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5 Tips to Organize Your Home Office for Success

If you have a home office, you’re probably familiar with the challenge of keeping it organized. As a room that typically isn’t the focal point in most homes, it’s often the recipient of piles of disorganized items that get tucked away there “for later.” Except that later never really comes. Next thing you know, your office is cluttered with papers, boxes, and power cords, and is the last place in which you want to spend time. Sound familiar?

Does your home office inspire you to be productive? Or does it evoke feelings of stress and overwhelm?

Whether you’re working from home full-time or using your office space to keep the family organized, these five helpful tips to organize your home office will make it more efficient and visually appealing, leaving you more time for yourself and family, as well as enhancing the overall beauty of your home.

1. Create stations

Just as trying to do too many things at once creates overwhelm (one step at a time!), so does trying to accomplish everything you need to do in one space. Your mind needs space to shift from task to task, and you can help facilitate that by creating different spaces for each one.

Different task, different station.

These workstations will vary based on what you want to use your home office for, but some common ones might include:

Printing station
Mail station
Writing station
Crafting station
Supplies station

Even with a small space, you can make multiple stations by separating them using the tools in the next step.

2. Vertically organize

Whether you’re creating stations or organizing established ones, you can save space by vertically organizing them. We usually think about setting up the rooms in our homes horizontally, and rarely do we make good use of them vertically.

Using wire baskets, wall-mounted filing bins, stacking drawers, or even a good trusty filing cabinet, you can create space that otherwise would have gone underused.

Take this a step further and colour code each station and bin for maximum efficiency. Use colour coding labels and sticky notes to make it super clear what each station is for and keep your system tidy.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Red – bills and finances
Orange – appointments
Yellow – family and pet items
Green – business tasks
Blue – auto and home
Purple – manuals, warranties

In addition to colour-coded stations, don’t forget your recycling bin! You can easily set a beautiful recycling or supply station set up using these Neatfreak bins.

Whichever stations you decide on, be sure to label them so everyone in the family knows which area is for what. This will help keep things tidy well into the future.

3. Only keep essential items that provide real value

For many, decluttering is the hard part. And for most, the hardest part is starting. So, just start somewhere. We suggest grabbing two boxes — one for items to keep, and one for recyclables. You’ll be surprised to discover how many things you can recycle, rather than just throw away.

Then, set aside half a day to sort items into the boxes. If you haven’t used it in six months, recycle it!

For the items you do keep, you can then organize them further and by placing them in the categorized bins or drawers you created in step two.

Categories might include:

Stickies – post-its, labels, stickers, label tape,
“Attachment” tools – paper clips, staples, binder clips, thumbtacks, magnets
Writing tools – pens, pencils, markers, highlighters
Mail – stamps, envelopes, address labels
Office tools – hole punch, ruler, calculator, label maker

Again, make sure you label them so everyone in the family knows which container is for what. This will help keep things tidy and efficient well into the future.

4. Create a command centre or system for organizing notes, bills, business cards, or other small papers

Some of the trickiest things to keep organized in your home office are all the notes, bills, business cards, or other small papers. This can easily be transformed from piles of random papers to successful filing system with the use of a cork board, magnetic dry-erase white board, or clipboards.

Using your colour coding system from before, section the board into quarters or thirds, and tack items together based on their assigned colours. Not only will they be grouped together, but you’ll easily be able to review what needs attention at just a glance. Easy peasy!

To take this a step further and keep the whole family organized — especially if everyone has their own busy schedules and obligations — use individual boards for each family member! Remember to use your trusty label maker to label each one.

5. Make it pretty

Even if your home office is basically a glorified storage closet without windows, you can still make it into a space you want to be in.

Here are a few ideas:

Add a plant. Even a fake one. NASA has proven houseplants provide many benefits, including purifying the air, improving mental health, concentration, memory, and productivity.
Place a couple of inspiring books on a shelf where you can see them. During a long day you may hit a rut in productivity. To keep the motivation momentum going, grab one and read a few lines. You never know what inspiration may be discovered.
Hang your favourite artwork. Just like with organization, you can beautify vertically by using wall space to hang a photo or painting of something you really love.
Hide cords or bind them with zapstraps or elastic bands.
Paint one of the walls! Blue is often thought to relax the mind, while yellow invigorates it, and pink makes us happy. Either way, pick one wall, a colour you love, and have fun with it!

