Just like large, leafy plants, flowers are scientifically proven to have a number of health benefits. Not only can they help boost cognition and creativity, but they just make people happy. In fact, a 2008 study by the American Society for Horticultural Science found that placing flowers in a hospital room had therapeutic benefits for patients, noting that it can be a “complementary medicine” for those recovering from surgery.
But with more than 400,000 species of plants worldwide, choosing the perfect blooms for your home can be a daunting task. Luckily, Christina Stembel, founder and CEO of Farmgirl Flowers, a San Francisco-based florist offering fresh and unique blooms nationwide, offers her expert advice. Here are some of the best flowers for every room in your home, even your office!
Tulips are associated with a variety of meanings, depending on the color, Stembel says. Red represents passion and perfect love. Purple is often associated with rights, abundance and prosperity. and pink means affection. The perfect place for all this importance? The living room.
“They’re polished enough to match that shelf you just arranged by color, but relaxed enough to look like you didn’t try too hard,” she says. Not only are they easy to find and easy to arrange, but they are one of the few flowers that will grow back after being cut. “You’ll notice your arrangement will grow up to an inch in the vase, which just adds to the wild feel!” she says.
While flowers in general have been scientifically linked to shooting romance, no other bloom speaks the language of love like the rose. From the plays of Shakespeare to every Valentine’s Day marketing campaign, it’s impossible to avoid the association. Instead of hating the cliché, Stembel suggests we embrace it.
And there’s no better place for lovely scented flowers than the bedroom where the magic usually happens. When it comes to color, don’t feel limited to sticking with red. There are more than 150 species and thousands of hybrids to choose from. “We’re big fans of garden roses,” she says. “Their lush heads are full of petals and, especially in a warm tone like coral, orange or yellow, there’s nothing closer to waking up to a sun-filled window than a bedside table full of bright flowers!”
With the growing popularity of essential oils, lavender stock is also growing. Often bottled in orange glass or dried and wrapped in silk eye pads, it’s easy to forget that it starts out as a flower. The scent of lavender flowers is soothing and promotes relaxation and sound sleep.
“We love lavender because of its durability,” says Stembel. “Once you cut them, you can enjoy them in a jar for two to three days.” In addition, it retains its aroma. “We think this makes it the perfect choice for the bathroom, which, if we’re being honest, could use a little fragrance every now and then!” she says. Plus, its soothing scent will help you relax during a hot bath or a quick morning shower.
Try to forget that cloves are often associated with baby’s breath and the evil tuxedo (blame it on the 80s). The hardy and colorful flower is your best bet for sustainability, Stembel says. Because changes in temperature and humidity in the kitchen are common, and so many blooms are sensitive to both, a bouquet of carnations is a great choice for your cooking space.
“We’ve neglected a small vase full of these flowers, without stems or water changes for weeks, and we haven’t seen them drop a head or a petal,” she says. To maximize their aesthetic potential and add texture and color to your kitchen, group them in different colors and sizes of cloves.
Just as any great dinner party tends to be a mix of friends, colleagues, family and the occasional friend of a friend of a friend, your dining room flowers should also be a mix of beautiful varieties. “After all, if (OK, when) the conversation stops, there’s nothing more refreshingly neutral to turn the conversation around than flowers. How about those roses, huh?’
Stebel jokes. She suggests curating a mixed bouquet with the best and freshest flowers of the season. She likes to mix four or five different flower styles, including one or two varieties with large heads (roses, ranunculus or peonies), one or two taller blooms (lilies and snapdragons work well) and a few pieces like amaranth, scabiosa pods or heather. But avoid the perfume. “Go for unscented or lightly scented varieties,” she says. “Heavy fragrances whether in the form of flowers, candles or room sprays can affect taste.
While bringing fresh flowers to the office every week might be a little overkill, adding a little color can help boost morale during those mid-week blues and even increase productivity, according to a study by 2014 from Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied.
Stembel suggests adding an anthurium plant to your office decor because it’s low-maintenance (you won’t need to add water changes or hedge trimming to your daily to-do list). And like other plants, anthuriums have been shown to be amazing at removing toxins from the air. Added mental health benefit? “When your 9-to-5 schedule feels a little more 9-to-life, we love that anthuriums make your office feel like a mini vacation with their gorgeous tropical foliage and flowers. Life isn’t exactly a beach, but your office feels closer to one with this guy!” she says.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
What do you think of Christina Stembel’s flower suggestions? Do you regularly invest in fresh flowers for your home? What are your favorite types of flowers and do you put them in every room of the house? Let us know your thoughts below!
Originally published 09-02-2019 18:18:37.
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