DIY flower arrangements need not be intimidating. They are so easy and affordable to make. Using a basic set of tools and a few guidelines, you’ll be adding bouquets all over your home. What an easy way to refresh your home this summer!
I’m thrilled about the summer season approaching so fast. There are so many flowers I am dying to get my hands on for creating DIY flower arrangements. They’re the perfect way to spruce up a home without going overboard.
I love that flowers are natural, elegant, and an effortless way to make nearly anything more lively.
Hosting a dinner party? Better make a bouquet.
Redecorating and wanting to add more color to a bland room? Add a bouquet of flowers.
Having a photoshoot in your home? Add a DIY flower arrangement.
I swear flowers solve half of my home issues. Plus, they make excellent gifts. Not just for holidays, but also for housewarming or hostess gifts.
I’m no florist by any means. But I have created quite a few flower arrangements in my day, and I’m more than happy to share all my secrets with you to get you started on making your own.
You just can’t go wrong with a DIY floral arrangement. Here’s how to do it the affordable way.
Tips for DIY Flower Arrangements
If you opt for more varieties of flowers in your bouquets be sure to vary the sizes, shapes, and colors for an elegant, well-coordinated bouquet.
Use color palettes you find online to put together stunning floral designs. This is great if you lack confidence in creating your own color scheme. A DIY flower arrangement looks perfectly curated when colors blend well and complement one another. You don’t always need a strong contrast for them to have a dramatic impact.
Know your budget. Stick to it without compromising, as flowers can be expensive if you aren’t careful. If you have a shoestring budget, don’t go buying flowers from the local florist or from the farmer’s market. Those can get so pricey. Trader Joe’s has stunning flowers for very cheap. Better yet, learn to grow your own from bulbs or seeds in your backyard. You’ll always have fresh flowers.
Remember, wildflowers are amazing. You don’t need the most expensive flowers to pack a punch. Sunflowers, black-eyed susans, snapdragons, sweet peas, cosmos, marigolds, and more are all wonderful flowers to bring inside. In winter, you can even forage pine cones and wintergreens for simple bouquets, too.
Don’t be afraid to use lesser known, less dramatic flowers, too. Sometimes you just want a hint of flowers on a table anyway. Even fillers in a jar/vase can be enough for a small table. I’ve even repurposed amber kombucha bottles for this very reason. Just remove the label before using.
To keep flowers alive longer, do the following:
- Add about ¼ cup of lemon-lime soda to the water as you fill the vase they’ll sit in.
- Change the water out every 2-3 days.
- Trim extra leaves toward the bottom of the stems because they’ll only crowd the vase, which can create the perfect environment for mold and bacteria. Be sure to remove any leaves that will fall below the water line.
- Trim 1-2 inches off the ends of the stems, at a diagonal, before placing in water.
- Finally, place bouquets in the fridge before bed each night until you bring them back out the next morning. Cool temperatures help preserve the flowers for much longer. It is said that it helps prevent aging, allowing flowers to thrive well past 10 days.
Supplies
Primary and secondary flowers, 1-3 varieties
Filler flowers and greenery, 1-2 varieties
Fresh or dry herbs, optional
Vase or glass jar
What’s the difference between primary, secondary, and filler flowers?
Primary flowers are the main characters in a DIY flower arrangement. These focal flowers stand out due to size, exotic shape, or robust color. They are what a person first sees when they glance at a bouquet because they stand out in some distinct way.
Secondary flowers are still a critical part to a floral arrangement. They are more than just fillers and may still be as beautiful as focal flowers, but on a smaller scale. There may be less of them or they may just be a less prominent flower in the bouquet. They complement the focal flower(s).
Filler flowers are used to fill in any gaps or spaces in bouquets, bringing the entire look together. These can be flowers or other types of foliage.
Flower arrangement combination ideas
Spring/Summer
Hydrangeas and lavender
Peonies, honeysuckle, and eucalyptus
Sunflowers, daisies, and ferns
Fall/Winter
Mums of 2-3 different colors
Christmas roses, olive branches, and dried eucalyptus
Fresh wintergreens with holly berries and pine cones
Best Fillers – Flowers and more
Baby’s breath
Ornamental cabbage and kale
Eucalyptus varieties
Pampas grass
Curly willow
Pine cones
Queen Anne’s lace
Jasmine
How to Build a Bouquet – DIY Flower Arrangements
Pick a style
First, decide what kind of impact you’re wanting to create with your DIY flower arrangement. Are you going for drama or something more subtle? Do you want bold colors that pop or natural neutrals that blend in perfectly? Will there be added height and lots of detail or do you want something simple and sweet? Think about this before you begin, so you know what flowers to choose (and how many to purchase).
Choose a vessel
You’ll select a vase or jar that can hold all the flowers you want in your bouquet. This will depend on how large of a bouquet you want to create.
If you choose something larger, like a tall pitcher, be sure you have enough flowers to fill it out. Make sure your flowers are long stemmed, so they don’t get lost inside it.
Select the primary and secondary flowers
These are the focal points. They are usually the larger flowers, but not always. They could add a hint of color or just have a really striking, unique shape to them. Whatever they are, they’ll stand out.
Be sure to trim extra foliage from the bottom of the stems and to trim the stems themselves before adding to their vase.
Don’t forget fillers
Select your fillers. Don’t skimp on these if you want to add drama and extravagance to your bouquet. Fillers aren’t always necessary, but they certainly can make an impact. Be mindful that they complement or enhance the focal flowers in some way. Sometimes, I like to pick a filler (such as lavender) to add some subtle height throughout a bouquet.
Again, be sure to trim extra foliage from the bottom of the stems and to trim the stems themselves before adding to the vase. If you’re using fillers to add height, be sure to keep them longer in comparison to the focal flowers.
Arrange and rearrange
After adding water, begin adding flowers to the vase or jar. Gather the focal flowers and place them in the center for now. Start with the primary and then add in the secondary flowers. Finally, start adding in fillers. You can add a little in the center of your focal flowers if you want. Or you can stick to adding them more toward the outside. Basically, you are just filling in gaps between all the focal flowers. Sprinkle them in here and there, without overdoing it. Sometimes less is more.
Arrange it once and then rearrange it again if you have to. It takes practice to make it just right sometimes. But also, don’t overthink it. No one is going to be very critical over a beautiful vase of flowers, they’ll just be pleasantly surprised by your DIY flower arrangement in the first place.
A final note on DIY flower arrangements…
Sometimes the less money I have, the more creative I get. It’s amazing what one can come up with when resources are limited. Whatever your budget, get creative and have fun.
Sometimes, I still want just a small bundle of a simple flower in a vase… and sometimes even a couple of flowers or dried branches in an old jar will do. Fancy can be overrated.
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