BRING PAULA’S STYLE TO YOUR OWN HOME

Pictures of arrangements and bouquets on social media and Pinterest has, Paula believes, given more people courage to create their own designs. ‘For events like weddings and parties, displays are more individual, with people choosing flowers that are part of their story. Generally the use of colour is becoming bolder, and the wild foliage and informal style remains popular,’ she says. ‘Meadow flowers are massively fashionable as are seasonal and farm-grown flowers.’ Follow Paula’s tips to create your own bouquets and displays:

Simple styles Most supermarket flowers are 40-60cm long, so a 20cm-tall vase is ideal. Select a single stem for a small bottle or vase, and display on the table. I love doing this with a single sweet pea. The beauty of the individual flower really shines. This is also perfect for gerbera, peonies or roses.

Bigger displays For a larger arrangement, cut your flowers to the same height and arrange them diagonally. If you have fewer than

10, stick to one colour for maximum impact. If not, white and green is the ‘little black dress’ of the flower world. You can’t go wrong with it! When using a variety of colours, avoid white because they dilute the effect of the brighter ones. Instead, team white with pastels or green. My all-time favourite combination is pink and lilac – or pink and purple with lime green.

Instant updates If you’ve been given ‘garage forecourt’ flowers that you’d like to transform, add lots of foliage. Dark green helps them blend, and lime green makes them stand out. The effect is more wild and natural, which is the sought-after look at the moment.