When I was a child I always remember my mum saying, "Never have silk flowers out when visitors arrive". As the years went by even mum agreed that the quality of silk flowers had improved out of sight.

BRIGHT COLOURS CHEER PEOPLE UP

An arrangement of colourful quality silk flowers does wonders to a room in the middle of winter. Sometimes less is more, and in the case of a few quality silk flowers this may be the answer.

I always think that silk flowers have a definite place in the colder climates where it is so hard to have some nice cheering colour around during the winter months.

SILK FLOWERS ARE A GREAT WAY TO WELCOME IN SPRING

When it gets to be about the end of January and into February it is a great idea to put out some spring flowers in a range of silks. The spring flowers that will help you get rid of the winter blues are: tulips, hyacinths, crocus and daffodils.

Fresh spring flowers are beautiful, but unfortunately their live span is not too long, and the season is also very short. If you treat yourself to some quality silk spring flowers you will have them year after year. Brush them off after each use, store them in a plastic bag in a box and they will look new for the next year.

Colour association has a huge affect on how we view life. It is really quite amazing how being around certain colours, or wearing certain colours can actually change our moods. The bright sunny colours of spring flowers make us think of sunny weather, outdoor living, beaches, summer holidays and the like.

ADD LIME GREEN LEAVES TO SPRING FLOWERS

A colour that looks so sexy with yellow daffodils is lime green. Daffodils can look lovely in a feature vase on their own, but if you are going to do an arrangement, put them with some lime green leaves and they will look superb.

If you do not have any lime green leaves, either real or artificial, use some lime green ribbon, or even some bright blue ribbon. You wont be sorry.

AND

If you don't have either lime green leaves, or lime green ribbon, use a lime green vase. In fact, if you do like having flowers in the house, buy yourself a lime green vase. This colour goes with so many flowers and makes flower arrangements look so alive and inviting.

HOW CAN YOU BE ECONOMICAL AND HAVE COLOUR

The best way is to buy 3 or 5 (never an even number), quality silk flowers. (With daffodils you would need more.) With these you can add some cheaper trimmings, even some dried branches collected from the beach or woods.

Keep several pieces of various shaped dried branches on hand. Try to choose something that has a bit of character: something that is very twirly and soft looking, or to the other extreme, something that is very straight and stark. A piece of wood like this is very attractive when it is painted, too.

By using different accessories with your flowers, you will always have something that looks different. Take care of your silk flowers each year and you will have them looking like new for the next time.