Love the look of roses in your home? Don’t bother waiting for someone to buy them for you. One simple bunch of fresh roses each week shouldn’t be considered a luxury. A standard bunches of roses (as is, not arranged as a bouquet) from your local florist usually averages around $20. These bunches nearly always come in stems of ten, and are available in a variety of lengths ranging from around 20cm upwards (the shorter the length, the cheaper the bunch).
Roses are one flower that really add a luxe vibe to the home. But not everyone is a natural floral stylist. Below are some of our favourite styling and decorating ideas for roses in the home that anyone can do. But first….you must prepare your flowers to ensure maximum longevity.
First of all, remove any thorns or leaves from the section of stem that will be sitting in water (usually 1/3 to 1/2 from the base of the stem). If the rose has lots of tiny little thorns, use an old teatowel in your hands as protection, then holding the rose gently below its head, use the other hand to run the teatowel down the stem. This will remove all the tiny thorns without pricking your skin. Otherwise use a sharp pair of secataurs to snip off those gnarly thorns!
Then using your secataurs, trim 1-2 cm off the end of the rose stem at an angle, make sure your vase or pot has been cleaned with warm soapy water, then fill with fresh cold tapwater.
1.That ol’ Yarn
Take balls of natural string and arrange them on an occassional table. Place a short shot glass (or similar) in the centre of the spool. Cut one to three rose heads down so their heads sit just above the twine. Add a spring of greenery from your garden if you wish.
2. Painted Mason Jars
This idea isn’t only exclusive to stylish brides for decorating their wedding tables. Get hold of plain glass mason jars from a $2 shop and paint them with a can of spray paint in your favourite colour. Arrange a ‘grouping’ of jars in identical sizes along a window sill or mantlepiece and divide your roses evenly between. Voila, your room will look just like the pages from a Home Beautiful magazine.
3. The Humble Tin
Short tins, tall tins, modern coffee tins, Twinings tea tins, vintage soap and biscuit tins. Easily accesible and economical. If using a short squat tin, cut your stems down so the heads sit just above the rim and work in odd numbers when arranging roses (the natural foliage of the stem will help support their position). Alternatively place your roses in a medium to tall tin and make sure your stem height is at least the 1 x times the height again.
4. Antique Pewter Jugs
Hunt around for an antique pewter jug or teapot in second hand stores. Cut your stems short to sit sweetly in a little jug or place them in a larger vessel. Look for bunches of roses that still have plenty of healthy green leaves on them, as the foliage will help to fill spaces and assist your roses to behave beautifully.
5. Bottled Roses
This is so easy to do and gives a designer look to your home. Create a display of short and/or tall clear or coloured glass bottles and put a rose stem in each one. Stagger their position and create variance with different height stems. Ideal for when a rose head breaks off – just pop it in a tiny bottle and continue to enjoy!
Photo Credits: https://au.pinterest.com/ffeaus/decorating-with-roses/