Efficiency is important for success, but so is loving the space you’re in. If you find your home office feels too cold or is uncomfortable to be in, you won’t use it. So make sure whatever you do to get it organized, be sure to give it your own style.

If you need help or supplies to organize your home office for success, we can help! Stop by your local London Drugs and pick up your essentials — we’d love to see you!

Upcycle This: 5 Cools Crafts to Do on a Cold Day

Upcycler and crafter extraordinaire Denise Corcoran (Thrifty By Design) has a passion for turning ‘junk’ into new and funky pieces. From refinishing furniture to repurposing discarded items like wine corks into jewellery, she believes there is no limit to what a bit of time and know-how can create and save from the landfill. Here Denise shares 5 of her favourite upcycled crafts.

Do you ever look in your recycle bin and think you could make crafty magic happen with your recyclables? I do. All the time!

So many items you find in your recycle bin can be repurposed into fun rainy day projects. From mason jars (which you can find at London Drugs!) to cereal boxes to tin cans… there are simple DIYs that turn used objects into treasure. And the bonus for all of us is that you help keep these objects out of the landfill. Here are a few easy upcycled crafts to get you started!

1. Mason Jar Lanterns

Mason jars are super trendy when it comes to upcycling. One easy project is to refashion the mason jar into a lantern. By decoupaging tissue paper on the outside then adding a tea light in the mason jar, you’ve crafted an easy lantern. You can even step it up a notch by taking a Sharpie and adding a face or design to the decoupage.

Step 1: Grab some mason jars of various sizes and ensure they are clean.

Step 2: Tear up pieces of tissue paper. Either use one colour or try mixing it up with various colours.

Step 3: Add a coat of Mod Podge or liquid white glue to the mason jar.

Step 4: Add pieces of tissue paper to the glued area. Then coat the tissue paper with more Mod Podge to smooth out the paper and seal it.

Step 5: Continue step 3 and 4 until the mason jar is completely covered with tissue paper. Allow to dry.

Step 6: Insert a regular or LED tea light into the mason jar to create a lantern.

2. Cereal Box Organizers

One of my favourite go-to items from my recycle bin is cereal boxes. They’re perfect for DIY stationery, art, gift boxes, or gift tags. They’re also perfect for your office to organize your papers, magazines, or mail. It doesn’t take much to turn an empty box into a swanky organizer for your kitchen or office.

Step 1: You can use any size of cereal box to create your DIY office organizer.

Step 2: Measure and mark where you want to trim the cereal box.

Step 3: Use scissors or an X-acto knife to trim the box.

Step 4: Cover the cereal box in old wrapping paper using a glue stick or Mod Podge.

Step 5 (optional): Jazz up your organizer with ribbon or funky tape trim to add a bit more pizzazz.

Step 6: Upcycle more boxes to create a set of organizers.

3. Wine Cork Stamps

There are some super fun DIYs out there when it comes to upcycling wine corks. You can turn wine corks into a boat, fridge magnets, or even repurpose them into jewelry. So many possibilities! On a cold day why not stay in, make wine cork stamps, then use them to decorate handwritten notes or to create your own stationery. Just be careful when creating your stamps since you’ll need an X-Acto knife.

Step 1: Find wine corks with dense cork to use for your stamps. With a pen, outline your stamp design. Also add a line about a 1/4 inch along the wine cork.

Step 2: Cut your design out using an X-Acto knife. Cut into your design and then into the line along the side of the wine cork. This will remove the cork to create your stamp.

Step 3: Keep cutting until you’ve fully exposed your design.

Step 4: Start stamping! You can use an ink pad or acrylic paint to create your design for DIY cards, gift tags, etc.

4. Tin Can Shaker

Depending on the size of the tin cans you have on hand, you can refashion them into a pencil holder, a planter, or maybe even a cute robot. I love turning a boring tin can into a musical instrument. All you need is rice and beans for the inside of the can, and a balloon and duct tape for the top. It’s that easy to take your junk and make some funk. One of my top go-to craft materials is duct tape. You can get patterned duct tape that is an easy way to jazz up your shaker.

Step 1: Grab a tin can from your recycle bin. You can use any size for your DIY shaker.

Step 2: Fill it with rice, dried beans, or anything else that will be good for making music. You don’t need much — maybe 3-4 tablespoons.

Step 3: Cut the opening of your balloon. You want to remove this since you’ll be stretching the balloon over the opening of the tin can.

