There is one gift – regardless of the occasion – that rarely fails to delight.  From birth through to our final moments – flowers have been there.  They are a speechless gift that says so much.  Flowers let people know they are thought of, loved, appreciated, celebrated, missed, and supported.  They have a unique ability to provide a moment of happiness in the darkest of times.  That is the true power of flowers.

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Flowers always make me happy, and they don’t have to be the type you buy in a bunch – just appreciating the ones growing in my garden is often enough.  

I absolutely love sending flowers, just as much as I love receiving them.  Knowing someone I cherish is going to feel even just a bit of the happiness they’ve provided to me is a massive mood boost.

Why do flowers make you happy?

The power of flowers and their ability to contribute to our emotional health and well-being has been well researched and documented.  

Rutgers University researched the link between flowers and life satisfaction.  They discovered that flowers are a natural moderator of moods and contribute to improving our emotional health.  

“Common sense tells us that flowers make you happy.  Now science shows us that not only do flowers make us happier than we know, they have strong positive effects on our emotional well-being” 

Dr Jeanette Havilland-Jones, PhD Professor of Psychology at Rutgers University. 

The study highlighted the participant’s excitement at receiving the flowers.  They expressed feelings of surprise, happiness and gratitude.  The flowers encouraged the recipients to create more positive connections between themselves and their family and friends, thus increasing contact.  The positive feelings lasted long after the flowers were received – how good is that for a bunch of flowers!

There is evidence to suggest that flowers have the ability to reduce stress, create moments of quiet in the mind and thaw tense situations.  

Additionally, flowers have a positive impact on the elderly members of society.  They’ve been proven to help improve memory and to reduce feelings of isolation.  

Where should you place flowers in order to make you feel happier?

If you’re anything like me, you’ll tend to place your flowers where they will be seen.  In doing so, you share the joy with others who view them, whether they were the intended recipient or not.  The positive benefits felt through experiencing flowers do not discriminate against who is looking at them – they are a gift for all.

Did you know? Homes with flowers on display are often described as more welcoming with an atmosphere of inclusivity.  

Flowers not only brighten the room, but they also brighten every moment you look at them.  That’s why it’s a great idea to place them throughout your home.  

Top tip: Separate bigger bouquets into smaller vases around your home.  Multiple doses of calm without any extra expense.  

Flowers make you happy in the morning…

Studies have shown placing a small bouquet of flowers where they’ll be noticed within your morning routine (such as on the kitchen table if you eat breakfast there) helped to perk people up and gave them higher energy levels for the day ahead.

Flowers can even make you happy whilst at work!

Flowers can make you happy in the office too! Workplaces that include plants and flowers have been evidenced as higher achieving and more productive.   

In studies conducted within the last few years, employees demonstrated more innovative thinking, memory retention, idea generation and creative solutions to problems if flowers were present in the office.

Flowers make for calmer environments in stressful situations and help to raise energy levels.  All positive benefits to increase workplace well-being.

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And the happiness isn’t just felt by the person receiving the flowers

The power of flowers extends to those giving them too!

Firstly, your sense of self-appreciation rises knowing you’re doing good for others. 

Plus, it’s been recorded that those who send flowers are often viewed as more successful, caring and emotionally intelligent people.  

Flowers allow you to effectively express your feelings and demonstrate that you take time to understand the feelings of others.  

Colour coded…

According to researchers at Columbia University, the colours we choose for our blooms can further impact moods.  

Top tip: Purple also denotes authority.  Place purple flowers on your desk to draw out powerful psychological effects signalling leadership qualities. 

Clever ways to increase how happy flowers make you feel:

• Go old school and actually visit your local florist.  Time spent looking at the flowers will heighten your well-being, and the scents will lift your senses.  
• Treat yourself – even if it’s a £1 bunch of daffodils, you’ll still reap the benefits, and you’ll subconsciously increase your own feelings of self-worth and self-love.
• Send flowers randomly – nothing increases the positive feelings of receiving flowers than when they are totally unexpected.
• Spend time in your garden, peacefully sitting and admiring the flowers growing OR if you don’t have a garden or a garden with flowers in it for that matter – head out to local fields and forests to see what nature has to offer.

How flowers can make you happy if you’re on a budget

-Experiencing flowers in nature costs nothing.  

-Look at the flower section in your local supermarket for near-date markdowns – you’ll still get a great dose of feel-good, even from flowers which are close to expiration.  

-Speak to your local florist about your budget – they can often accommodate and create a nice bouquet regardless of spend.  

-Here is a gift my daughter and I created for a friend as a thank you, which cost only £2:  

We used a cleaned-out jam jar and decorated it with stickers and an off-cut of ribbon before filling it with an in-expensive bunch of flowers from the local supermarket.

In the US? Have a look at the Power of Flowers project – an organisation that gifts free flowers to those who are most in need of a smile.  Find out more or donate to their cause here.

I always knew flowers were special…

But before I started researching it, I certainly didn’t realise how special they really are.  If you’re looking for the perfect gift – you shouldn’t rule out flowers as being cliché – and you really shouldn’t underestimate how much joy they will give. 

Flowers are a gift in more ways than one.  And now that you know all the many positive benefits they offer, isn’t it time to wake up and smell the Roses? 

Ready to Deliver some Happiness?

BloomLocal is an award-winning flower service provider who believes that sending flowers is the quickest way to show you care. With a nationwide network of local florists, they are dedicated to delivering fresh flowers straight to your door. And for when life catches you off-guard, BloomLocal offers same-day and next-day delivery.

Reader Exclusive Offer: Use Code LIVINGPRETTYHAPPY20 for 20% Off Your First BloomLocal Order

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Related: 3 Ways to use gratitude to increase your well-being

Do you love flowers?  Have you realised the power of flowers already?  Do you like to give them or do you feel they’re a bit obvious?  What are your favourite flowers?  Any hints or tips when it comes to purchasing flowers?  Whatever you’d like to ask or say, just get in touch by leaving a comment in the box below – I always love to hear from you!

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