Styling Notes from The Suffolk Nest

Looking to experiment with a new Christmas tree style this year? Find inspiration with my top decorating tips and a behind-the-scenes look at our tree While I love so many aspects of this time of year, for me, the festive season doesn’t truly begin until our Christmas tree is up. Decorating the tree has become a treasured tradition in our household and it’s one activity that we now complete as a family. The girls are really getting involved this year – it’s the first time they’ve been fully engaged, excited, and interested in the process. Watching them carefully inspect each bauble and seeing the joy on their faces as they unpack each decoration makes the experience even more magical. There are so many Christmas tree styles to choose from, ranging from modern monochrome to traditional displays featuring decorations passed down through the generations. While I don’t believe there are any rights and wrongs when it comes to transforming your home for Christmas, I know that sometimes the sheer number of options available can be overwhelming. If you’re in need of inspiration, I wanted to share how we’ve chosen to style our main Christmas tree this year. Choosing the perfect Christmas tree: real or faux? In the past, we’ve always had a real tree. A trip to the Christmas tree farm has been a yearly highlight; I love exploring all the options and spending hours searching for the perfect shape before inevitably choosing the first tree we looked at! Chris might not be a fan of my meticulous selection process but, like me, he loves the scent of a real Christmas tree and the visual effect it provides when we arrive home and set it free from its netting. My favourite type of real tree is the classic Nordmann Fir – it holds its needles well, has an A shape, and voluminous branches. However, since renovating our home and adding underfloor heating and a log burner, we’ve had to make the switch to a faux tree. Our real trees struggled to cope with the warmth and faded far too quickly. When looking for a faux tree, I knew I wanted it to be as close to the real thing as possible. Unfortunately, finding a naturalistic faux Christmas tree is harder than you might think, and tinsel-type branches seem to be much more widespread. In the end, we landed on a Nordmann Fir from The White Company. While it was an investment, we’re now bringing it out for the third year running and it still looks as good as new. I’m now officially a faux tree fan; I love how practical it is, and most people assume that it’s real thanks to its full, textured branches. Christmas tree lights I like to have the flexibility to get creative and change our Christmas tree style each year, so I chose a tree that isn’t pre-lit. In my opinion, there’s no such thing as too many lights! I always choose warm white lights as I feel that they emit a softer beam that suits our home décor well. To add depth and lean into the charm of Christmas, I recommend threading the lights all the way down the length of each branch and then back up again. It takes time but it's worth it to see your tree twinkling magically all season long.  Just add baubles Baubles can have a grounding effect on any Christmas tree style, and this year, I’ve chosen pebbled glass baubles with mercury, warm soft mist tones, and a touch of glitter. I start by positioning the largest baubles first, placing them carefully to ensure that they hang properly and don’t rest on any of the surrounding branches. The beauty of decorating a faux tree is that you can manipulate the branches into the best possible position. Once all the baubles are hung and my tree design has a solid foundation, I like to add character with unique decorations. Bells, dried fruit, dried flower stems, and faux flower stems all tend to work well, and I always save spots to showcase the sentimental pieces I’ve collected over the years. While it can be tempting to add more and more decorations, I think the most effective Christmas tree styles strike the perfect balance between minimalism and all-out extravagance. Carefully considered finishing touches can bring everything together. You might choose to add a wooden star tree topper, a row of pearlescent beads, or a neutral tree skirt, but we’ve opted for ribbon this year. Slender long bows in a subtle shade of satin taupe add interest while bringing all the different tones together.

Whether you’re hosting Christmas dinner or inviting friends over for coffee and a catch up, here are my tried-and-tested recommendations for dressing your table this festive season Establish a new Christmas tradition For me, Christmas is all about people. I love inviting friends and family into our home, whether we’re sharing a meal or meeting for coffee and a catch up. Whenever we host a festive gathering, everyone flocks to the table, and creating a new festive tablescape each year has become one of my favourite seasonal traditions. I remember the first time we held a Christmas Eve meal at our home – I quickly found that I was much more excited by the prospect of decorating our table than the food I was cooking! My first tablescape was an exercise in rustic charm; I planted some zinc pots with white hyacinths and paperwhites topped with moss, laid down white tablecloths, and placed tall candles in glass candlesticks along the length of the table. We had to push two dining tables together and use mismatched placemats as we’d never hosted that many people but, despite the organised chaos, I have such fond memories of creating that tablescape and establishing a new festive tradition. Since that first party, my Christmas table dressing has become more elaborate. I love experimenting with different designs and styles, from hanging installations to foliage-based garlands. My accessories collection has evolved too; I’m now lucky to have a plethora of candlesticks, place settings, crockery, and glassware at my disposal. And while the design of my Christmas table changes each year, taking the time to dress it is now an unmissable part of our holiday celebration. Create a festive centrepiece The centrepiece is the focal point of any Christmas table and it’s the part that I spend the most time contemplating. This year, I get to unleash my creativity on a new table that I’m hoping will be delivered very soon – I can’t wait to share it with you all! While I loved the large fabric chairs and bench style of our previous dining table, it’s just not practical for our girls anymore. Our new table is much simpler and will feature a winter planter, filled with Amaryllis and Hyacinth bulbs, that can stay in place throughout the season but is also easy to lift and move if needed. To mark the magical period between Christmas Eve and New Year, I’ll be building on this more minimalist display with a long, low-level centrepiece featuring festive foliage and tall dinner candles. The foliage will be held in place with plastic trays, chicken wire, and pot tape – find out how you can create your own with our video tutorial here. This entire look can be created with just one festive foliage box, and I still had plenty of pine and eucalyptus left over! If your dining table is round rather than a rectangle, you can achieve a similar look with a round planter and fewer dinner candles – I’d recommend using no more than three in total. A place for everyone Now that your Christmas centrepiece is ready, it’s time to think about your place settings. I think that people feel especially welcome in our home when I’ve taken the time to create a unique place setting for everyone. I have special placemats that I save for this time of year and have fun with the napkins. Why not try a fancy fold (here are three of my favourites [LINK]) or keep it simple with a sprig of foliage tucked into the fabric? I’ve built up quite the collection of napkins over the years and now have a colour to complement almost any design. However, I often find myself leaning towards crisp white tablecloths, placemats, and napkins for Christmas. How will you be dressing your Christmas table this year? I’d love to see your designs – tag me on Instagram @the_suffolk_nest

