Ever visited fancy homes on a home and garden tour or poured over magazines and Pinterest for hours looking at gorgeous flower arrangements with envy in your heart and a desire to learn floral arranging?

Of course, you have, but now there is hope for you (and me). There’s a new book available that makes flower arranging more approachable for us mere mortals. “Jane Packer’s Flower Course: Easy Techniques for Fabulous Flower Arranging,” written by celebrated florist Jane Packer, presents Packer’s highly regarded four-week course taught at her flower school–but in book form. The book lays out her wealth of experience and celebrated designs and puts them within reach of everyday flower enthusiasts.

Jane Packer is one of Britain’s foremost floral artists. She established Jane Packer Flowers in 1982, and in 1990 opened her first flower school in London. In 2004, Jane launched janepackerdelivered.com, delivering her trademark arrangements nationwide. She has outlets in London, New York, Seoul, Tokyo and Kuwait City.  Her clients include boutique hotels, film companies, designer stores, and devoted private clients. And now, you can fashion your own Packer-inspired floral arrangements.

This guide is broken down into three sections covering arrangements intended to be given as gifts, floral arranging and decorating for the home, and arrangements for celebrations including weddings.

And lest you think this book is just a visual smorgasbord of delicious floral designs, think again. While there are plenty of stunning photos in the book, the emphasis is actually on the practical how-to. The glorious photographs of the finished arrangements are accompanied by step-by-step photographs and super-easy-to-follow instructions. There is even a beginning overview of the tools and supplies that you will need for floral arranging, as well as a section on buying flowers and on conditioning and reviving flowers.

Projects range from the more rustic, like hyacinths and anemones in a bag, to the more modern, like a modern pedestal arrangement with sunflowers, chrysanthemums, and cabbage heads.

Believe me when I tell you that the book distils Packer’s floral expertise and style into one essential resource that imparts all the secrets of creating beautiful floral designs. It is a must for anyone who wants to learn how to do their own floral arranging.

Related on EcoSalon

Spring Floral Design Inspiration: Decorating with Florals
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7 Stunning Do-It-Yourself Flower Arranging Tips

Images from “Jane Packer’s Flower Course: Easy techniques for fabulous flower arranging” from Ryland Peters & Small publishers and photographed by Paul Massey

The post Floral Arranging Made Easy as Peonies with a New Resource appeared first on EcoSalon.

Turn your home into a nature lover’s paradise with home decor ideas inspired by real-life botanicals.

If you are a plant lover and want to keep the beauty of outdoor botanicals alive all year round (and aren’t loaded enough to have an indoor conservancy) get inspired to add botanicals to your home decor. From ferns to poppies, and everything in between, botanicals make for great inspiration. Moreover, it’s super easy to add botanicals to your space by adding wall prints, patterns, DIY projects and more.

Get cracking to make your home a botanical-inspired oasis regardless of the season–and no matter whether you have a green thumb or not.

Add Botanicals to Your Home Decor

1. Wall Art – One easy way to add any decor style to your home is with wall art. Whether you rent or own, wall art is always doable. You can buy wall art, like this print from Brainstorm Print & Goods, or DIY your own. Whatever suits your budget and your style.

2. Wallpaper – If you are looking to make a more substantial change, consider adding botanical-themed wallpaper. Of course, some botanical wallpapers might be overwhelming in smaller spaces, so consider wallpapering an accent wall, or even using wallpaper to decoupage a piece of furniture. We love this mural wallpaper from Anthropologie.

3. Floor Coverings – And don’t forget about the floor. Either painting an old wood floor in need of love or by making your own DIY floor covering, the floor is often overlooked area in design and decor. Here is a great tutorial for making a stylish floor covering using one of IKEA’s fabrics and a dropcloth.

4. Make Your Own Curtains – If you are into more DIY, consider making your own curtains utilizing a botanical print like this print available at Spoonflower, Here’s a how-to for making no-sew handmade curtain panels.

5. Dried Flower Mobile – Bring the outside in by drying your favorite flowers and other botanicals to make a DIY wall hanging or mobile. Use wood branches sourced from your yard as the base and hang dried flowers, dried ferns, and other dried botanicals from string to create an attractive wall hanging.

6. Stencils – Stencils are another fabulous DIY solution for adding botanical prints to your home. You can stencil a pattern on your walls, like this birch tree pattern from JBoutique Stencils, or add patterns to furniture, floors, rugs, curtains, and more.

7. Succulents – Of course, the best way to decorate with botanicals is with actual botanicals. Succulents are a wonderful blend of botanical beauty and easy to grow. They require very little water and are the ideal plants for those who don’t have a green thumb. A terrarium is a lovely way to incorporate succulents into your space. Learn how to DIY your own terrarium or buy one already made like this one from The Zen Succulent.

Related on EcoSalon

Wall Stencils Are The New Paint: Where to Buy, How to DIY
Is Plywood a Sustainable and Elevated Design Material?
How to Make a Terrarium Even If You Don’t Have a Green Thumb

Vibrant Botanical Wall Mural Image Via Livettes

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