Step 4: Stretch the balloon over the opening of the tin can. Ensure it’s tight and that the balloon stretches down the tin can.

Step 5: Cover the tin can with funky duct tape. This ensures the balloon stays in place plus adds some funk to your shaker. Feel free to add other embellishments.

5. CD Mosaic Frame

You can take an old CD and make gold with it. CDs can be cute animals, coasters, or even art. You can even upcycle the CD case into a frame for your art! A cool but messy DIY would be to cut up old CDs and create a mosaic. You can dress up an old frame or table using repurposed CDs, adhesive, and craft paint. I use white craft paint to mimic grout around the pieces of CD.

Step 1: Take an old frame or score one from a thrift store that has a flat surface.

Step 2: Gather your supplies — a pair of scissors, old CDs, and some adhesive.

Step 3: Cut up your old CDs. This can be a bit messy so be prepared. Cut the CDs into a variety of sizes.

Step 4: Add glue to the surface of the frame then add your pieces of CD.

Step 5: Keep adding pieces until the frame is covered.

Step 6: Cover the frame with white acrylic paint. Allow to dry. Rub or scratch the CD pieces to remove the white paint. Then you’re done.

Based in North Vancouver, B.C., Denise Corcoran is the author is Raw Crafts: 40 Projects from Hemp, Jute, Burlap and Cork. Sharing her enthusiasm for crafting and upcycling, Denise facilitates ‘Crafternoons’ throughout Vancouver where participants of all ages and skill levels learn how to make things from unorthodox materials. She was a featured panelist at the Craft Council of BC talk called ‘Craft, The Environment & Our Community’. She was also the inaugural BC Champion for the fourth annual Culture Days, a national, nonprofit 3-day event promoting culture throughout Canada. Denise is also a Creative Expert for the Salvation Army Thrift Store, sharing thrifting tips and simple upcycling DIYs.

5 Ways to Feel Like You’re Having a Real Break This Spring Break

Spring may have arrived yesterday, but spring break has been in full swing all month.

The idea behind spring break is to have fun and chill out. The logistics, however, are often more complex than that. Just because the calendar says it’s a break, doesn’t mean you actually get one.

So, we’ve curated 5 ideas to help you feel like you’re having a real break this spring break, regardless of whether you get one afternoon off, or a full week. After all, you deserve it.

1. Carve out time to do nothing. Even if nothing is something

When someone asks us “how are you?” our first response is often “oh, I’m so busy!” We often pride ourselves on how packed our schedules are, but that business can take a real toll on our mental and physical health. To feel like you’re having a real break this spring break, stop being busy! Carve time out that is just for you.

This can look like a lot of things, depending on what you need most. Book a spa day and let someone else pamper you. Pick up that book you’ve been meaning to read and cozy into the couch for as long as it takes to finish it. Hop on your bike and explore the local trails. If you’re more of a Netflix kind of person, allow yourself a full day or two to binge your favourite shows — guilt-free! Or, simply sleep-in or nap until your heart’s content.

Giving yourself space to do nothing at all — or something you really enjoy — helps you refill your cup and recharge, and be truly present for those around you. So, you do you; treat yourself!

2. Visit with a good friend or family member you haven’t seen in a while

How many times have you checked your phone, texting back and forth with someone, only to realize it’s been weeks — or months — since you last saw that person? With so many obligations it’s easy to let time slip away. It happens to the best of us. To feel like you’re having a real break this spring break, visit with a good friend or family member you haven’t seen in a while and really catch up!

While texting and social platforms like Facebook and Instagram are great for viewing the highlights of someone’s life, they are not quality time spent with a loved one. Face-to-face contact is important to maintain relationships and battle social isolation. The energy exchange, physical contact, and real life support of someone you love can’t be replicated through a screen.

Pro tip: instead of simply saying “let’s meet up,” actually schedule a date and time — and then show up!

3. Move your body

We’ve heard it before and all know the importance of exercise in maintaining a healthy body and balanced mind. But it’s still difficult to fit fitness into our daily routines. Long work days, family demands, and social appointments often take precedence over physical activity. Sadly, taking care of everything — and everyone — else often holds priority. To feel like you’re having a real break this spring break, move your body!

While doing nothing at all can feel really good, doing something active can feel even better, and tracking it helps you reach your goals. As something that often gets shelved thanks to other obligations, giving yourself permission to exercise is a good way to take a break and take care of you.

