This week on Home Hints we feature, renowned florist Janaki de Soysa of Flowers of Summer fame, giving the readers some handy tips on choosing the correct flower arrangement for your living space.

Elaborating more on her love for flowers Janaki says “I always liked doing flower arrangements at our family home at a very young age and continued this passion even when I was schooling. I always used flowers and leaves from the garden and my parents' friends who visited us always admired my arrangements and encouraged me to take this creativity forward.”

Q: As a florist, how important do you think it is to have a flower arrangement in your home?

I think having flowers around the house makes it very pleasant for those who live in it. It need not be expensive flowers, but if you do have to buy them, make sure they are fresh and lasting varieties. Using interesting leaves from the garden and road side also make attractive arrangements.

Using just 2 stalks of the Bangkok variety of Crab Claw or Sexy Pink (the hanging Heleconia) in a tall glass vase is stunning. Natural twigs can be used in large cement pots or ceramic jars.

Q: Is it important to choose or create a flower arrangement that suits each space in your home?

The arrangement should suit the place it is to be used, e.g. the arrangement at the entrance should be against a wall, the dining table décor should match the shape of the table etc. Interesting containers would enhance the flower arrangements. It could be anything from a tea pot, jug, urn, wrought iron stand or a hanging basket in a corner.

Q: What are the essential requirements you need to keep in mind before picking a suitable flower arrangement?

The flowers that would most suit a home would be chrysanthemums. It is long lasting and available in many varieties and colours. Gerbera, Alstroemeria and Heleconia are other options. I would not recommend roses, as they do not last more than two days. May be rose petals could be used in a glass bowl.

Q: Your personal choice of floral arrangement for your home?

To be quite honest, I have 2 large artificial arrangements in my own home since it takes too long to re-do such arrangements in fresh flowers. But everywhere else I love using fresh flowers that are thrown away from the shop.