an earthy alternative to the usual displays. Create depth and dimension by using leaves in varying shades and cut in different lengths. Even dried leaves can be used in an arrangement, if you’re in the market for a more rustic tone to your table.
Food for the flower gods. Restricting yourself to pure flowers, plants or leaves can give you limited options. Mixing in other elements such as fruit or brightly colored vegetables can add visual interest to your centerpieces and can work well when decorating the dinner table for parties. Dragonfruit, artichokes, lychees and other exotic foods can add a surprising twist to a floral display—and can be taken home after your party, too!
Tip for the novice florist: stock up on tools. Make sure to have some sharp shears, string, floral tape and foam readily available to create and fashion arrangements that suit your taste.
Have more home and organizing questions for the author? Email her at chinggaylabrador@yahoo.com
Chinggay Labrador is a freelance writer and stylist, contributing articles on beauty, lifestyle and design to local magazines. Her background in architecture has her profiling trends and homes throughout the region. A travel junkie who likes to frequent Japan and Korea, Chinggay is the former editor-in-chief of Sparkling, a quarterly K-Pop publication and is also the author of “Popped and Popped, Too,” books based on the fun, frivolity and friendship centered on Korean Pop music.
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