How to use spring flowers in interiors

Spring must be the most-anticipated season. All through the dark, cold days and nights of winter, we console ourselves with the promise of brighter, warmer, longer days come springtime. We picture fresh, green leaves on trees and a succession of colourful spring blooms to cheer us up.

It’s a godsend for providing seasonal arrangements to brighten up our interiors too. Here are a few of my favourite ways to use spring flowers.

Keep it simple

You can’t go wrong with a mass of one variety of spring flower. A vase of single-colour ranunculus looks supremely elegant while the double flowers and twisted stems provide texture and interest to your interior.

Maximise their attributes

Spring flowers are sometimes not very long-lasting, but there are compensations. I’m thinking here of the incredible scent of hyacinths or narcissi. Heavenly – and all the sweeter for their fleeting nature. Make the most of them while they are in season.

Classic colour combinations work best

This restrained palette of white tulips and hyacinths is given texture by adding green and white parrot tulips and variegated privet. Rich purple tulips bring a splash of drama to the mix.

Think about the colours in the room too

These beautiful apricot pink French tulips complement the grey blue walls painted Dix Blue by Farrow and Ball.

Use what comes to hand

We are lucky to have a fantastic mimosa tree (acacia dealbata) in our Blackheath garden which bursts into bloom in March. For a couple of weeks, we can fill each room of the house with armfuls of heady scented blossom. Spring is the time to snip twigs from shrubs or trees in the garden to bring a bit of nature inside. A branch or two of cherry blossom, forsythia or crab apple will remind you that the natural cycle of growth and renewal is underway again.

Bring the outdoors in

You can get fantastic temporary displays by bringing outdoor plants inside. These lovely primulas will give a good couple of weeks pleasure inside if they are kept cool. And they can be planted outside afterwards.

Size isn’t everything

A single bloom can look stunning. This tulip was a casualty of the trip from the flower market with the stem getting broken short. It looks fantastic in this simple pot.

Go for broke!

As the season draws to a close, it’s time to throw caution to the wind and go all out for impact. These late season yellow parrot tulips are so vibrant, matching perfectly the fully double white peonies and creamy stocks and lisianthus. Bridging the gap between spring and summer.