9 of the Best Flowers and Foliage for Contemporary Spaces
Blooms and branches will give any room a boost, so check out these ideas for good varieties to choose
Laura Gaskill
1 May 2016
Houzz Contributor. I cover decorating ideas, Houzz tours & the monthly home maintenance checklist. My favorite pieces to write center around the emotional aspects of home and savoring life's simple pleasures. Get my bi-weekly email: https://www.lauragaskill.com/thesimplelist/
Houzz Contributor. I cover decorating ideas, Houzz tours & the monthly home maintenance... More
Beyond furniture and décor, there’s one thing that can really bring a room to life: fresh cut flowers. Flowers (and foliage) exude personality, so the plants you choose can help to emphasise the style of your space. Take a mini tour of nine blooms and branches that will give stylish spaces that finishing touch.
Craspedia
Also known as billy buttons, these cute little summer-blooming, ball-shaped yellow flowers are native to Australia and New Zealand. The stems are stiff and leafless, making them especially easy to work with.
Style Fresh, clean, modern, minimalist.
Also known as billy buttons, these cute little summer-blooming, ball-shaped yellow flowers are native to Australia and New Zealand. The stems are stiff and leafless, making them especially easy to work with.
Style Fresh, clean, modern, minimalist.
How to use Their small stature and simple shape make them ideal for arranging in a cluster of vases or grouping multiple stems in a sculptural vase. They also add a fun element to mixed bouquets.
Anemone
These elegant blooms are available in late winter and early spring. Anemones come in many varieties, but the floral design darling has a black centre and white petals.
Style Elegant, classic, romantic, fashion-forward.
How to use These flowers are best appreciated up close. Try placing small bunches in cream jugs or vases to decorate your dining table or bedside table.
These elegant blooms are available in late winter and early spring. Anemones come in many varieties, but the floral design darling has a black centre and white petals.
Style Elegant, classic, romantic, fashion-forward.
How to use These flowers are best appreciated up close. Try placing small bunches in cream jugs or vases to decorate your dining table or bedside table.
Protea
If these huge blooms (some can be 30cm across) look sort of prehistoric to you, you’d be correct – fossil records show members of the Proteaceae family dating back to at least the Cretaceous period, more than 66 million years ago. These striking plants are native to the southern hemisphere, but are available in the UK.
Style Tropical, modern, organic.
If these huge blooms (some can be 30cm across) look sort of prehistoric to you, you’d be correct – fossil records show members of the Proteaceae family dating back to at least the Cretaceous period, more than 66 million years ago. These striking plants are native to the southern hemisphere, but are available in the UK.
Style Tropical, modern, organic.
How to use Proteas are scene stealers, so let them have the spotlight. Left on long stems, they can hold their own in a hefty vase on the floor. Or call attention to smaller kinds of proteas by cutting the stems short and placing one or two blooms in a vase on the dining table.
Get ideas to make your kitchen table the heart of your home
Get ideas to make your kitchen table the heart of your home
Thistle
In season from summer through to autumn, these spiky blue or purple blooms have an untamed, wild look. There are many varieties, from small globe-shaped blue thistles to artichokes left to bloom (yes, they’re a kind of thistle), as well as other plants that aren’t true thistles but are known as them (such as Eryngium).
Style Rustic, natural, elegant.
How to use These striking blooms work well on their own, tucked into a small, square vase. Or mix thistles in a cool-colour bouquet with white anemones, silvery dusty miller and blue viburnum berries.
In season from summer through to autumn, these spiky blue or purple blooms have an untamed, wild look. There are many varieties, from small globe-shaped blue thistles to artichokes left to bloom (yes, they’re a kind of thistle), as well as other plants that aren’t true thistles but are known as them (such as Eryngium).
Style Rustic, natural, elegant.
How to use These striking blooms work well on their own, tucked into a small, square vase. Or mix thistles in a cool-colour bouquet with white anemones, silvery dusty miller and blue viburnum berries.
