We sat down with Homewings founder and interior designer extraordinaire, Cornelia de Ruiter, to find out why we should be decorating with flowers, and how to leverage them for maximum impact, with minimal effort.
Let’s be honest, can flowers really make a difference in a space?
"Absolutely. Working flower patterns and prints into a room can only do so much — and sometimes, too much — there is nothing quite like the real thing to liven up a room. Plus, many real flowers have the added benefit of having a lovely smell, which is so much nicer than artificial room fresheners or potpourris."
"Using various flower bouquets in your home means that you can play around with different colour schemes and arrangements which have the power to make a room look completely different at the drop of a hat. A regular delivery by Bloom & Wild makes the process of buying flowers hassle-free - and a nice surprise. A top tip to extend the lifetime of a bouquet is to remove the wilted stems and add fresh greenery or foliage from your own garden or local park."
What are your thoughts on vases? Are they worth investing in, or can you improvise?
"You can find stylish vases for almost no money, so there’s no excuse not to have at least one at home! If you want to experiment, charity shops are always good places to find vessels to hold your bouquets. For example, a small watering can will give a great vintage, shabby chic aesthetic. An old teapot or water jug would also work great."
Do different flowers go better with, or create, different styles?
"Of course! In fact, knowing your interior style can help you immensely when choosing how you want to decorate with flowers. Roses go better with traditional or classic interiors, whereas sculptural flowers such as orchids are better suited for modern looks. If your room decor is more on the Scandi side, small and delicate flowers work wonders to add an even more ethereal touch."
"It also depends on how you display the flowers. An ornamental bouquet in a statement geometric vase or single stems in multiple smaller vessels create a minimal and chic look. However there are plenty of multitasking flowers like peonies or lilies, which will look great with almost any interior style."
Should flowers be used in every room? Where do they work best?
"Beside the obvious places - like kitchens and living rooms - adding flowers to your home office can be an immediate mood booster, and having small bunches of flowers scattered in your bathroom is a lovely way to instantly create a spa atmosphere that makes you want to soak in your tub forever."