With April more than halfway over (which I can’t believe!), I am starting to look forward to the joys that May brings us! I have had a little more time on my hands than I’m used to this early spring and am so excited to have an excuse (not that I truly need one) to get creative with May Day baskets. As a lover of beautiful florals, I adore celebrating May Day, or as I call it, the official start to flower season! May Day is a day of celebrating spring and femininity and is derived from the Roman era’s “Festival of Flowers”. Many people celebrate with offerings of flowers, dancing and even bell ringing! Since I doubt anyone wants me to break out my ribbons for a dance around the Maypole (though I would LOVE to give it a whirl!), I stick to creating May Day baskets to share with my neighbors and friends. It is the perfect DIY project to get my creative juices flowing! I tend to use our lovely faux florals from the shop so that these baskets can hang proudly on doorsteps for months to come. Take a look below to see three fresh designs and learn how to create your own!
For our first basket, I wanted to play up some classic spring colors. As you know, I love green and wanted that freshness front and center. The bright green pairs beautifully with soft pinks and yellows while pops of bright white balance out the design. Design Tip: Balance over symmetry – don’t worry about making it completely identical on each side but rather whether it is evenly weighted.
My second basket is actually not a basket at all, but a rustic metal tin! I love the pop of red for a bold touch, and this is one of my favorite vessels to recreate for summer when red, white and blue are having their moment. To keep this arrangement firmly in spring, I switched out my blue hues for pink tulips and added some leafy greens to add some texture. Design Tip: For a more natural and organic look, arrange your faux like you would the real deal! Pretend they are reaching for the sun and opening up. Start with your tallest, most open stems (often called fillers) then strategically place your tighter sprigs and blooms.
Last but not least, my final basket incorporates another one of my favorite color combinations, black and white! This simple palette is perfect for a “moody spring” look with its rich fuchsias and plums paired with near-neon spring greens. I like this particular look because it says “Spring” without your typical bright spring palette. It feels good to mix it up sometimes! These baskets are all about having fun and mixing your favorite colors, textures, and patterns to create a look that speaks to you. Design Tip: Don’t be afraid to create some height with your flower selection! Stems can (and often should) be taller than your basket or container.
I would love to see your May Day creations and hear about any May Day traditions you may have! Please share them with me on social media using #nellhills – I can’t wait to share some of my favorites as we celebrate next Friday! Until next time – happy decorating!