biophilic design: flower and greenery arrangements for winter
in biophilic design
How to create an arrangement for winter?
Going to the florist and buying flowers is clearly an option, but not the one we’re exploring here.
Just like we did in the episode for fall, we’re going to focus on seasonal and readily available elements only. Embracing a biophilic design approach, the goal is representing the winter season, learning to appreciate and admire what it offers.
colours
For many of us, winter means bare branches and little more. Far from being a bad thing, not having much colour variation to choose from directs the attention towards other features: textures and shapes in particular (more about this in the article about monochrome interiors and biophilic design).
Colours will then be mainly neutrals in a winter arrangement, with deep browns being on top of the list.
Still, winter does offer some touches of colour. Evergreen vegetation, moss and – sometimes – tiny flowers are part of winter landscapes and live equally well in a winter arrangement.
shapes and textures
Have you ever stopped to contemplate a single bare branch? Its strong aspect, rough surface, and little bumps often go unnoticed when looking at an entire tree. But by displaying bare branches in an arrangement, all those features become decorative and interesting.
As usual with minimal aesthetics, details are of utmost importance. In this case, vessels gain a whole new relevance in the creation of simple yet incredibly striking compositions.
Looking beyond aesthetics, winter might even have something to teach. In winter, nature keeps only what’s essential to travel through the coldest months. It may seem dead, but it’s just quiet, waiting for warmer days to come. Couldn’t this be an inspiration? Focusing on what’s essential to travel through life and discovering the value of quiet – especially during tough times. Whether or not we want to embrace this parallel, displaying pieces of winter nature remains a way to appreciate and admire nature’s elegant solutions.
sourcing locally
Whatever can be foraged from a garden, a local wood or park can become part of a decorative arrangement. Bare branches, dry leaves, stones and – why not – even single strands of grass. It’s all about letting the simple beauty of these natural treasures shine.
Putting together an arrangement using only what’s in season and available in the immediate surroundings has a profound value. Sure it’s a limitation, but a positive one I believe. Making a lot out of a little, this challenges us to look at apparently uninteresting elements with different eyes and highlights details that we might not even have seen otherwise. A celebration of frugal living and slowing down.
From a wider perspective, this inspires a deeper appreciation for what the local surroundings have to offer in any given season and strengthens the bond between us, our homes and the environment – the heart of a biophilic approach to design.