Whatever your thing is — yoga, biking, hiking, running, brisk walking, or even dancing — do it! Get the gear you need to get those muscles moving and get that blood pumping. Your brain and body will feel recharged and rejuvenated.

4. Adventure somewhere close to home (or abroad)

As the days get longer, the opportunity to adventure after work or on weekends grows. It’s light well until 7 pm now and that means new opportunities to explore. The regular routine can begin to feel monotonous or tiring, and that’s okay. We all need a little change, now and then — it’s in our nature. To feel like you’re having a real break this spring break, get out of your daily routine and adventure somewhere close to home (or abroad!)

Not everyone gets a lot of time off over spring break, but that doesn’t mean you can’t indulge in a little wanderlust. If you’re staying close to home, there are lots of places you can create great memories right in your own backyard. If you’re travelling abroad, pack light for ease of movement and less stress, and make sure your passport photos are up to date. Either way, taking part in an activity you haven’t done before or embarking on a trip to a place you’ve never visited expands your heart, mind, and restarts the soul.

Whether you’re adventuring close to home or abroad, keep an open mind, make sure your travel emergency kit is packed, and you fill your cup with brave new stories!

5. Unplug

Along with “taxes and death,” social media is perhaps another certain thing in this life. Benjamin Franklin didn’t see that one coming, but it really is unavoidable. Facebook alone has 2.27 billion monthly active users and many social networks like Instagram, You Tube, and Pinterest are growing every day. Social media is great for getting the latest updates from friends and family or to pass the time when you’re bored, but all that screen time often leaves us feeling like we’re scrambling to keep up. To feel like you’re getting a real break this spring break, unplug.

You do not have to keep up. You do not have to compare yourself to others. You do not have to plug-in. There — we gave you permission. So turn off the notifications, put the phone down, and go do any of the four points above! You have a right to live life in real time, rather than online time. That’s what having a break is all about.

And hey — if it feels good, maybe consider trying a social media diet. You never know how much time you might be able to open up once spring break is over, and ride that break-like-feeling well into summer.

If you need help or supplies for your #RealSpringBreak this spring break, we can help! Whether it’s snacks for the road, travel insurance, or a few self-pampering supplies, we got you. Stop by your local London Drugs and pick up your essentials — we’d love to see you!

Beautiful Canada: 9 Beautiful Interiors

There are few places better in the world than home. It’s where we unwind, where we sleep, where we eat, and laugh, and watch all the Netflix. Home is where the heart is.

While we love the great outdoors of our beautiful Canada, it’s what’s on the inside that really counts.

So, we’ve curated 9 beautiful interiors to inspire your home decor and level up your #HouseGoals.

Are you loving the space you call home? Follow us on Instagram and share your home inspo photos using the hashtag #LondonDrugs!

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oh hay monday – just letting you know I'm not really feeling you today and would like the weekend back. #interiorinspo #howyouhome #finditstyleit #mydomaine #pocketofmyhome #currentdesignsituation #theeverygirlathome #showemyourstyled #currenthomeview #kubacloth #thriftscorethursday #howwedwell #structubecontest @structube
A post shared by Jo Wearing (@jmwearing) on Aug 21, 2017 at 6:48am PDT

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There was some nice light hitting on this day. Fab kitchen design by @joseelalondedesign. . . . #photography #photoshoot #interiordesign #interiorphotography #architecturephotography #architecturalphotography #photoshoot #interiorstyling #style #yyj #picoftheday #photoofday #photographer #interior_and_living #interior4you1 #interior4inspo #kitchendesign #kitcheninspo #yyjdesigner #yyjdesign
A post shared by Jody Beck Photography (@jodybeckphotography) on May 8, 2018 at 10:46pm PDT

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A post shared by Tracey Ayton Photography (@tracey_ayton)

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We love the unique entry area at our #MDkitshouse project that is kid-friendly & has ample storage and natural light. Photo: @ishot.ca
A post shared by Moor Design▪️Sarah Desaulniers (@moordesign) on Aug 19, 2018 at 8:30pm PDT

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A post shared by LeAnne Bunnell Interior Design (@leannebunnell)

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A post shared by Jane | Jane at Home (@jane_athome)

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A post shared by Vanessa Voth (@vanessavothphotography)

Share your Beautiful Canada + home inspiration and tag us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest or YouTube !

Real Expert Interview: Pack Like a Pro with Travel Expert Claire Newell

If you’ve ever struggled with packing for a getaway, raise your hand. Yup – we’re with you.

