Every year, once I’ve stowed away all of my Christmas decorations, I am dying for the bright cheery colors of spring.
I tend to leave my house alone for a little while, enjoying the spring clean feel, but as soon as the warmer weather rolls around, I am putting a fresh touch to all of the florals in the house. If you feel the same way, and want to find some ways to update or bring a little life into your space, I have some tips for you.
For those of you who read my blog on the color trends for this year, you may notice the correlation in the color palettes . . . if you didn’t, please do. Visit www.cocomilanos.com, under news and events. Not all of the palettes have transcended into floral design, but one in particular is the rise in pastels. Sherwin Williams introduced it as Vintage Moxie, but we are seeing it everywhere, from fashion to home décor.
This color palette is working its way into floral this season through the use of cool pastel tones. We are seeing lots of soft purples, greens and blues. While the green tulips and white ranunculus are acting as neutrals, balancing the arrangement gives it a delicate and soothing color palette.
Another color trend in floral design is the use of bold contrasting colors (colors opposite each other on the color wheel). I know everyone is automatically thinking red and green, but contrasting colors are so much more.
One example of a contrasting color palette is blue and orange. Because cobalt (blue) is such a timeless color, many people already have it in their homes. If you are looking to spice it up, add in a pop of orange. Many people tend to get nervous about using orange, but the addition of white is softening the look of the arrangement, so the orange is just an accent to the blue. However, even by definition, orange brings a pop of life to any space. It is said to inspire energy, happiness, and creativity.
When creating an arrangement, another principle I like to follow is to mix textures. There is not an exact formula or pattern for floral arrangements, but adding different elements is a basic rule of thumb. What I found to be interesting in floral design for this season is mixing succulents with flowers. I absolutely love this new concept. For years, I have been adding small wild flowers with my succulent arrangements. With new inspiration for the coming season, I have been mixing them with large flowers.
The last detail I would like to discuss is using oversized items in arrangements. I have used many different oversized sunflowers in my day, but now we have poppies, dinner plate dahlias and kale. If the container is fitting, don’t be afraid to go big.
Hopefully, this has left you inspired. If you have any more questions on floral arrangements, or anything else I can help you with in your space, please feel free to come visit me. I love a good puzzle, and I live for finding just the right solution for your space.
The CoCo Milano’s store is located at The Village at Las Sendas, 2837 N. Power Road, Suite 104. For more information, call (480) 641-2626, visit the Web at www.cocomilanos.com, or send an e-mail to info@cocomilanos.com.