Natural STYLE

Stylist Sunday Hendrickson has been styling homes for more than 20 years by adding a punch of color to each room. “Flowers are the easiest way of doing that,” Sunday says. Here are her tips for bringing in nature.

• VINTAGE VESSELS. Use vintage milk buckets, drinking cups or even a burlap sack to hold flowers. “Always try to use something different. Be creative,” she said. Clear vessels add sparkle for a house filled with light, while white is versatile in any room.

• MYSTERY GREENS. Incorporate out-of-the-ordinary greenery that might not be immediately apparent as a floral green. Try vegetables you can get at the grocery store such as kale and herbs, or snip a branch with leaves from your backyard.

• SEASON SPECIFIC. “Try and bring in the season,” Sunday says. This makes the arrangements special for that time of year. Use hyacinths and delphinium in the spring and chrysanthemums in the fall. Fruits can be used the same way, with a bowl of peaches in the summer and apples in the fall.

• FLOWER CARE. Make sure you take care of the arrangements you have. Most flowers will last longer with a daily spritzing of water. For flowers with woody stems such as hydrangeas and lilacs, crush the base of the plant so they will more easily absorb water. Flowers with soft stems like tulips and daisies can be wrapped to help them stay upright.

• TRY ICE. If you have droopy flowers, try ice water. Note that this only works for flowers without woody stems. But a little ice added to the water can revive the flowers.

The kitchen island is illuminated by old industrial lights Sandra found at a flea market. Her husband rewired them and used plumbing pipe to secure them to the ceiling.