Whether you’re packing for a weekend getaway or a month-long adventure, deciding what to take and what to leave behind can be a challenge. You want to be prepared, but you want to avoid the burden of a heavy suitcase, never mind getting caught at the airport with extra luggage fees or looking like you just crawled out of the suitcase itself during your trip because all your clothes are a wrinkled mess.

We asked Claire Newell, a North American travel expert with over 26 years’ experience and 65+ countries under her money belt, for her advice on packing like a pro. Her expert tips will get you packed up in no time!

1. How do you decide what to pack and what not to pack?

I have three main criteria:

The first thing I look at is the weather at the destination I am visiting.
The next thing I look at is the reason I am travelling – business or pleasure – which determines the type of items I include.
And lastly, I look at my itinerary to see what activities I am doing each day.

Beyond that, most of my travel clothes are neutral mix-and-match pieces that I can wear multiple times with jewellery or accessories that are small and easy to pack. I wear a super comfy travelling outfit on the flight there and back, typically with runners, which I like to have for walking around and exploring a destination. And I never forget to have some warmer pieces for layering in case it gets chilly, even when going to a beach destination.

2. What are 3 things you can’t – or won’t – travel without?

That’s easy.

My black pashmina scarf
My Pacsafe theft-proof cross-body bag
My carry-on luggage

3. How do you best pack liquids, which can be a challenge for both checked and carry-on luggage?

I only travel with carry-on luggage so I have to follow the ‘3-1-1 rule.” Basically that means 1 x 1-litre clear zip-top bag, with containers no larger than 100ml. This can be tough with all of the products I like to use for my face and hair, so I put all of my favourite products into small (some of which are really tiny!) re-fillable containers that I have bought over the years.

4. What about items people tend to pack but don’t need? What are 1-3 things people should NOT travel with?

More than one pair of jeans.
Too many pairs of shoes.
If they are staying in a hotel, hair dryers.

5. Do you have any tips on how to ease the process of going through security at the airport?

Keep things organized in a carry-on bag with lots of compartments. If you don’t have compartments, use Ziplock bags to create your own compartments to organize your travel documents, liquids, prescriptions, and electronics.

Shoes that easily slip on and off are a must. Some airports make you take them off and others don’t, but it’s best to be prepared!

If you travel more than a couple of times a year, I really recommend getting a Nexus card. It’s $50 for 5 years and worth it.

6. For folks looking to skip the baggage carousel with just a carry-on, what advice or hacks do you have about travelling light?

There are so many. Here are a few key suggestions:

Make a packing list!
Plan your outfits ahead of time so that you pack as efficiently as possible.
Pack versatile items that can go from day to night with a few accessory changes. Don’t forget that you likely won’t use that item you “might” need. And if you end up needing something desperately, you can likely buy it at your destination.
Laundry soap sheets are always a good idea for washing items in your hotel room sink. You can also buy sheets of soap, shampoo, conditioner, shaving cream, etc. — think Listerine breath strips. There’s lots of options for these things when you’re on the go!

7. What are a few unconventional, surprising, or quirky suggestions you have to pack like a pro?

I swear by packing items on metal hangers, covering them with a dry cleaning bag, and rolling into my bag. When I arrive I simply unroll it and hang in the closet without needing to iron anything.

Make sure heavy items are packed closest to the wheels so they don’t shift and mess everything up when you put your bag upright.

Don’t forget to use all the space in your suitcase! Fill your shoes with loose items like underwear and socks.

Claire Newell is the official Travel Expert for Global News and CKNW radio, and the bestselling author of Travel Best Bets: An Insider’s Guide to Taking Your Best Trip Ever. She has appeared multiple times on NBC’s TODAY Show, Fox News, and CNN, and has been published in Success, Professional Woman, Reader’s Digest, and Today’s Parent. When she’s not busy trotting the globe, you can find Claire out boating, tucked away with a good book, or spending time with family, friends, and of course, her eight-pound Chihuahua, Joe.

You can find out more about Claire on her website ClaireNewell.com, as well as on Facebook and Instagram. Or, discover more of her great travel tips on TravelBestBets.com, TravelBestBets Facebook page, or TravelBestBets Instagram. For additional tips on how to pack like a pro, or for travel insurance, drop by your local London Drugs and talk to any of our in-store experts.