Despite the temperature dropping and the nights drawing in, you can still find floral inspiration for your home in winter. Read on for my top winter faux arrangement recommendations Faux foliage and seasonal textures When I talk about finding inspiration in nature, people are often surprised that winter is one of my favourite seasons. It’s the time of year when we tend to hibernate at home and the environment follows our lead; flowers fade away, trees shed their leaves, and fields are covered with a silver layer of frost. But despite this, I find the lack of fresh flowers pushes me to get creative and experiment with more unusual materials and faux foliage. Throughout the winter months, I’m drawn to green foliage, architectural branches, berries, and pinecones that provide texture and colour. Lush greens, icy greys and soft blues are some of my favourite shades to feature in faux winter arrangements. And while floral options can be more limited, they don’t disappear completely. I love to contrast branches and pinecones with delicate faux ranunculus as well as including faux hellebores (the Christmas rose) and tulips, which remind us that spring is on the horizon. Winter colours When the skies are grey and the evenings get dark early, I’m always keen to ensure that our home still features pops of colour. Our neutral interiors are the perfect backdrop to almost any shade, but I think the traditionally festive colours of red and green can be especially effective. Choosing naturalistic faux flowers and foliage ensures these colours don’t overpower the space; I find that faux berry stems and branches are a much more authentic way to reflect the season’s colours than choosing unnaturally bright faux stems. Why not mix it up by accessorising your faux winter arrangements with dried orange slices or cinnamon sticks? Creating a winter display I believe that the best faux winter arrangements can enhance almost any space. In winter, I like to create one cohesive display that runs throughout the home, starting at our front door. Don’t worry; you don’t have to create a large arrangement in every room! Instead, I recommend creating multiple arrangements that suit each space with focal pieces in the hallway and kitchen and smaller accent arrangements or individual stems displayed on coffee tables, dressers, and side tables. Using one signature faux stem or foliage in every display helps to unify the individual arrangements. When it comes to housing my winter faux arrangements, I’m drawn to sturdier pieces that feel more grounded and resilient. It’s a pleasant contrast to the lighter spirit of summer, when I tend to favour glass vases. When winter rolls around, I like to bring out my opaque pots, urns, and vases (which can also be more forgiving with faux stems!) Christmas floral arrangements I’ve always loved Christmas, but the celebration has become even more meaningful for Chris and me since we had our daughters. There’s something magical about seeing the season through the eyes of children and I enjoy the challenge of transforming our home for Christmas while staying true to my design aesthetic. White always feels festive and I often build my Christmas floral arrangements around white berries and foliage. These can be displayed in vases and jugs or loosely arranged on the dining table or mantelpiece alongside miniature houses and trees to create a festive village scene. Faux winter branches can also be striking at this time of year, whether you decide to leave them bare or adorn them with baubles, bells, ribbons, or clear lights.

While I typically take inspiration from the changing seasons, there is one range that I’ve designed to stand the test of time. Introducing our Signature White and Green collection I like to think of our home as a blank canvas; a space where I can relax, indulge my creativity, and experiment with new ideas. That’s why I tend to favour neutral backdrops in my interiors and use seasonal accessories to change the mood and mark the transition of time. In summer, I like to keep things light and fresh while in winter, I aim to create warmth with cosy throws, cushions, and floral arrangements in deeper, complementary tones. This aesthetic also inspires my work at The Suffolk Nest, and I love looking to nature to create seasonal collections throughout the year. However, there is one exception to this rule: our Signature White and Green collection. This collection has been specially designed to be timeless and relevant year-round. Featuring neutral vases and some of my all-time favourite faux flowers, this range is classic, elegant, and the perfect accompaniment to any style of home decor. The meaning of green Green is one of those colours that naturally inspires me. And I know I’m not alone; in fact, it’s been proven that green can help us feel more relaxed and produces a calming, mood boosting effect. Green is also a colour that’s known to enhance creativity and encourages the mind to generate fresh ideas. I can’t imagine our home without touches of greenery adding life and vitality to every room – and it’s equally effective in fresh and faux arrangements. Green displays don’t have to be overly complicated; a simple sprig of rosemary in a bud vase or a jug filled with olive branches can transform my kitchen table. Our Signature White and Green collection includes a range of faux greenery that will enhance your interior while also lifting your mood. I find that faux eucalyptus stems, ferns, and grasses are particularly effective, whether displayed on their own or combined with clean white florals. A classic combination For me, there’s no better pairing than faux green foliage and white flowers. White is another colour with qualities that inspire me; it’s known to represent harmony, new beginnings, and unadulterated beauty. White is deceptively simple yet timeless, making it the perfect choice for a year-round arrangement. Peonies, hydrangeas, lilac stems, and ranunculus all rank among my favourite white faux flowers, while I also like to add texture and depth to my displays by experimenting with more unusual stems like faux white willow, cherry blossom branches, and spring pussy willow. Curated arrangements When it came to designing a collection that would be available year-round, I knew that I had to create curated arrangements that could make home styling effortless. I’m particularly proud of the arrangements available in our Signature White and Green collection and love seeing how our customers put their own spin on things by displaying them in different vases. The choice is yours: if you’re looking for something that’s timeless yet versatile, our faux classic peony arrangement would suit almost any home thanks to its combination of life-like peonies and light lilacs. If you have a more minimalist, stripped back interior, juxtapose hard lines with our soft, romantic lilac and ranunculus arrangement with its delicate Waxflower stems and Populus to provide movement and shape. Looking for something a little more unusual? I’d recommend our faux artichoke arrangement. This display has lush eucalyptus stems at its heart with fern, wild grass, and arrowgrass coming together to provide a backdrop to our realistic artichoke stems. A fresh alternative to floral arrangements, this piece would make a lasting impression in any room.

