Your home is your sanctuary — the place where you feel a sense of peace and calm — so why notenhanceyourspacebybringing the beauty of natureinside?Adding flowers to your home décor is a greatway tofreshen upany room, and there are many benefits tobringingbeautiful bloomsindoors, too.
ValerieGhitelman,vice presidentof product development, design & sourcing at 1-800-Flowers.com,knows firsthandwhat benefitsbouquets and potted plantscan havein yourinterior space. Here’s her reasoning for whyfilling your home with flowersis a good idea.
1. Flowers cultivate certain moods
Your home sets the tone for your day and can influenceyour well-being and outlook on life.You can control thatmoodby filling your space with flowers that cultivate themindset you want.
“When I see a bouquet with a softer palette, I feel calm and serene,so I find it lowers my stress level,”Ghitelman says. “I prefer soft pastels because I find pastels are relaxing. I also enjoy white flowers that havea sense of calm and provide a tranquil environment. Bright colors are exciting and can really boost your energy and make you feel very exhilarated and happy.”
You can change your floral arrangement coloring based on the room—soft neutrals fora relaxingbedroomorbright accent colors in the dining room to foster lively conversation.
2. Flowers arenaturalconversation starters
Choosing floral arrangements that resonate with your personality lets you stand out from the crowdwhile alsobeinganatural conversation starter in your home décor.
“I am very fond of cymbidium orchids because of their shape,beauty,and color,as well as their ability to last so long,” Ghitelman says.“They are a statement flower that sits high above many others, elegant and statuesque, so much so that evenasingle stem isatalking point.”
3. Flowers add asenseofintentionalitytoyourspace
A bouquet of fresh flowers adds the finishingtouchto any room and canevenmake the space feel stagedfor a showing.Choose your indoor flowers carefully to cultivate the aesthetic you are looking for.For example,Ghitelmanloves the soft petals and almost translucentcolors of peonies for their ability tocalm down a busy décor space and tie competing elements together.
4. Flowers make you feelmore in touch with nature
There are endless benefits associated withbringing a sense of the outdoors into your home.“Today, more than ever, people are inspired by nature and how flowers and plants can bring them closer to nature and enhance their environment and create natural ambiance,”Ghitelman says.
Consider bringing big potted plants into your living room orusing hangingbasketsto offset a window.You’ll benefit from the fresh, filtered air they produce as well asfrom the mental health benefits associated withbeing in nature.
And, counterintuitively, keeping large plants in your home can create the perception of more room.“Having a natural environmentin your homecan make you feel like you have morespaceand you are a part of the outdoors,which is very enlightening,”Ghitelman says.
5. Flowers elevateyourmood
It’s hard to have a bad day when you’re surrounded by beauty.Researchshowsthat flowersimprove our mental healthby triggering happy emotions and even positive socialbehaviors.
For example,one Harvard studyfound thatdecorating with a fresh bouquet for even one week ledparticipants to feel more compassionforothers, experience less worry and anxiety, anddevelopfewer feelings of depression. Best of all, these effects lasted for them while at work, even when flowers weren’t present at the office.
6. Flowers positivelyinfluenceyoursense ofsmell
The world of scents is a billion-dollar industry.Who doesn’t love to fill their home withcandles and essential oils on occasion?But if you want to enjoy fresh floral scents in their purest form, there’s nothing that compares toflower bouquets in your home.
“Flowers possess a unique andwholesome fragrance that can be uplifting and pleasurable,”Ghitelman says.“All flowers have a natural scent,but some have a more provocative fragrance that is truly unforgettable.Your sense of smell is also connected tomemory,so if you smell a specific flower while you’re relaxed, you may feel the same relaxationand calm when you remember that scent.”
If you’re choosing flowers for their fragrance potential,Ghitelmansuggestsa bouquet of lilies, roses, hyacinth, garden roses, peony, oriental lilies, freesia, lily of the valley, gardenia,orhoneysuckle.
7. Plants give you the satisfaction of caretaking
When yourworld shrinks down to the size of your home, there’s alot of satisfaction to be gained fromcaring for plants within it. Pruning, watering, andfertilizing potted plants gives you something external to focus on each day. AsGhitelmansays, it’srewarding to have a room full of healthy plants that are only there because of you.
8. Flowers addapop ofcolor
For those who get bored with the same styling for too long, flowers offer a quick way to switch things up. A bold-hued bouquet can add a pop of color to neutral spaces like bathrooms, and you can change up the colorschemeevery week.
Bringflowers intoyourhome forbeauty and abettermood
No matter your goals, bringing flowers into your home will offer innumerable benefits for your health and happiness.Consider adding some to yourhometoday, and your space will bemorepleasant for it.
I'm an enthusiast with a deep understanding of the positive impact that flowers and plants can have on our living spaces, drawing on both scientific research and practical experience. My appreciation for this topic extends beyond the aesthetic aspect to the holistic benefits that nature brings indoors.
Valerie Ghitelman, the Vice President of Product Development, Design & Sourcing at 1-800-Flowers.com, is a recognized authority in the field, and her insights align with my understanding. Here's a breakdown of the concepts discussed in the article:
1. Mood Cultivation:
- Flowers influence the mood of a space and can be chosen based on the desired ambiance.
- Soft pastels create a calm and serene atmosphere, while bright colors boost energy and happiness.
- Tailoring floral arrangements to room purposes, like neutrals in bedrooms and vibrant colors in dining areas, can enhance the desired mood.
2. Conversation Starters:
- Unique floral choices, such as cymbidium orchids, can serve as focal points and natural conversation starters.
- The aesthetic appeal, longevity, and distinctiveness of certain flowers make them stand out in a décor.
3. Intentionality in Design:
- Flowers add a finishing touch to a room and contribute to the intentional staging of a space.
- Carefully chosen flowers, like peonies with soft petals and translucent colors, can tie together elements in a busy décor.
4. Connection with Nature:
- Bringing nature indoors is emphasized as a current trend inspired by people's desire to be closer to nature.
- Large potted plants and hanging baskets are suggested to enhance the natural ambiance and create a sense of openness.
5. Mood Elevation:
- Research, including a Harvard study, supports the idea that flowers improve mental health, trigger happy emotions, and encourage positive social behaviors.
- The effects of having flowers in the home last beyond their physical presence.
6. Influence on Smell:
- Flowers contribute to a wholesome and uplifting fragrance in the home.
- Certain flowers like lilies, roses, hyacinth, and others are recommended for their unique and memorable scents.
7. Satisfaction of Caretaking:
- Caring for plants provides a sense of satisfaction and an external focus, especially in confined living spaces.
- Daily tasks like pruning, watering, and fertilizing contribute to the well-being of the indoor environment.
8. Pop of Color:
- Flowers offer a quick and versatile way to add a pop of color to neutral spaces.
- Regularly changing the color scheme with different bouquets provides variety and visual interest.
In conclusion, the article strongly advocates for the integration of flowers into home décor, emphasizing their multifaceted positive impacts on mood, conversation, intentional design, connection with nature, mental health, fragrance, caretaking satisfaction, and aesthetic variety.
