This Easter we’re in the mood for something old, something new, something crafty, something we grew… Compelled by the natural bounty of the garden and the nostalgic return of timeworn floral prints, these freshly picked ideas are sure to inspire your holiday celebration.
Easter holds a different significance for each of us, but its themes of renewal, fertility, nature and the continuity of life remain a reason to celebrate. And then there’s the chocolate! The holiday is also an excuse to unleash your creativity: having a go at whimsical craft projects, setting a beautiful celebratory brunch table, even updating the look of your spaces to reflect the changing of the seasons are all enjoyable endeavours.
Though conceived of for an Easter gathering, this eclectic coming together of various floral fabrics, multiple fresh flower displays, framed flower-themed prints and decorative objects is a look we can get behind all year. Keep it going as your new spring interior signature.
To keep faded florals on the right side of contemporary, go for a mix-and-match approach and layer lots of colours and prints.
A pretty, colourful assortment of country flowers – displayed en masse in different vessels – adds to the sense of whimsy, conjuring up a mood that feels effortless and authentic.
Treat a crisp white backdrop as your canvas and play away with proportion, colour, form and pattern. And don’t forget about texture: rough with smooth, glass with wood, handcrafted with machine forged, foraged in nature with found at a flea market.
Create interest through small details. The scatter cushions on the armchairs, for example, feature similar exotic prints but are subtly different thanks to green and red piping respectively.
Easter and the natural world are irrevocably connected due to the pagan roots of the festivity that signals the onset of spring, affording you creative license in incorporating both botanical and zoological themes into your decor.
The display of natural objects under a glass cloche or bell jar imparts a cabinet of curiosities sensibility and, in this case, anchors the styled cameo.
Easter and the natural world are irrevocably connected due to the pagan roots of the festivity that signals the onset of spring.
Part of the fun during Easter time is decorating plain hen’s eggs using food colouring, dyes, paint and as many other bells and whistles that you fancy: from glitter and beads to sequins and gold leaf.
What’s lilac, layered and yummy all over? The perfect vanilla sponge cake smothered in pastel buttercream that stars as the centrepiece for an Easter high tea! Be textile tactile and bedeck your table with a layering of colour, materials and prints.
Further elevate the charm factor with a mismatched assortment of teacups and saucers, milk jugs, sugar bowls, cake plates and a vintage cake stand. Pretty spring blooms are non-negotiable.
No time (or desire) to bake? Head to the corner confectioner or supermarket for a simple iced cake and make it look homemade with edible flowers, candy eggs and chocolate shards.
Repurpose an antique sugar cup as a planter for striking blooms, in this case a mini phalaenopsis orchid with its intricate root system on display. The arrangement becomes a visual treat when surrounded by decorated eggs set on a vintage side plate.
Get creative with eggs. Submerge hardboiled eggs in diluted green dye and allow to dry. Make a sugar syrup, dip the tops of the eggs, then roll in jelly powder. The wet sugar syrup and dry powder will create a textured finish. Alternatively, neatly paint your eggs and pattern with sparkly rhinestones.
Dyed and decorated Easter eggs look compelling in faux bird nests made from natural straw.
Further elevate the charm factor with a mismatched assortment of teacups and saucers, milk jugs, sugar bowls, cake plates and a vintage cake stand.
As well as being perfect for containing decorated Easter eggs discovered on the obligatory hunt, a vintage basket creates a mood of pastoral charm when used as a container for wild flowers.
A meal alfresco is an old-school indulgence. A table that is set with pretty accouterments and Easter goodies will encourage brunches that extend to well after tea time.
This sun-dappled tabletop is an artful composition of real blooms and those printed on fabric, handmade crafts in the shape of decorated Easter eggs, homeware with a vintage vibe as well as natural textures.
Clear glass vessels, gold plated flatware and vintage crockery set alongside more roughly-textured objects such as woven baskets results in a complementary contrast of materials as well as the reflection of light. As well as being perfect for containing decorated Easter eggs discovered on the obligatory hunt, a vintage basket creates a mood of pastoral charm when used as a container for wild flowers.
A vintage floral theme requires old-fashioned country blooms such as sweet peas, delphiniums, stocks, lisianthus, fragrant roses, delphiniums, tulips and poppies.
Treat the decoration of your bedroom – including your bed – as you would any other area of your home: take it from habitat to homely with layers of colour, texture and print. The day can’t help but get off to a good start when you wake up surrounded by masses of flowers.
With a good quality but basic bedding set as your starting point, dress your bed drawing on the garden as inspiration. Here, (right) several different but complementary vintage floral prints appear on cushions as well as a show-stopping throw. A beautiful blue French linen sheet and additional decorative cushions in solid colours prevent the pattern from overwhelming, the colour blocking effect imparting a contemporary and fresh impression.
Infuse a space with seasonal Easter cheer in the form of large egg-shaped cutouts in perky pastel shades. Use craft board to make the shapes and attach silky ribbons in sorbet colours to hang them.
Think pink! This blushing colour is back on the interiors scene in a big way. From candy floss and raspberry sorbet to flamingo to dusky rose, you’ll want to thread this romantic hue throughout all of your spaces.
Paint a hard-boiled or blown-out egg in soothing watercolours to achieve a marbled effect and dry. Make a sugar syrup, dunk to top half of the egg in the solution and then dip into a bowl filled with sprinkles.
Nostalgia never gets old and this season figurines are flocking back into the home… Cut a trail through the forest (in other words, your favourite vintage stores) for decorative inspiration and keep a sharp eye out for objects that will infuse your table-scapes with whimsy and character.
HOW TO DYE EASTER EGGS
• Hard boil eggs before dyeing and decorating. Discard any that have cracked.
• To keep decorated eggs for yearsto come, make two holes at the top and bottom of an egg using pins or a paring knife – make one hole larger than the other. Poke a straightened paper clip into the larger hole an jiggle around inside the egg until it is ‘blended’. Hold the egg over a bowl, with the larger hole facing down. Blow into the smaller hold until the egg is emptied. Rinse with soapy water and dry completely before dyeing.
• Mix about 10-20 drops offoodcolouring (depending on how intense you want your colours to be) to one cup of boiling water. To ensure the dye is colourfast, add two tablespoons of white vinegar to the water.
• Leave the eggs in for 5-10 minutesat a time, per colour. The longer you leave them, the deeper the colour.
• Use egg cartons as drying racks.You may need to dab the bottom of the egg with paper towel to prevent the liquid from pooling.
• Play around with marbling, two-tone effects, spattering with paint and creative decorating with beads, glitter, pom-poms, dried flowers and crafty accessories.
Words — Mandy Allen
Photographs — Warren Heath