Dried flowers are an intriguing alternative to fresh, needing minimal maintenance and encouraging creativity. But how can you keep them looking their best? Here are my 5 tips to style and care for your dried flowers bouquet 1. Take your time when unpacking While a dried flower bouquet can sometimes be more resilient than fresh, they should still be handled with care. Being cautious and soft with your blooms can help them stay in the best possible condition. Here at The Suffolk Nest, we go to great lengths to ensure that your dried flowers will reach you safely, which usually means that they arrive tightly wrapped. As soon as our box lands on your doorstep, I recommend carefully removing the paper wrapping straightaway. Then, give each stem a gentle shake to fluff them out and help them reach their maximum volume without losing their natural shape. 2. Choose the right vessel When it comes to creating an effective dried floral arrangement, I believe that it’s important to consider the connection between your flowers and the vessel containing them. The best displays complement one another while also reflecting the rest of your interior décor. Personally, I tend to gravitate towards opaque vases to display dried flowers; our Westley Caramel, Gedding, or Marlesford Pot vases are all fantastic options. These vases all conceal the stems, which can really elevate the overall look of your arrangement and ensure the blooms take centre stage. 3. Avoid direct sunlight I love displaying dried flowers throughout my home, but if there’s one spot I avoid, it’s my windowsills. While it’s impossible to completely avoid experiencing some discolouration over time, direct sunlight can cause the colour of your dried florals to fade even faster. All is not lost though; I’m a big fan of the muted tones that some of my flower arrangements have evolved into over the years. Even so, getting into the habit of rotating your vases every so often – no matter where they’re displayed – can help ensure that any colour loss occurs evenly across your arrangement. 4. Keep them dry One of the best things about dried flowers is that they don’t need a lot of maintenance – and they certainly don’t need to be watered! In fact, any type of water – including damp and humid conditions – can cause the florals to lose their shape over time. Instead, try to keep your arrangements in a cool, dry spot to help them stay looking their best for as long as possible. And if you do spot a stray petal or two, don’t panic; it’s completely normal for dried flowers to shed over time. 5. Get creative Getting the chance to unleash my creativity is one of the things that first attracted to me to flower arranging. Dried flowers inspire my imagination just as much as their fresh counterparts and I love experimenting with my displays. There really aren’t any hard and fast rules: just have fun! Dried flowers have so many uses: you could combine them with faux flower stems, combine several stems of the same type to display en masse, or use them to add texture to seasonal wreaths and garlands. However, if you do choose to display them the traditional way in an opaque vase, my top tip is to trim the ends with a pair of clean, sharp scissors and cut them down to various lengths to give depth and interest to your arrangement.

Floral arrangements have the power to transform a space, no matter whether they’re placed on the windowsill, fireplace, kitchen Island or coffee table. In our home, you’ll find floral arrangements everywhere. From the wreath on our front door and the display on our dining table to the smaller pieces I keep on our bedside tables and mantlepieces, flowers are integral to my interior design. However, there’s one piece of furniture that I believe is incomplete without flowers: the coffee table. Coffee table displays can breathe new life into a room, soften hard lines, and give a subtle nod to the ever-changing seasons outside. If your coffee table is currently empty, here are my top tips for creating the perfect floral display: Consider the size of your table There are so many different types of coffee tables that you can buy for your home: square, oval, round, and even abstract shapes are all available. Whichever table you choose, its size and shape should influence both the vase and type of floral arrangement you decide to display. Ideally, try to avoid selecting flowers that will protrude out over the edge of the table, for both practical and aesthetic reasons. The vase should also comfortably fit on the table without blocking anyone’s view of the television, fireplace, or person they are sat opposite. Our coffee tables are relatively small, so I tend to keep things simple. Choosing small, shallow vases styled with low height flowers can create an impactful display that doesn’t overwhelm the space. Choose a vase A good rule of thumb is, the bigger your coffee table, the bigger the vase should be. I recommend finding one that complements the table material; pair a glass table with a ceramic or stone vase that will ground it and create a focal point rather than a glass vase that could blend in, for example. If your table is made from wood, counterbalance its weight with a simple glass or ceramic vase.   When styling a coffee table, I often like to place vases on top of a stack of books to add interest and depth. Choosing pieces that aren’t too tall ensures they don’t block anyone’s view or throw the display off balance. A few of my favourite coffee table vases include the Westley, the Westley Short Caramel, the Dunwich, the Fawn Clay Pot, and the Orford. Selecting flowers When deciding on the flowers I want to include in my coffee table displays, I tend to look to the seasons for inspiration and try to find florals that reflect the colours and textures I see on my daily walks with the girls. In autumn, that means keeping things simple and stripped back: a few leaf stems in shades of amber, maroon, or deep plum, or a dried bunch of starflowers are usually more than enough for small coffee tables. To avoid my coffee tables appearing too cluttered, I usually focus on one type of flower or faux stem. If I have a large mixed fresh or faux floral arrangement on display somewhere else in the room – like on our kitchen island – I try to continue the theme on my coffee table, but I’ll typically only choose one or two of the stems to make a connection without making it overly fussy.

