Displaying beautiful flowers is a fantastic way to change up your decor and make your home feel brighter. While there are no real disadvantages to putting flowers on display, there are a few pros and cons to consider. The impact of these benefits and drawbacks will vary based on your lifestyle and personal preferences.
Here are some of the main pros and cons of keeping fresh flowers in your home.
Pro: They’re Refreshing
One of the main benefits of keeping flowers in your home is that they’re refreshing and nice to look at. It’s practically impossible to see a beautiful floral display and not feel a bit better. Flowers are often a bright contrast of color against dim backgrounds and offer a sentimental reminder of good times as well.
There’s also reason to believe that flowers offer a mood-boosting effect, making people feel happier and more energized when they’re around flowers and other parts of nature. This effect also has an impact on cognition and focus, making cut flowers the perfect display piece for those working from home.
Cons: They’re Short-Lived
The main downside of keeping flowers in your home is that they’re relatively short-lived. Even high-quality blooms only last a week or two before they start to wither. This means that the beautiful display you showcase today will have to be changed out at some point in the near future.
Fortunately, there are a few ways to make your cut flowers last longer in a vase. Adding sugar or flower food to the water can help keep your flowers alive for longer. Changing out the water when it starts to get cloudy can also help, as it prevents bacteria from forming. Finally, you can spray your petals with a light mist of hair spray to keep them looking fresher for longer.
Pros: They’re Versatile
Another benefit of displaying flowers is that they’re the most versatile interior design accessory available. You can completely transform your display by showcasing different arrangements every month. This feature also makes them the ideal seasonal decor item, as you can upgrade the atmosphere of any room to suit the upcoming holidays or events.
One of the best ways to take advantage of this versatility is to sign up for a flower delivery subscription. These services send a fresh bouquet every month and often cater to the upcoming holidays when creating arrangements. With this service, you’ll always have fresh flowers on display and won’t have to think about what you’ll do next month.
Cons: They May Be Toxic to Pets
If you’re a pet owner, you need to be extremely mindful of what flowers you put on display. There are many flowers that are toxic to both humans and animals when consumed. While you may not feel compelled to eat your bouquet, your cat or dog might not share that lack of impulse. Additionally, there are plenty of non-toxic flowers that won’t affect humans, but could impact animals who are in close contact with them.
Take some time to research which flowers are suitable for homes with pets. When you display flowers, take extra caution to put them out of reach of pets and clean up any droppings or trimmings as soon as possible. If you notice the signs of toxicity in pets, call a vet right away.
Pros: They May Have Aromatherapeutic Benefits
Take some time to stop and smell the roses: literally. Aromatherapy is a bit of a fringe science, but there are some compelling studies that showcase notable stress relief when the participants smelled the scent of certain blooms.
Lavender and rose are commonly listed as having aromatherapeutic benefits. Consider placing these flowers on your bedside table to help you unwind and relax at the end of a long day.
Cons: They’re Costly
Another downside to displaying flowers is that they tend to be costly. For some individuals, this could be a barrier to displaying fresh-cut flowers regularly, given their short lifespan. Again, using a flower subscription service is a great way to save money on cut flowers. There are plenty of simple, affordable bouquet options available at a variety of price points.
If money is a barrier, consider getting some potted flowers that won’t die and need replacing on a regular basis.
Unless you have pets, the pros of keeping flowers in the home far outweigh the cons. If you do have pets, there are still options for displaying flowers, as long as you’re vigilant in your research and where you display them.
