If you’ve seen my work, you would know that flowers and plants are my go-to when a space or room is in need of some serious sprucing up. Plant and flower arrangements are one of interior decorator’s quickest but most effective tools when styling a space. Flowers and plants can instantly add colour, set a desired mood, enhance the overall look of the home and most importantly reflect your personal taste. With the above benefits fresh flowers come with a down side; they require daily maintenance and of course they eventually die (set in the tears).
So, when I discovered the dry flower arrangements from the late 80’s coming back with a fresh new modern look, swarming our Pinterest and Instagram feeds, I went to the best in the bizz Friends of Dorothy Floristry to get my hands on my very own custom-made dried flower arrangement. The brief was simple, I needed “a bit of colour to add to my dining area, I love cool tones and I have this really cool vase I want it to sit in.” In a matter of hours Frankie and Terrence came back to me with the most amazing combination of hydrangeas and cool toned foliage, I was instantly in love and this baby absolutely is the focal point of the space - which was the number one objective!
Take this as a PSA to all home décor lovers or anyone that simply just needs to elevate their space; dried flowers are not only the latest trend, but they last a lifetime (now wipe those tears)! Here are some of my top designer tips when it comes to choosing the right arrangement for your home:
1. Acknowledge your current design theme
You want the arrangement to enhance the look and feel of the space whilst complimenting the current interior design theme you have in your home. If your home is modern minimalist perhaps an arrangement with a minimal colour pallet accompanied by a clean and simple design or alternatively you may be seeking a burst of colour and energy and in this case, you would choose a bright arrangement with a bit of drama. Industrial type homes would work best with flower arrangements with sharp lines and solid moody colours. Scandi homes would benefit from warm, earthy tones with a lot of grainy like texture running through the leaves.
2. Find a spot
Have a place in the home in mind before exploring different arrangements. If it’s in an entry way on a console maybe you want to think about something that is tall but cascades. If it’s for a kitchen bench you may want to look at more practical designs as it’s a commonly used area. If it’s for a dining table, a coronal arrangement would work best rather than a straight vertical so no matter what angle you are from the table its all round face is the feature. By having a spot in mind you can visualise how the arrangement will work in that area against other features you may have on display.
3. Choose a vase
On occasion a vase may be as equally a statement along with the flowers you choose, or you may want it to be a simple design to allow the dried flowers to be the focal point. The size and structure of the vase will also determine the overall look of the arrangement. There are so many amazing designs of vases out there, only recently I purchased this amazing roman terrazzo look vase with two beautiful scoop handles on each side, with something like this I would want to showcase the vase equally against the dried arrangement. Whereas a simple cylinder glass vase will keep the flower arrangement as the focus. If it’s height you are after you will look for tall long vases or for volume look for vases with big openings. Same goes with the design and colour of the vase; if your home is provincial themed a more rustic looking vase would compliment this space rather than a grey concrete vase that would work better in a modern home.
With all that in mind once you get your hands on your very own dried flower arrangement don’t forget to follow some simple things to keep them looking brand new:
· Keep dried flowers out of direct sunlight or heater vents – this will reduce fading and deterioration.
· Occasionally, dust your dried flowers lightly with a feather duster.
· When not in use, store dried flowers in a box or in a dry place away from dry heat.
If all that hasn't convinced you perhaps some of these images might....