Are you looking to invest in a new set of floristry tools or add to your existing collection? The good news is that you don’t need to buy every tool on the market or have a shed full of equipment; here are my seven must-have items No matter whether you’re looking to buy the perfect gift for a flower-obsessed friend or hoping to start your own collection, there is an array of floristry tools and materials available. In fact, the selection is so vast that it can feel a little overwhelming and overly complex at first. The most important thing to remember is that you don’t have to own every tool that’s out there. I’ve found it’s best to invest in just a few, high quality tools that have a range of uses and allow me to create the designs I love. Here are the seven things that I think are essential in any floristry toolkit: Floristry scissors and secateurs If you can only splash out on one floristry tool, it needs to be a good pair of scissors. Don’t be tempted to use them for everything; I promise that you’ll really notice the difference if you only use your floristry scissors for cutting flowers and reach for another pair to open your letters or get into those extra-stubborn Amazon parcels! Over the years, I’ve tried and tested several different types of scissors – and there are plenty to choose from! All that experimentation led to me finding my favourite pair: the Niwaki Sentei secateurs. If I could only save one pair of scissors from my collection, they would be my top pick. They’re incredible versatile, passing effortlessly through wood branches while also providing a sharp, accurate cut on more delicate stems. These secateurs scream quality, are comfortable to hold, and are fitted with a carob blade, which helps to reduce bacteria and rust build up over time. Chicken wire Another must-have tool in my opinion is chicken wire. While some florists may prefer using floral foam, I think chicken wire is a fantastic, sustainable alternative. It’s easy to cut to the size you need, it can be moulded into shape, and supports stems perfectly without adding too much extra weight. These qualities make it an incredibly versatile material. I use chicken wire in bowls, vases, trays, and hanging installations to create light and airy designs that last. Pot tape While you might be more familiar with Sellotape, I’d recommend investing in high quality pot tape when securing chicken wire to whichever vessels you’re using in your floral arrangements. There are several reasons why it’s worth spending more to buy specialist tape: it’s strong, waterproof, and reusable. Depending on the type of arrangement, I flit between using dark green and clear pot tap and often also use it to secure my hand tied bouquets.  Paper covered wire Paper covered wire is used in a variety of crafts, including jewellery making, cake decoration, and, of course, floristry. I like to use it to create garlands as it helps to offset the weight of the foliage while also providing additional support and security. It’s a neat alternative to pot tape when you want to secure a flower crown or bouquet; there’s no need to knot it or create a bow, instead, you can simply twist it into place. Floristry buckets As someone who can’t resist seasonal stems and is always heading out on foraging trips with the family, it’s not unusual for me to come home with armfuls of materials and nowhere to put them! These days, I reach for a bucket. It’s almost like they were designed with florists in mind; as buckets are narrower at the bottom and wider at the top, the stems can feel supported but also have enough space to spread out, rest, and rehydrate. Even so, that doesn’t mean that just an old bucket will do. Make sure you choose one that’s the right height so that it fully supports the stems and branches while minimising the chances of causing damage or spillages. Wire wreath frame It’s no secret that I love making wreaths; in fact, our seasonal wreath kits are some of my favourite products that we offer at The Suffolk Nest. A wire wreath frame provides the foundation for my designs and allows me to get creative, knowing that I have a solid base at the heart of each arrangement. If you’re buying your first wreath frame, you’ll likely need to choose between a flat or raised version. In my opinion, it doesn’t really matter which you prefer but I always opt for frames that are at least 12 inches in circumference. I reuse each frame again and again and adorn them with a range of different foliage and moss throughout the year. Bind wire The final floristry tool that I’d recommend you have in your kit is bind wire. It’s another essential item in my wreath kits. Unlike standard twine, bind wire offers the strength and support I need to secure all the moss and foliage to my wreath frames. This is especially important if you plan to display your wreath on an exterior door where it’ll have to withstand all the elements: wind, rain, and perhaps even snow in the winter months!  

Autumn is the time of year when our homes become sanctuaries, providing respite from the cooler weather, and marking the shift into a slower season. Find out how you can capture the feel of fall with my autumn home décor inspiration There’s something about autumn that makes me feel cosy just thinking about it. When the weather cools, the nights start drawing in, and we retreat indoors, there’s nothing I love more than spending time at home with my family. It’s the season when home becomes our sanctuary, a place to escape the changeable weather and relax after an active summer. It’s easy to tell when our home starts to shift into autumn; the log pile will start getting higher as we prepare for evening fires and the muddy welly boots start stacking up in the porch. When it comes to autumn home décor inspiration, I tend to follow my cold weather nesting instincts while also paying attention to the colours and textures naturally emerging outside. Layer up One of the first things that happens in our home when the evenings start getting shorter is layering up. I like to swap out my lightweight bed linens for a more substantial option like heavy cotton or fleece. I’ll also cover my sofas with warm blankets that are ideal for cuddling up with a hot cup of cocoa and a good book in front of the fire. Switching out the curtains can make even more of a difference; choose weighty, textured fabrics in earth tones to create a cosy space that feels separate from the rest of the world. Choose seasonal scents Fragrances can have a transformative effect, whether it’s the scent of freshly baked biscuits that reminds you of your childhood home or freshly washed linen on a breezy spring day. For autumn, I like to replace my vibrant summer scented candles with fall fragrances that evoke the spirit of the season. Warming musk, rich amber, and sweet pear are just a few of my favourites. There’s no need to feel restricted to one size or shape of candle either, I like to mix things up when it comes to my fall home décor ideas and often place larger candles on top of a stack of books on my coffee table while adding smaller tea lights to accent side tables. Invest in planters A family trip to the garden centre is always a popular autumn activity. Not only do our girls, Orla and Florence, love any excuse to play hide and seek amongst the plants, but I also find a wealth of fall ideas, inspiration, and trends while touring the seasonal flowers and exploring the intriguing textures on offer. Autumn gifts us a stunning colour palette: rich mahogany, vibrant reds, deep burgundy, and golden yellows. I like to showcase the full spectrum by investing in planters of different sizes to create a mixed level display in our front porch. It’s a great excuse to get messy and let my creativity run wild. Getting to experiment with different flowers and materials always excites me, but some of my go-to autumnal plants include brassicas with their large leaves, cyclamen in shades of pink and white, warm yellow heather, red berry stems, and grasses that provide height, texture, and movement to my arrangements. Build a wreath Wreaths are a year-round part of my home décor – there’s no time that you’ll find our front door unadorned. I love the feeling I get when coming back from a wet autumn walk with the girls and see that the wreath is on my door, ready to welcome us home. I also like to use wreaths to mark the changing of the season. Our autumn wreath kits are always built on texture and colour and no two have ever been the same. I might be a little biased, but I think this year’s wreath is one of the most striking we’ve ever created at The Suffolk Nest thanks to its rich tones of burgundy and golden yellow interspersed with vibrant red berries. Add pumpkins As soon as we enter October, I like to welcome in the start of spooky season with a to a trip to the shops to get the girls some cute Halloween costumes and an array of pumpkins. Happily, that doesn’t mean our home gets overtaken with bright orange and black, personally I prefer the more muted tones of grey, white, and soft green ceramic pumpkins. These can look fantastic in any room, whether you choose to display them on your mantle, sideboard or as a dining table centrepiece or set them among your porch planters to greet your guests.

