Improve your mood with Flowers!

Let's hope the start of British Summertime sees brilliant sunny days to help cheer us following the long cold winter months.  Experts advise us to change our lifestyle to relieve stress and according to behavioural research in the US, nature provides us with the simplest way to improve emotional health - through the impact of flowers in our home!

The presence of flowers triggers happy emotions and helps to manage stress in a healthy and natural way. In a 10 month study, a team of researchers explored the behavioural and emotional responses to receiving flowers.

All study participants expressed they were excited and happy upon receiving flowers and felt less depressed, less anxious and less agitated.

It also suggests that flowers have mood-boosting effects when displayed in common areas of the home such as hallways, living rooms and dining areas, making the space more welcoming.

Here's some simple ideas to incorporate flowers into these areas - you don't need to go to great expense to create some effective designs.
Simple vases – with either single stems or just a few flowers - try combining hot pinks & oranges in brightly coloured containers such as drinking glasses and bottles!
The kitchen table is probably the best place for flowers, as this is where most people tend to gather together. If you're having a more formal dinner party - use a series of crystal vases on a fabric runner as a centre piece.
Combine raspberry pinks such as Gerbra daisies with deep purples such as Lisianthas, and surround them with an accent of lime green foliage.

Try combining more unusual colours of flowers, based on the predicted 2010 colour palettes for interiors.



Try something different to impress your friends: Using a clear glass straight vase, buy one Cymbidium Orchid, cut about 2cm at angle off the stem and place in the vase with about small amount of water. Tie some curly hazel branches to the outside with either raffia or decorative string for a simple but effective table decoration.