This article originally appeared on the Springs "You're Home Blog."
Flowers and plants are a quick and inexpensive way to add life and color to your Springs luxury apartment home. Our creative management team has suggestions for some unexpected ways to decorate with flowers and plants as well as clever hacks for extending their freshness.
Change of Scenery
The living room and dining table are common spots for floral displays, but think outside the box and brighten up some different spots.
- Get rid of that clutter on top of the refrigerator and add a pop of color with a vase of tulips or daisies.
- Green plants emphasize the cozy, natural ambiance of a kitchen.
- Air plants require no soil but plenty of moisture, making them an ideal choice for a bathroom.
- Enjoy a literal day-brightener when you wake up to a vibrant bouquet of flowers on a nightstand or dresser.
- Plants and flowers don't have to be a centerpiece. Use them to add interest to corners of a room or other overlooked areas.
Flower Arranging 101
Do you just stick flowers in a vase and hope for the best? You don't have to be a pro to come up with decorative looks for plants and flowers.
- If you're using a bowl or wide-mouth vase for a container, use tape to make a simple grid over the top that will hold the flowers in place. Try Budable for smaller vases.
- Floral foam works like magic for opaque and/or odd-shaped containers.
- Experiment with adding a few drops of food coloring to the water in a clear glass vase.
- Another trick with clear glass vases is placing a smaller one inside a larger one and filling the gap with citrus slices, pebbles, leaves and other seasonal items.
- Want a striking display for a room corner or patio or balcony? Stack different sized pots to create a tower garden.
- Don't aim for perfection. Arrangements are more attractive when they have an organic, free-flowing appearance.
Floral First Aid
Nothing lasts forever, including freshly cut flowers and plants, but use these tips to keep them looking their best just a bit longer.
- Trim stems at a 45-degree angle about an inch from the bottom for more efficient water intake.
- Give cut flowers a good stiff drink! Add a few drops of vodka and a teaspoon of white sugar to the water to delay wilting.
- Keep water fresh by dropping a penny in it. Acid in the copper prevents mold and bacteria from developing.
- Give the undersides of leaves and petals a quick spritz with hairspray.
- When flowers start looking a little tired, remove the buds and float them in a shallow bowl filled with water.
- If heat is making flowers sag, cool them off with a night in the fridge.
Share your favorite flower and plant decorating tips in the comments below!
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