As we enter the final few months of the year, it’s time to settle into a new season and embrace autumnal styling. Find inspiration in our faux autumn floral arrangements The nights are drawing in, there’s a chill in the air, and our winter blankets have found their way back onto the bed. But despite mourning the end of long summer days, autumn is one of my favourite seasons. There’s something special about this time of year, whether it’s the sense of renewal that comes from September and the new school term or being able to spend more time at home with the family. I used to look forward to taking the dog out on crisp, dewy mornings, getting cosy in warm woollen jumpers, and lighting the fire for the first time. My top tip? Dried pinecones make a fantastic, sustainable alternative to fire lighters. I often look to nature for my floral inspiration and like to mark the transition of the seasons with displays throughout my home. Faux autumn floral arrangements encourage experimentation, it’s a time to get creative with materials and look beyond florals to embrace branches and berries that add depth and texture. Fall floral trends come and go but for me, focusing on colour and texture never goes out of style. All about colour The shift in colour that we see in autumn is one of the most noticeable of nature’s changes. It’s also one of the biggest influences in the faux floral arrangements I choose to create at home. I find that the most effective arrangements echo the tones that we see out of our windows: the golden rust of crisp fallen leaves, the rich mahogany of chestnuts, and the deep plum of blackberries ready for harvest. I love using all these shades in my autumn floral arrangements, alongside maroon, red, yellow, and muted greens. These are all colours that reflect the season and complement one another while also acting to ground each arrangement and bring a sense of warmth on cooler days. Getting creative with texture Fall flowers never fail to bring the drama. I love the rich burgundy that comes from Hellebores, autumn Chrysanthemums, and Dahlias, especially when paired with our blush-tipped Eucalyptus. Add texture and interest by using a range of different stem lengths and don’t be afraid to be bold and incorporate several stems of the same variety in one display. This is the perfect time of year to get creative with the types of materials you choose to include in your autumn floral arrangements. Faux branches, twigs, and berries can all add a fresh dimension to seasonal displays. Our curated autumn arrangements If you’re short on time but would still love to bring the feel of the outdoors into your home, consider choosing one of our curated faux autumn floral arrangements. There’s a design to suit every taste and décor, from the rich tones of our Mulberry Hydrangea display with its wild Catkin branch to the soft shades of our Brambles arrangement with sprigs of green and copper blackberries. If you’d rather transition away from florals as we enter the final few months of the year, our autumn berry arrangement is sure to capture your attention. Taking inspiration from the leaves shed by the trees, each faux leaf branch contains shades of green and rose, enhanced by the vibrant red and yellow berry stems set alongside.  

In the midst of the pandemic, our wreath kits allowed us to spread joy, transcend distance, and transform The Suffolk Nest into what it is today. From logistical headaches to heartfelt messages, here’s the story of how it all began As autumn rolls in and the countdown to Christmas begins again, now’s the time of year when Chris and I always like to reflect on the item that changed everything: our wreath kits. Wreath making classes had been one of our most popular offerings pre-pandemic, but when restrictions were imposed in 2020, these face-to-face sessions had to be cancelled and we were forced to let a lot of people down. Rather than leave them disappointed, we decided to launch a DIY wreath kit that our customers could enjoy creating from the comfort and safety of their own home. Seasonal wreath kits are still an important part of The Suffolk Nest today. Each season, I redesign the kits with a new colour scheme, materials, and foliage choice. Our loyal customers eagerly await each design drop and I love the fact that the kits can still generate such excitement two years on! An overwhelming response The Suffolk Nest was still in its infancy in the autumn of 2020; we had around 80,000 Instagram followers but no website to facilitate online orders. Instead, our wreath making kits launched on my Instagram stories one morning in mid-October and the response was incredible! I’d have been delighted with just 50 orders but by midday, my Instagram DM inbox was overflowing, and we’d already exceeded 100 orders. While I was excited to see that our seasonal wreath making kits had struck a chord with our audience, I quickly found myself feeling overwhelmed and under-prepared. There were several details that needed ironing out as quickly as possible to ensure we could fulfill orders and deliver people a little piece of joy during a tough time. The logistics of posting out kits was an immediate concern: which containers would be best, where could they be purchased, and could our local postal office handle the quantities we were seeing? It quickly dawned on me that we’d need to employ a reliable courier service. Gathering supplies was also a potential problem; each wreath making kit featured 19 different elements that we needed to source. Finally, there was the issue of space. We were operating from our home and had two children under two to contend with, our youngest daughter was only 5 months old at the time. To say that things were a bit chaotic would be an understatement.   Going live with DIY wreath kits Ever since we started The Suffolk Nest, I’ve wanted to share my passion and make flower arranging accessible to everyone. That meant that each of our wreath kits had to be easy to assemble, and we wanted to support people by providing a real-time video tutorial. Chris was the first person to suggest going live on Instagram. I don’t mind admitting that I was dubious about the idea at first - and extremely nervous! Live was a new feature on the platform that I’d never used before, so the thought of presenting a lengthy DIY wreath tutorial to hundreds of viewers was terrifying. But with Chris by my side; I pressed the button and went for it. Creating the set up in our living room with a lit fire burning in the background meant that I could pretend I was only speaking to Chris instead of the 600 viewers that had immediately started sending questions our way. Thankfully, once I was completely immersed in the creative process, my nerves faded, and I relaxed into the tutorial. Delivering joy nationwide The initial demand for wreath kits didn’t subside. Lockdown was a tough time for us all and we heard from many of our customers that they were planning to use the kits to connect with their loved ones on Skype or over the fence with their neighbours. This instilled a sense of responsibility that drove us forward, despite the logistical challenges we were facing. Every evening – once the girls were in bed and Chris had finished work for the day – we’d spend hours combing my Instagram inbox, responding to enquiries, and taking down orders. We found ourselves staying up until 3am