Spring Photography Tips

Spring officially rings in on March 20^th, but for photography lovers like yourself, we know you just can’t wait till then to head out and capture some beautiful shots of blooming cherry blossoms and chirping birds! With such a wide variety of colors, landscapes and subjects to play with, our LDExperts in the Photolab thought they’d put together a few tips to help you navigate and get the best out of your spring photography. Whether its macro photography or capturing beautiful lush landscapes, here are some things to keep in mind while you’re snapping away.

Using flowers for foreground interest in landscape photography

Wide-angle landscape shots tend to look better with some foreground interest and spring blooms provide a variety of choice to fill the frame. While capturing the shot, it is important to keep everything in the frame sharp, hence a small aperture such as f/11 or f/16 with the focus set about a third of the way into the scene would be the ideal setting.

Visit parks, gardens & spring festivals

Looking to experiment with zoom lenses while capturing blossoms? Visit one of the many parks and gardens across Canada or look for a spring festival near you. From blossoms and early flowers to trees coming into leaf, parks and gardens offer a wide variety in one setting. A good line of sight is also crucial for showing depth, so look for pathways, stone steps or boardwalks to help capture the perfect shot. The versatility of zoom lenses works great in smaller gardens with confined spaces where movement is restricted.

Picking the right angle

When shooting tiny spring flowers, sometimes unusual angles make for some great photographs. Take a few shots, try different angles and camera settings. You want to fill your frame with your floral subjects, and the best way to do that is to get down to their level and up close. As an added bonus, getting up close will also give you that beautiful bokeh (“blurring”) effect in the background. Pro-tip: carry along something to lay on the ground to stay clean and dry, like a large garbage bag that can be folded up and kept in your bag or coat pocket.

Using multiple colours in a shot

In spring there’s plenty of options for colourful shots, so why stick to photographing just one colour? Keep an eye out for blocks of color that work well together or colors that clash and would have high impact.

Get closer and pick one subject

While photographing close-up shots of flowers, a common mistake made is trying to put too much into one image. Take a shot and review it carefully. Check the edges for anything that is distracting or not necessary and move in closer to crop it out of your shot. The subject needs to jump out at you, so make sure there isn’t anything taking attention away from your subject.

Picking the right gear for wildlife photos

Spring is the perfect time to capture some great wildlife shots as well. If you’re looking to up your photography game while capturing wildlife, then a telephoto lens might be just what you’re looking for. The length of the lens depends on the size of your subject and how close you’re able to get to it. Small, flighty birds and animals that are shy require a long lens. The key is to find something that’s big enough to get good resolution, but not so large that it’s hard to hike with.

Capturing spring portraits

Snapping portraits this spring? Try a background with blooming spring flowers to create a pretty, out-of-focus background (the bokeh effect) behind your subject. A focal length of 50mm (try these 50mm lenses) with a large aperture of f/1.8 and a shutter speed of 1/640s as used in the image below would give that nice blurry ‘bokeh’ effect behind the subject in their portrait. You can also keep some of the blooms at the same distance from the camera as the subject, so a few of the branches are in focus to frame your subject.

Backlit flowers on a sunny day

If you’re looking to shoot flowers on bright sunny days, you can get some great backlit flower shots. Depending on the time of the day, this would require you to get down very low to the ground. Using a small aperture like f/16 or f/2 creates a great sunburst effect if you’re shooting the sun directly in the background of the flowers. Controlling exposure is also important; your meter will want to underexpose as you’re shooting into very bright light, so use your exposure compensation dial and dial up an extra 1 to 1.5 stops of light, especially if you’re shooting JPEG and not RAW. For close up photos of individual flowers you can use a 200mm lens with a relatively large aperture of f/4 so that you get that nice shallow depth of field (or “blurry” background).

Choosing the right print surface

Once you’ve captured some beautiful shots, the next step is choosing the right print to display them. For macro shots of spring blossoms, we recommend prints or enlargements with a sharp black border frame that highlights the colourful subject.

Textured canvas prints, canvas gallery wraps or bamboo prints offer the best results for landscape photography, while aluminum metal panels are perfect for photos with vibrant colours that pop. If you need help selecting the ideal printing option, you can talk to one of our LDExperts in-store and then order through our Photolab kiosks. Or, you can simply order online, or through our London Drugs Photolab App available for iOS and Android!

We’d love to see your best spring photos – tag them on Instagram with the hashtag #LDPhotolab to be featured on our page!

