As might be expected of someone in his position, Mr John Hackett, CEO of Arena Flowers, is effusive, exuberant, positively evangelical on matters floral. “Flowers are such incredible mood enhancers,” he says. “It doesn’t matter if it’s a huge ceremonial bouquet at a gala or just a simple bunch of daffodils bought from a supermarket, they all serve the same purpose, which is to bring warmth and positivity to an occasion. It could be a major life event, the welcoming of a new season, or just a simple moment of reflection and gratitude.”

Acknowledging these moments has become harder over the past 12 months, he says. “We haven’t been marking birthdays or celebrating big events in quite the same way, which makes it all the more important that we find ways of letting people know that we’re thinking of them,” he says. “Flowers give us back some of that sense of social connection that we’ve lost.”

With spring on our doorstep, fresh flowers also offer a wonderful way of celebrating the arrival of new life by welcoming nature into our homes. “Organic beauty is ethereal; flowers symbolise that transience in the most literal sense,” says Mr Hackett. “You can watch life open up and fade away before you, all in a matter of a couple of weeks.”

Even ignoring this deeper symbolism, flowers remain one of the fastest and easiest ways of freshening up a room. Indeed, it’s the fact that they don’t last forever that makes them so versatile. Decorating your home with fresh flowers involves far less commitment than, for instance, investing in a new set of curtains or repainting a feature wall. Choose well, though, and it can have just as much of an impact.

But what exactly does it take to choose well? Are there rules to follow and rookie errors to avoid when it comes to flowers, or are you free to buy as you please? Here, accompanied by two of Arena Flowers’ impressive seasonal bouquets, Mr Hackett offers his suggestions.

Awarded a maximum score of 100 by the Ethical Company Index, Arena Flowers is at the vanguard of a new movement towards sustainability in the flower industry. Whereas it was once considered acceptable to fly tulips from Chile in summer and peonies from New Zealand in November, florists are now being held to higher environmental standards.

Along with considerations on packaging, this also means prioritising local and seasonal varieties. In that regard, Mr Hackett recommends peonies, which are coming into season right now and offer a striking presence in a vase. He also suggests building a bouquet around any of the classic vernal flowers: ranunculus are a personal favourite, but hellebores, ageratum, astilbe, astrantia and scabious can also be found in abundance during the spring months.

Choosing and arranging flowers involves as many considerations as putting together an outfit. Just as you wouldn’t wear a tuxedo to Soho Farmhouse or a pair of Wellington boots to the office, flowers are equally context-dependent. An elaborate bouquet of exotic florets might suit a modern, minimalist apartment, whereas the kitchen table of a rural cottage calls for wildflowers and traditional varieties.

Meanwhile, when considering colour, you should decide whether to build your bouquet around a single hue – in the bouquet seen here, Spring Delight, the vivid yellow of the roses dictates the palette – or to use a mixed palette, in which case you should opt for a few subtle, complementary hues.

But whatever you do, don’t overthink it. “It’s really easy with flowers to feel bound by convention when in fact there is no wrong answer,” Hackett says. “Even a simple bunch of daffodils can utterly transform a space. Flowers should be a simple pleasure that anyone can enjoy.”