almost every night for three weeks, and even had to pull an all-nighter on one occasion. And then there was the moss. You might not think that just one item could cause such a headache, but mossing wreath bases became one of the most time-consuming parts of the process. I found that I needed to start mossing each base three weeks in advance if I were to have any hope of getting them finished in time! Every spare moment was dominated by moss and bags of it were stored all over the house, in every imaginable nook and cranny. Preparing the first shipment Organised chaos became our norm. The deliveries kept on coming and our home and garden were overtaken by foliage, moss wreath bases, brown paper bags, and cardboard boxes – more than we’d ever thought possible. Luckily, we’d established a production line to keep things moving. We spent days relentlessly packing little brown bags full of decoration goodies, so much so that you could always hear the rustling of bags in the background when Chris was on his work Teams calls! But we had a deadline to meet and thankfully our youngest loved being carried in a sling while we stood for hours making up the bags. Our work from home situation got serious when I received a call that we’d be receiving the Christmas spruce directly from Holland and were asked whether we had a sizeable warehouse available for them to park up and offload the pallets! Needless to say, when we accepted the delivery, our house was turned upside down and the garden became a forest. I could see the fear on Chris’s face when he realised we’d have to store this fresh foliage in the garden we’d just renovated. We spent hours cutting the mountain of spruce down to size (despite some of the pieces being as big as Chris!) We even made it into a competition as we argued over who had the best and fastest cutting technique! Finally, we roped in my parents to help us pack up the wreath kits and keep the girls entertained. We worked tirelessly, with boxes stacked up to the ceiling until the courier came to collect. The final product Once the first shipment was out the door, I went to bed with a huge sigh of relief. That is, until I realised that the deliveries would be arriving the next day! I couldn’t help but worry about potential issues, customer complaints, or any other difficulties that were now out of my control. As it turned out, I could have slept peacefully after all. The morning arrived and all the messages I received were positive – everything had arrived perfectly. I could have cried with relief! Those initial reassurances were followed by photographs of finished wreaths, and we were flooded with heartfelt messages expressing thanks and joy. We were completely blown away by the impact our seasonal wreath making kits had had on our customers’ Christmas. Our kits were able to bring people together at a time when many of us were forcibly separated from our loved ones and local communities. It was an incredible feeling and we felt like we’d created something very special.

With the vast number of vases available, it can be difficult to know which to invest in when styling your home. Whether you’re at the beginning of your flower arranging journey or looking to refresh your interior décor, I recommend selecting a few key styles that offer versatility and texture. Here are five of my favourites. When it comes to creating a standout floral arrangement, the vase you choose can make a real difference. The right vase can elevate your display and create a statement piece, while the wrong choice can prevent your arrangement from looking its best. So, if you’re wondering “How can I style vases at home?” I’d love to share my top tips. Over the years, I’ve built a substantial collection of vases. There are some decorative vases in my home and studio that I absolutely love and others that, with hindsight, I regret purchasing. However, the vase alone doesn’t dictate the success of your display. I’ve come to learn that flowers and vases need to work together and complement one another. No matter whether you’re new to flower arranging journey or looking to transform your interior décor, the different types of vases available to choose from can be a little overwhelming. Bowls, jugs, pots, clear and opaque vases are just a few of the styles on offer. I recommend investing in key pieces that suit your home and allow for some flexibility when it comes to creating floral displays. 1. Classic Apothecary Vase I think that a clean, simple glass vase suits almost any space. When decorating with vases, the classic apothecary vase is one of the most versatile. I use them in spots throughout the home year-round as they can work well in any environment, from our kitchen island to our living room coffee table. They’re especially effective for displaying spiral hand tied bouquets as the stems can expand into the body of the vase and its tapered neck supports the flowers. It’s also surprisingly easy to arrange flowers within the vase by angling the stems. 2. Bud Vase Bud vases are available in all shapes and sizes, but my favourites tend to have a narrower neck than body to support the stems. You’ll rarely find our kitchen sink and bedside tables without a bud vase, whether they contain an elegant sprig of greenery or a big blousy garden rose. As these types of vases are smaller than most, you can use them throughout your home to add a floral accent to different rooms. You could also add even more personality by recycling empty diffuser and perfume bottles and styling them with soft, organic blooms. 3. Opaque Vase Opaque decorative vases can be crafted from a range of different materials including ceramic, cement, stone, and terracotta. I personally love these vases as they bring their own natural texture that can add warmth and interest to your home. While they provide a stunning backdrop for flowers, you don’t necessarily need to add florals to create an intriguing display. I find that pairing two opaque vases of different sizes on a sideboard can help to ground the furniture and bring colour and texture to the room. 4. Pedestal Bowl If you’re looking for a more unusual decorative vase, pedestal bowls are some of the most striking on offer. I think they’re inherently elegant, especially when styled with asymmetric floral designs, but they’re also stunning when filled with fruit, vegetables, moss, or some faux artichoke heads. If you would prefer to concentrate on floral arrangements, I recommend using a bowl with an opening that’s no bigger than 18cm. You’ll also need to provide additional support for your stems, such as chicken wire or a Kenzan flower frog. Be sure to keep a look out for pedestal bowls in charity and vintage shops – I love stumbling across a unique piece that I wouldn’t be able to find elsewhere! 5. Jugs One of my favourite types of vases to use in the kitchen and dining room is a jug. Jugs work well with flowers cut fresh straight from the garden but, as they’re typically not watertight, I prefer to use them to display dried flowers or my faux stems, especially faux Lilacs, Ranunculus, and Waxflowers. Depending on your interior aesthetic, you can opt for a distressed jug or a clean white version and, just like opaque vases, they can add interest to your kitchen décor even when displayed empty. Make sure you add jugs to your shopping list when touring antique fairs and charity shops too.

