Celebrate spring with beautiful DIY floral displays using a range of upcycled containers and some of the season’s prettiest flowers. Shilpa Reddy shows how with four easy projects
PHOTOS SARAH CUTTLE
Whenever I think of spring, I envision vibrant colours and blossoms, the return of outdoor activities, fresh produce and, of course, joyous Easter celebrations. Inspired, I’ve gathered a pick of delightful spring makes to showcase the beauty of the season, including table centrepieces, gifts and craft activities – ideal for engaging kids during the holidays and for adding that special touch to your home decor.
My projects are just a starting point, so feel free to get creative and personalise the designs with different spring flowers, foliage from your garden, or items you find during a walk.
Table centrepiece
Transform your table with a planted centrepiece of flowers and lush greenery that brings the outdoors in. This longer-term arrangement also works as an inviting or themed doorstep arrangement.
TOP TIPIf you’re placing your arrangement on the doorstep choose a pot and plants that can cope with outdoor conditions
1 Make sure your chosen container is deep enough to support your plants in an outdoor setting. Fill it with compost almost to the top.
2 Consider how the pot will be viewed. If placed against a wall, put tall plants at the back. If seen from all angles, put them in the centre.
3 Add shorter plants at the edges. Fill in any gaps with more compost and firm in. Water, but only sparingly if your pot has no drainage holes.
Fruit-net flower arrangement
This is a clever way to recycle fruit nets that might otherwise get thrown away, plus you can use a single net multiple times for different flower arrangements.
TOP TIPStart with woody stems first, which helps provide support for softer stems and reduces the risk of damage as you arrange your display.
1 Choose a vase with a lip to make it easier for the net to be fixed in place. Avoid wide-necked vases as they’re tricky to keep the net attached to.
2 Add water, then put the net across the top of your vase and secure it with a rubber band around the top. You can hide the band with a ribbon if you want.
3 Create the basic shape, starting with woody stems. Place them through the gaps in the fruit net, crossing them to give each other extra support.
4 Balance the straightness of the woody ste
