I am always inspired by my visits to the Chelsea Flower Show and this year was no exception. It made me reflect on how flowers always bring colour, life and a beautiful scent to a room and really make a house feel alive. It is so important to remain connected to the natural world and to be reminded of the pleasures the simple things in life bring. With sunnier days and warmer weather upon us why not bring a bit of summer inside?

A summer garden feel

At this time of the year there is an abundance of English flowers available, and they are not expensive. If you are lucky enough to have your own garden, just gather a bunch of whatever is in bloom. You can always pick up a bunch with your weekly supermarket shop or even better, drop by your local florists.

If you’re really organised, you can arrange to have them delivered to your door. There are local and national businesses that can deliver ad hoc or as a regular subscription to suit your requirements.

Flowers with style

For real impact I prefer single bloom bunches in one colour, or try toning colours for a contemporary country look. Aim to reflect your personal style and match the colours of the other accessories in your room. And do make sure your vase reflects the style of your arrangement.

There are lots of interesting shapes and sizes around at the moment. If you want to keep it simple, I love masses of white hydrangeas bunched together in a glass bowl or cube, or planted in willow baskets – they make a real style statement.

The rules of arranging

Column shaped vases or those with narrow necks work best for holding stems together. Cut flowers to a similar height, fill the vase with your chosen foliage then, taking the longer stemmed varieties, such as delphiniums, add the flowers to the vase by variety. Turn the vase as you go until you create an even shaped arrangement.

For other vase shapes it’s best to make a hand tied bunch or bouquet before filling the vase. I recommend attending a class to learn how to do this properly.

Go vintage

An easier approach is to go for a more relaxed look. Just take a simple no-fuss bunch of seasonal flowers and some foliage and loosely arrange them in a jug. Single stems or little bunches of mixed flowers can also look really effective arranged individually in jam jars or old milk bottles. I often find little vintage pots and vases in charity shops, perfect for side tables or arranged along a dinner table.

Be bold

Terence Conran once described flowers as “the quintessential finishing touch” to a home. Tune in with the current maximalist trend and create something really amazing. For maximum impact go for abundance. Why not channel your inner florist and be adventurous and creative. What could be more relaxing and enjoyable!