Faux stems are a fantastic alternative to fresh and can be used to create stunning displays. I’m a passionate advocate of faux florals and hope that sharing my faux stems styling tips will inspire you to create your own works of art Choose a complementary vase The secret to styling faux stems is to craft a display where the vase is just as impactful as the blooms. The most effective arrangements unite vase and stems to create one stunning piece that can become the focal point of any room. I recommend aiming for an arrangement that’s approximately one and a half times the height of the vase as this can help prevent the style from appearing too wide or sparse. Ideally, your flowers and foliage should start at the rim of the vase with no naked stems on show. Prepare your faux stems Taking time to prepare your faux stems before starting to style can make all the difference. I like to bend or cut my faux flowers to achieve the perfect height. It all depends on the type of vase that I’ve chosen; with an opaque vase, I prefer to bend the stems. One of the best things about opting for faux stems instead of fresh florals is that you can bend them back into shape whenever you want to move them or reuse them in a new display. However, if I’m styling a glass vase, I tend to cut the stems as this adds that extra touch of authenticity that can help your display stand out from the crowd. Before you reach for the wire cutters, double-check that you’ve purchased plastic-covered stems and not paper-wrapped. Once you’ve made your cuts, seal the end of each stem with a coat of clear nail varnish or super glue, and add water. You can make your arrangement appear even more realistic by opening and fluffing each stem to add volume and depth. Typically, there will be a wire that runs the entire length of the stem, and along each side shoot, that lets you move them in any direction. This means that you can play with each piece until it suits the overall look of your display and makes the most of the available space – don’t be afraid to experiment. Create faux stem arrangements Now, it’s time to start arranging. I don’t mind admitting that this is my favourite part of styling faux flowers as I can let my creativity fly free. To start, I like to build solid foundations. Use faux foliage (or the largest stems in your selection) to construct a base shape that the remaining flowers can follow. I then start adding more blooms, incorporating a range of different heights while also ensuring that they’re evenly distributed. Using a mix of different stem heights and angles in your display can help it come alive. Finally, add your smaller filler stems to create depth and interest.  Looking to amplify the drama? To style faux flowers in a truly unique way, select one or two stems that are slightly taller than the rest and a little wilder in appearance. Alternatively, you can play with convention by using stems that drape down over the rim of the vase. Assess all angles When you’re in the middle of an arrangement, it’s all too easy to lose sight of the final product. I like to take a step back and look over the full display from every angle. Taking stock of your faux flower arrangement at regular intervals allows you to make tweaks as you go. That’s one of the reasons why faux stems can be such an appealing alternative to fresh flowers; you can get creative and make changes until you’re completely satisfied without causing any damage to the flowers. Feeling inspired to try styling faux stems? View our selection of individual stems here

Faux flowers are a fantastic, low maintenance alternative to fresh and it’s easier than you might think to keep them looking their best for longer by following a few simple steps. Here are my top tips for caring for artificial flowers If you love having flowers in your home but sometimes struggle to keep them looking fresh, faux flowers and plants can offer a fantastic alternative – and there’s no watering required! Faux flowers can enhance your space and need little to no maintenance. Even so, there are a few simple steps that you can take to get the best out of your blooms and help them stand the test of time. Read on for my quick guide to how to care for your faux flowers: Displaying faux flowers One of my favourite things about faux flower arrangements is that they can add life, texture, and an organic touch to any room. Whether you choose to make them the centrepiece of your dining table, the focal point of a disused fireplace, or a beautiful addition to your bookcase, the best way to care for artificial flowers is to love them just as much as you would the real thing. If possible, it’s best to avoid displaying your faux floral arrangements in direct sunlight. While a ray of light can make your blooms look even brighter, it can take its toll over time as UV causes discolouration and fading. If you can’t keep your flowers out of the sun completely, try to rotate them regularly to avoid one side becoming more faded than the other. When creating an arrangement of faux flowers in a glass vase, cutting the stems rather than bending them can help your artificial blooms appear more authentic. I recommend using strong wire cutters to create a clean break. You may also wish to complement your faux arrangements with fresh flowers, which will need to be placed in water. Before adding water to your vase, double-check that you are working with plastic stems as unfortunately paper-covered alternatives aren’t suitable to be submerged in water. If you’ve chosen to cut the faux stems, this often exposes the wire, which can become rusty over time. The best way to avoid this is to simply seal the end with a light coat of clear nail varnish or super glue. How to clean faux flowers Dusting is the best way to keep your florals looking fresh, especially if you have white or light-coloured blooms. Use a standard duster or a dry microfibre cloth to carefully dust the petals, leaves, and stems. You can swap your cloth out for a soft-bristled paintbrush if you want to really get into all the small nooks and crannies. An even quicker method of cleaning your faux flowers is to take them outside and gently shake them to free any dust. If the weather isn’t on your side, you can replicate this effect by using a hairdryer on the cool setting to blast cool air at the stems and loosen any stubborn dust particles. If an accident