Where Design and Interiors Meets Happiness and Wellbeing
I knew straight away which piece of art I was going to use for theme of this month’s Urban Jungle Bloggers which is Plants and Art.
There’s a very special picture that hangs above the sofa in our lounge. It’s an image of a white Spanish style villa, adorned with greenery and and flowering plants.
Spring is such an uplifting time of year. After the cold, dark months of hibernation, it is a season bursting with optimism. The days get longer and sunnier; and suddenly the buds on the trees erupt into dazzling white and pink blossoms.
This month’s Urban Jungle Bloggers topic is all about spring styling with plants. Could there be a more perfect time to add some greenery to your home?
If you’re a regular reader of this blog, you may already know that I particularly love both Mediterranean and Scandinavian design. Especially when the two styles are blended together.
While winter is conducive to a greater concentration of Scandinavian design: candlelight, throws, cosy greys … And of course a whole lot of hygge!
In spring, the emphasis leans more towards Mediterranean style. The image is one of bright yellow sunshine, blue skies and vibrant greenery. Hearty, thick soups are replaced by fresh salads and wedges of juicy watermelon.
With that in mind, I decided to style a table setting for spring with a Mediterranean theme, some touches of Scandinavian style; and of course plants and seasonal references.
When you think of hanging planters, you usually picture large, lush trailing plants, cascading down from hanging baskets.
So I had a bit of a dilemma with this month’s Urban Jungle Bloggers topic: hanging planters.
You see, I do have a couple of trailing plants. But right now they are quite tiny, and wouldn’t make much of an impact on their own.
Here is my Seddum Burrito succulent.
If I was to ask you to list the main criteria you would like for your dream home, what would they be?
I’m guessing that high up on your wish list might be for your home to be situated in a location with a breathtaking view. (Perhaps by the sea, in the mountains, countryside or in a forest.) And to be able to enjoy the scenery with a panoramic vista of it through your windows.
Plants appear to be everywhere right now. Open almost any design magazine or blog and you’ll find interiors filled with plants.
Increasingly, they are becoming an integral feature in the home. As more and more people rediscover the beauty of greenery, and how it can be used to enhance the decoration of any room.
But plants are so much more than just another interior trend. Because as well as looking attractive, there are many more benefits to having them.
So here are ten good reasons to have plants in your home.
One of the best night’s sleep I ever had was when I once stayed in a hotel where each hotel room was an individual wooden chalet.
Simply furnished, but very cosy, I’ve rarely felt so rested and refreshed upon waking up. While the clear country air certainly helped. It was pointed out to me that it probably also had a lot to do with the entire structure being made out of wood – a natural material.
That was the first time I made the connection between the effect of our bedroom environment and its ability to help us sleep well. And the importance of bringing more nature and natural materials into our homes. I didn’t realise at the time that there was a name for this: Biophilia.
Various research studies have shown that there are clear links between biophilia and well-being. So introducing some elements of biophilic design into your bedroom could go a long way to helping you get a better night’s sleep.
This month’s topic for Urban Jungle Bloggers brings together two of my favourite things: Plants and Coffee. The theme instantly brought to mind images of sitting outside surrounded by nature and greenery, sipping an aromatic cup of coffee. It’s always a simple, but blissful pleasure to savour. Whether sitting on a balcony, in a garden or at an outdoor cafe
But since the weather is still too cold for sitting outdoors, I had an idea: why not bring the outside in and turn an area of my lounge into an extension of the balcony?
I was quite excited for the challenge of this month’s Urban Jungle Bloggers post which was to style a plant ‘shelfie’.
It was also something of a celebration, because I recently had a clear-out in my home office and decluttered the shelves. So now I have room to display some plants and beautiful objects on them.
Has this ever happened to you?
You’re sitting at your desk trying to write a blog post, find inspiration or resolve a problem. But nothing comes. You draw a blank. Cooped up in your room, the creativity doesn’t flow.
A few weeks ago, when I received the email from Igor and Judith about this month’s Urban Jungle Blogger’s topic, my first thought was: where could I go to find some inspiring ideas? Because the theme for May is “Greens in cafés, shops & restaurants”.
And then I remembered some photos I took one very rainy day back in February …
