When many people think of floral design they think of stuffy Laura Ashley prints, but florals don’t have to be boring and traditional. Today’s modern floral decor can be fun, colorful, vibrant and dramatic.

From wallpaper to textiles and accessories to window treatments, florals are a great way to incorporate what we love best about nature but without the sneezing and wheezing for those who love flowers, but not seasonal allergies!

Floral Walls

Image: All Fairness

If you are ready to take the plunge, wallpaper is the way to go. For a more traditional floral design look, go with smaller repeat patterns and for a modern look, try bolder and larger prints. Not on board with the time, work and long-term commitment of wallpaper, then removable wall stencils are the choice for you. In addition, if you like the look of floral wallpaper, but can’t or don’t want to cover your entire walls, consider using wallpaper remnants.

Flooring

Image: Urban Outfitters

A very modern way of incorporating floral design into your decor is with a bold rug. Go with a monochromatic bold print for a trendy way to use florals. Another choice, if you own your own home, is to create a stencil painted floral floor, like in this example from Royal Design Studios.

Floral Art

Image: West Elm

Like the look of cut flowers, consider floral artwork like this pretty, bold and colorful watercolor painting or head out into nature for some inspiration and paint your own field of wildflowers! Or create your own paper posies with this tutorial for paper flowers.

Pile on the Pillows

Image: ClassicByNature

Whether you make your own or purchase them from Etsy, floral print pillows are an easy and welcoming way to add from floral design to your home. Pile them in the living room or on beds to add pops of colorful posies without the mess of bringing cut flowers into the house.

Window Treatments

Image: Urban Outfitters

Curtains are another great way to bring add floral design to your decor and are a great alternative for those who rent. Choose an ombre floral print for a more modern way to use florals.

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Top Image: Anthropologie

The post Spring Floral Design Inspiration: Decorating with Florals appeared first on EcoSalon.

Flower arranging may be an art form, but it’s one that is attainable by all of us. Sure, we may feel more comfortable leaving our wedding and other special occasions to the pros, but you should feel like everyday flower arranging is a skill you have in your wheelhouse.

If you aren’t quite comfortable with the notion of do-it-yourself flower arranging here are some tips to get you started. The key is to get in touch with your creative side, think about the effect you are looking to create and where you want to display your flowers. Arrangements for the mantle or table centerpiece will be very different from arrangements for the bathroom or a sunny windowsill. The most important thing to remember about flower arranging is to jump in and have fun. It’s not just about creating an end result, but also enjoying the process!

1. Use Wildflowers

Image: bernadettemacphersonmorris

The addition of Queen Anne’s Lace and Black-Eyed Susan flowers to this beautiful and simple  arrangement of Hydrangea blossoms is genius. Sometimes the prettiest flowers grow right in our backyards!

2. Create an Ombre Effect

Image: thedessinee

Pick a flower and choose a variety of shades of the same color family to create an ombre effect.

3. Volume

Image: InfoMofo

Keep it simple. Pick your favorite bloom and fill a container to the brim with it. Sometimes a simple statement can make the most impact.

4. Complementary Colors

Image: bobosh_t

Remember the color wheel? You know: primary, secondary, tertiary colors? Well complementary colors are those colors that are opposites on the color wheel, but that complement each other. Combinations like blue and yellow, red and green and purple and green can make striking arrangements like this pretty blue and orange example.

5. Texture

Image: torbakhopper

Use a variety of textures to create a visually stunning effect as in this gorgeously bold arrangement.

6.  Height

Image: David Blackwell

Use height to create drama as with this simple and stunning display that utilizes a tall slender vase to showcase tall beauties. The sleek and simple effect is the perfect showcase.

7. Vases

Image: Jinx!

Try a variety of vessels from everyday mason jars and coffee cans to vintage art deco vases and exotically-shaped blown glass vases.

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Top Image: aussiegal

The post 7 Stunning Do-It-Yourself Flower Arranging Tips appeared first on EcoSalon.

Create stunning centerpieces without stepping foot in a florist’s shop.

Years ago I used to buy flowers for my centerpieces and home floral arrangements, but then I started learning about unsustainable the cut flower industry can be. While I still do buy the occasional store-bought bouquet, I do try to only buy from sources where I can be somewhat assured that my flowers are local and are organic or at least are lightly sprayed.

* Tip – If you must buy store bought flowers, look for organically-grown or Veriflora Certified flowers at your local florist or other retailer.

However, more often than not, I head out into my back yard and the natural areas around my home to collect and forage elements for my centerpieces and other floral and natural displays.

In my neck of the woods, I can find stunning yellow forsythia in the spring, tiger lilies and Queen Anne’s lace in the summer, oak leaves with acorns in the fall, and pine cones and evergreen boughs in the winter. I find that creating my own floral arrangements from natural elements I have foraged is so much more satisfying and my hard work is often appreciated by my guests.

No matter where you live—the Pacific Northwest, New England, the Southwest or in the South—you too can create stunning centerpieces and arrangements from what is grown in your locale.

So, give it a try and and add some everyday natural beauty to your home or create a stunning and conversation-starting centerpiece for your next soiree!

Image: David Blackwell

Tips and Resources for Centerpieces

Plant your own wildflowers and native species to harvest for your flower arrangements. Your local office of the Bureau of Land Management, Cooperative Extension or Natural Resources Conservation Service would be good places to start. As might your local Native Plant Society, horticultural society or nature center.

Forage!  Find a meadow, woods or spot of shoreline and find your own flowers and natural elements. One note though, make sure to be sustainable in your foraging as well as  follow all local laws and regulations. It is illegal to forage in many national and state parks, and you would certainly want to gain permission to forage on private property. For identification of wildflowers you might find, the Peterson and National Audubon Society’s guide books are excellent. There are different books for each region of the US.

Finally, make sure to allow your creativity to shine through and experiment with different elements. Driftwood isn’t just beach detritus and moss isn’t just for between the stones in your backyard  when you are in the right mindset, but they can be integral elements to your next centerpiece!

Image: marco monetti (OFF)

Top image: Saídos da Concha

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