Best Locations Across Canada for Spring Photography

Spring time is finally just around the corner, and with it comes spectacular views of blooming flowers and lush colorful landscapes – it’s truly a photographer’s paradise! To help you capture spring in all its glory, our LDExperts in the Photolab are here to share some of the most picturesque spots across Canada to snap colourful tulips, cherry blossoms, wildflowers and more! Depending on where you’re located, you’ll be able to find spring photo ops from February all the way through until June.

Need a few pointers before you start shooting? Don’t forget to check out our Spring Photography Tips blog here for expert advice on capturing the beauty of spring blooms. Once you’ve got some favourite floral shots, you’ll want to check out what print options our LDExperts recommend at the end of this post!

Abbotsford Tulip Festival (April)

@sabbiechoi

The Abbotsford Tulip Festival takes place in beautiful Abbotsford BC, where the Warmerdam Family has been farming tulips for 4 generations. With thousands of tulips spread over a 10-acre area, the Tulip Festival is a great spot to go for a stroll to photograph the millions of stunning tulips – provided you don’t go before they really start to bloom. Early in the season, the tulips are in low bloom, with most of the flowers still in the green-bud stage. It’s best to be patient and go during high bloom later in the season, when the majority of tulips have bloomed and the fields are full of colour!

Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival (April)

@rootbeer_popsicle_

The Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival has something for everybody. From ‘The Big Picnic‘ where you can enjoy the blossoms at Queen Elizabeth Park to Sakura Days Japan Fair where you can explore Japanese cultural arts. With over 2,500 different locations to explore around the city and about 50 different types of cherry trees coming into bloom, Metro Vancouver offers plenty of beautiful photography opportunities!

Niagara Parks Floral Showhouse / Butterfly Conservatory (Feb-April)

@debrabollmanphotography

Just a short walk south from Niagara Falls and Table Rock Centre, the Niagara Parks Floral Showhouse has a wide collection of orchids, succulents, and other tropical plants on display throughout the year, along with floral shows that reflect the changing seasons. It’s a great spot to capture all kinds of nature photography under one roof this spring!

The Art of Nature Series that is currently underway until Apr 28, 2019 features specialty programming throughout Niagara Parks. It also features a travelling exhibit at the Butterfly Conservatory displaying winning photographs from the Canadian Wildlife Photography of the Year contest. A great place to check out the work of some inspiring Canadian photographers.

Canadian Tulip Festival (May)

@nicholasplacephoto

With over 1,000,000 tulips in bloom, 1000+ artists performing and 100+ activities and attractions, the Canadian Tulip Festival in Ottawa is a photographer’s delight! From tulip bouquet displays, to tulip bicycle tours, tulip art exhibitions, tulip markets and even workshops on the art of photographing flowers using creative composition, there’s something for everyone at the Canadian Tulip Festival.

Sakura Watch in High Park (May)

@emilyborhi

Sakura cherry blossoms turn High Park, Toronto into a beautiful pink visual treat! In 1959 the Japanese Ambassador gifted 2,000 Sakura trees to the city of Toronto and thus began the yearly tradition of viewing the cherry blossoms. While there is no fixed date for the blooms, it is usually estimated to arrive around mid-May. If you’re looking to skip the crowds while capturing the spring blooms, you can also visit the weeping cherry blossoms at Kariya Park in Mississauga.

Waterton Wildflower Festival (June)

@gatheringdustphotography

Step into wildflower wonderland in the wildflower capital of Canada. Waterton Lakes National Park is home to more than 1,000 vascular plant species including half of all wildflower species found in Alberta. From beargrass to orchids, pink meadowsweet, and glacier lilies, you’ll get a crash course on the different species of wildflower. You can even view wildflowers from horseback and indulge in an afternoon tea with local experts. They also provide workshops on wildflower photography if you’re interested in honing your skills!

Once you’ve snapped the perfect shot, there are so many great ways to showcase it in print. Our London Drugs Photolab App offers the best convenience and is available for iOS and Android, or you can simply order online. While traditional glossy prints will bring out the vibrant colors of your photos, our pearl prints will give your photos a quality feel and smooth, professional look. Black border prints work great on close up photos of blooms, as they’ll really make the colour pop. If you’re looking to experiment with unique fine art printing options, there are bamboo, canvas and metallic paper prints to choose from. Aluminum metal panels work best with vibrant images, making them a great choice for displaying your most colourful spring photos. If you’re unsure about what prints would work best for your photograph, just visit your nearest London Drugs store and speak to one of our LDExperts!