does happen and your artificial flowers get stained, don’t head straight to the sink – water can easily damage delicate silk and other fabrics. Try removing them gently with a baby wipe first, but stubborn stains might mean bringing out the big guns and investing in either a specialist silk flower wash or making a diluted mix of laundry detergent and warm water. If you do go down this route, pour the liquid into a spray bottle so that you can control how wet the fabric gets and use a clean microfibre cloth to rub the detergent in. How to store faux flowers If you’re someone who likes to swap out your décor seasonally, storing your faux flowers carefully can keep them looking fresh year after year. When storing faux flowers, I recommend keeping the box that your faux flowers arrived in. The Suffolk Nest’s shipping boxes are all 100% recyclable and have been carefully selected to ensure they are the best fit for the stems you’ve chosen. No matter the size of the arrangement, our boxes allow you to store your artificial flowers and plants safely, securely, and neatly. If you’ve purchased faux flowers elsewhere, follow these easy storage steps: Make sure that you clean the flowers thoroughly first Pick a place that’s not too hot and is out of direct sunlight, like a wardrobe or cupboard Choose a container that is durable and airtight but also provides enough space between each bloom to avoid them bending out of shape If you’re storing long stem flowers, use a wrapping paper box and pack each flower head in an opposite direction Add a cedar block to keep everything fresh    

If you’re looking to prepare your home for summer and are looking for interior inspiration, my summer home décor tips will help you create that fresh feeling year-round As temperatures rise and the sun begins to shine, it’s time to make the most of the long summer days and create memories that will last a lifetime. Alfresco dining, relaxed gatherings with friends and family, and removing the barriers between indoors and out all contribute to making summer our most sociable season. I like to make the most of that summer feeling by making our home feel as spacious as possible, embracing minimalist décor to create a light and airy atmosphere throughout.   I hope that my summer home décor ideas will serve to inspire you and show that small seasonal changes can simply transform your home. Embrace a neutral colour palette   I love to use neutral tones in our home year-round, but they can be particularly effective in the summer months. White and light neutrals can help to open your interior space and provide a cool and calming oasis on warmer days. Playing with texture and layers adds depth to your rooms without making them feel overly cluttered or constricting. Incorporate linens, cotton, lightweight knits, and soft furnishings with subtle patterns in complementary soft shades.      Make space When the winter nights start drawing in, we all want to hunker down in a room that’s cosy and warm. But as soon as a heatwave hits, we start craving the light, airy feel that’s more often found in Mediterranean villas. To recreate this look at home, take some time to simplify and declutter your space. Don’t worry; you don’t have to get rid of everything. Preparing your rooms for summer can be as simple as storing your heavy blankets, putting away your ornaments, or moving some piece of furniture into the garage or attic. Alfresco dining There’s nothing I love more in the summer months than inviting our friends and family around to enjoy a meal (any excuse for Chris to crack out the barbecue!). Summer tablescapes can elevate your dining experience, especially if you’re celebrating a special occasion. For place settings, I like to take inspiration from the beach with durable rattan and seagrass placemats while keeping the surrounding glassware minimal. Large oak serving boards make fantastic sharing platters while light throws, cushions, and lanterns can keep guests comfortable well into the evening. Summer socialising should feel relaxed and unhurried so it’s best to choose floral arrangements that set the scene but don’t obstruct anyone’s view or interrupt conversation. I recommend selecting a few glass bud vases, which can be filled with fragrant white Stocks, soft summer grasses, delicate white Sweet Peas, and freshly cut garden Roses to create a look that’s timeless and elegant. Take inspiration from nature For our family, summer is all about making the most of the weather and exploring the great outdoors, but why not bring the outside in? Take style notes from nature by embracing natural materials and items gathered on day trips. If you love nothing more than a trip to the seaside, consider adding a beautiful shell that your children have found on the beach or a piece of driftwood that has been washed ashore to your shelves or mantlepiece. Dried seed pods foraged during walks through the woods or a work of art by a local artist can also become unique style pieces as well as holding cherished memories. Try a summer scent There are some scents that instantly evoke that summer feeling. For me, it’s freshly washed linen, citrus, coconut, and lights florals. You could choose to bring these fragrances into your home with a candle, room spray or diffuser. Of course, fresh flowers are a wonderful way to add a fresh and light summer fragrance to your interiors. In my opinion, you can’t beat the scent of freshly picked sweet peas and fragrant garden roses. Desdemona David Austin, Queen of Sweden David Austin, and Olivia David Austin are just a few of my favourites. Pop them in a bud vase on your bedside table, next to your kitchen sink, or on a side table. Choose summer floral arrangements In the summer months, I like to keep the floral arrangements in our home loose, textured, and a little bit wild. I tend to include plenty of foliage, such as Olive, Rosemary, and tall billowing grass stems, and add in some focal flowers such as fragrant white Stocks, white Peonies, or white Agapanthus. Our kitchen doesn’t feel complete without an arrangement on the island, whether it’s a simple bunch of foliage or a statement piece in a large ceramic vase. If fresh flowers aren’t for you, invest in high-quality faux stems to make that summer feeling last the whole season. I’ve designed an array of faux summer floral arrangements if you’re in need of inspiration.