Those of us who look forward to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show each year for some outdoor and floral inspiration will be delighted to hear that this year it’s going virtual. Cancelled for the first time in it’s history due to the Corona Virus Pandemic, you’ll be able to watch all the action this week (18th – 23rd May) from the comfort of your own home. And to mark the occasion, acclaimed stylist, author and columnist Selina Lake is paying homage to the floral event in her own garden and sharing expert tips for styling some Chelsea magic in your outdoor space.
Her stay home and style project has included ramping up a floral theme inside her pretty shed, by using delicate glass bud vases from Talking Tables to display seasonal flowers which she has either grown or sourced from local flower grower Pig Pen Flowers. Selina has styled her garden table ready for alfresco dining with Dave in a wild flower patch of their garden and giving their outdoor lounge a Chelsea look with some cushions she has sewn in linen fabric, from Baker Originals Collection.
Selina’s Top Tips for Styling Some Chelsea Magic into your Own Garden
1.Decide on a theme. This could be based on a collection of colours or patterns. I was inspired by the Magnolia /Cream/ Blue R1351.4 Linen fabric, from Baker Originals Collection and the array of flowers that are currently blooming in the garden, so I have chosen a bright clashing and dashing florals theme.
2.Work with what you have. Repurpose bed sheets as tablecloths, old jugs as vases or recycle glass bottles to use as bud vases. Borrow cushions and throws from your sofa to comfy up and add style to garden furniture and dig out bunting or other decorations.
3.Flowers Flowers Flowers. Pick flowers growing aplenty in your garden, forage for a few wild flowers and foliage to add in. Cow paisley is abundant at the moment. Not enough flowers? There are lots of florists still trading online with no contact deliveries so research your local area for fresh flower sources. I mixed some of my garden flowers wisteria, Viburnum and Orange Geums with a bucket of locally grown blooms from Pig Pen Flowers which included deep purple Tulips, peachy pink Ranunculus & white Anemones.
4.Get creative. Have a go at making your own styling props to use. I made a couple of cushions and a set of two simple napkins for my table & our garden sofa using lovely Magnolia /Cream/ Blue R1351.4 Linen fabric, from Baker Originals Collection. If you have some fabric, give napkin making a go. My tablecloth was a super quick make, I simply cut a piece of bleached muslin fabric to size and I didn’t even hem it.
4.Make the most of your shed. My latest book Shed Style (published by Ryland Peters & Small) is full of ideas for making the most of garden buildings from sheds to greenhouses so I added a few extra touches to my shed interior for this project. These included Vintage Chinese lanterns, candles in jars & a botanical wall chart.
