There are quite a few flower shops scattered across Helsinki. Maybe not that many, but somehow they always seem to be right where I pass. They tucked near metro stations or busy corners, where their scent floats gently into the air. And lately, I’ve found myself slowing down when I catch a whiff of fresh blooms.

The strange thing is, I’ve never really been a flower kind of girl. Even though my Javanese name literally means “flower,” I’ve never had much interest in them. Until recently.

Suddenly, I’m noticing them. Not just smelling them but admiring their colors, their shapes, how each bloom seems to quietly express its own personality. It’s such a small thing, but somehow it’s nudging me to move through life a little more slowly.

Slowing Down for Beauty

This new interest surprised me. It made me realize how rarely I let myself pause, how often I walk past beauty without really seeing it. These flowers have been a gentle interruption: a reminder to pay attention.

Still, despite the growing urge to bring some home, my practical side kicked in. I’m not someone who buys things just for aesthetics. I buy what I need, what I have room for, and what’s thoughtfully designed to last. So naturally, I have to think and consider about all the details.

The Space That Waited for Sunshine

There’s a quiet little corner in my home I’ve always been fond of. It sits right by the window and catches the soft glow of the sunset in the late afternoon. It’s been empty for a while. And then, one day, I suddenly saw it clearly: a small shelf standing there, with fresh flowers blooming gently in the golden light.

Now that winter is finally behind us and the Nordic sun lingers longer each day, that space feels like it’s calling out to be filled—with warmth, with color, with something alive.

And just like that, it was settled: I had the room, both physically and emotionally, for a new little piece of life to move in.

The Flower Dilemma: Plant vs. Fresh

So last weekend, I set out to explore Helsinki with a mission: to decide what kind of flowers I wanted to bring into my life.

Would I go for a potted plant, something I could keep and nurture year-round? Or would I go with fresh flowers, beautiful but temporary?

Let’s break it down:

🌿 Option 1: Potted Plants

Cost:

• €25–50 for plants I love
• €25+ for a stylish pot
• Soil, plant food, and tools

Pros:

• Ideal for the long daylight hours of spring and summer in Finland
• A more permanent, growing presence in the home

Cons:

• Winter dormancy makes me oddly sad, like I’m failing them, even though it’s natural
• Long trips away could leave them neglected

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🌸 Option 2: Fresh Flowers

Cost:

• Vase: ~€20 (or more, depending on brand)
• Flowers: €4–10 per bouquet
• Optional flower food

Pros:

• No guilt or stress when I travel
• Always fresh and eye-catching
• I can DIY the flower food with sugar, lemon juice, and bleach if needed

Cons:

• Need to be replaced every few weeks

Making the Decision: Fresh Flowers!

After weighing the options, I decided to go with fresh flowers. Something about the idea of choosing new ones every few weeks felt right for this season of life. A little ritual. A little joy.

The Hunt for the Right Vase

Of course, choosing fresh flowers meant I needed a vase. I want something that felt special, long-lasting, and preferably with a touch of Finland.

I considered brands like Marimekko, Arabia, and Iittala, but they were a bit out of my budget for now. So I wandered into the Moomin Shop on Esplanadi, just to see. And there it was. A single vase, simple and cute, with a design that matched my interior color scheme perfectly.

It felt right. So I brought it home.

Building the Shelf That Holds It All

For the shelf itself, I picked up a compact, functional one from Clas Ohlson located in the city center. Ikea felt too far and not worth the extra effort. Plus, this one ticked all my boxes.

It was easy to carry home from the station, and it had exactly three shelves:

• The bottom shelf: for books I’ve already read
• The middle: for books I still need to read
• The top: for my new vase and fresh flowers

The First Bouquet

Before heading home, I made one more stop at the supermarket. Finally, I walked down the flower aisle not just to admire, but to choose.

I picked a bouquet with bright red, sunny yellow, and a little soft white flowers that enough to bring life and color into my living room. I also grabbed flower food, only to discover later that the bouquet came with its own small packet (which I’ll save for later when I change the water every 2-3 days).

The Little Ritual That Made Me Smile

Once home, I trimmed the stems just like I’d seen in tutorial videos (I loved this part because I felt like a true grown-up!), washed the vase, and placed everything on the shelf.

And when the late afternoon light poured in through the window, casting a warm glow over the bouquet, I realized something:

They weren’t just pretty.

They were perfect.

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I’ve shared the story of this flower bouquet, where I noticed the rose wilting sooner than the others and managed to revive it with a DIY flower food. Read it here!