Olive
These Mediterranean branches have a lovely shape and beautiful silver-green hue. Olive branches are available year-round from florists – or simply snip some outdoors if you or someone you know has a tree.
Style Relaxed, farmhouse, elegant, natural, simple.
These Mediterranean branches have a lovely shape and beautiful silver-green hue. Olive branches are available year-round from florists – or simply snip some outdoors if you or someone you know has a tree.
Style Relaxed, farmhouse, elegant, natural, simple.
How to use Cut one or more olive branches and place them in a large glass vessel, such as a jug.
Eucalyptus
Decked with silver-green leaves, eucalyptus branches are fragrant and especially long-lasting. They also dry beautifully: simply tie a bundle with twine and hang upside down in a dry, well-ventilated place.
Style Fresh, organic, modern, clean, natural.
How to use Keeping it simple is best: put a cluster of eucalyptus branches in a tall vase. For an aromatic addition to the shower, hang a bundle upside down from your showerhead.
Decked with silver-green leaves, eucalyptus branches are fragrant and especially long-lasting. They also dry beautifully: simply tie a bundle with twine and hang upside down in a dry, well-ventilated place.
Style Fresh, organic, modern, clean, natural.
How to use Keeping it simple is best: put a cluster of eucalyptus branches in a tall vase. For an aromatic addition to the shower, hang a bundle upside down from your showerhead.
Split-leaf philodendron
Leaves trimmed from a split-leaf philodendron (or Swiss cheese plant), usually grown as a potted plant, also make an unusual and long-lasting display.
Style Modern, tropical, dramatic.
How to use Find split-leaf philodendron leaves at a florist or cut a few from your own plant. One or two large leaves are all you need to make a statement.
Leaves trimmed from a split-leaf philodendron (or Swiss cheese plant), usually grown as a potted plant, also make an unusual and long-lasting display.
Style Modern, tropical, dramatic.
How to use Find split-leaf philodendron leaves at a florist or cut a few from your own plant. One or two large leaves are all you need to make a statement.
Cherry blossom
Cherry trees produce prolific, sweet-scented blooms in the spring. Some varieties are pink, while others are white or white with a pink tinge.
Style Elegant, romantic, fresh.
Cherry trees produce prolific, sweet-scented blooms in the spring. Some varieties are pink, while others are white or white with a pink tinge.
Style Elegant, romantic, fresh.
How to use Spring branches are all about height, so choose a vase that’s tall and heavy enough to contain them without trimming too much. Set it on a console table in the hallway or place an oversized vessel filled with cherry blossoms directly on the floor.
Check out these style tricks to give your hallway a boost
Check out these style tricks to give your hallway a boost
Allium
A member of the onion family, alliums have big, globe-shaped flowers atop long, thick stems. Purple is the most common colour, but these spring and summer bloomers also come in shades of pink, white and yellow.
Style Modern, feminine, elegant, fun, fresh.
How to use The sculptural blooms look best on their own in simple glass vessels. Try lining up tall vases down the centre of your dining table and put an allium or two in each.
TELL US…
What are your favourite plants to bring into the home? Share your thoughts and photos in the Comments below.
A member of the onion family, alliums have big, globe-shaped flowers atop long, thick stems. Purple is the most common colour, but these spring and summer bloomers also come in shades of pink, white and yellow.
Style Modern, feminine, elegant, fun, fresh.
How to use The sculptural blooms look best on their own in simple glass vessels. Try lining up tall vases down the centre of your dining table and put an allium or two in each.
TELL US…
What are your favourite plants to bring into the home? Share your thoughts and photos in the Comments below.
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If you want some flowers without having to replace them every week you can try this new self-watering vertical pot http://www.citysens.com/en/15-vertical-gardens
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Si quieres tener flores sin tener que cambiarlas cada semana puedes probar este nuevo sistema http://www.citysens.com/es/15-jardines-verticales