How To Style Fresh Flowers Like A Pro (Plus My Free Ultimate Floral Styling Guide)
Fresh flowers bring life, beauty, and a sense of warmth into any space, but styling them can sometimes feel intimidating or expensive.
The good news? You don’t need to be a professional florist or spend a fortune to create stunning floral arrangements at home! In this guide, I’ll share expert tips on how to style fresh flowers effortlessly, make them last longer, and capture them beautifully for Instagram-worthy moments.
Plus, I’ve included my free, 7 page Ultimate Floral Styling Guide to help you create show stopping arrangements with confidence!
So, whether you want to adorn your coffee table with fresh flowers or are hosting a dinner party, put these tips to use and transform your life and home with blooms!
1. Five Simple Floral Arrangements for Any Home Style
Whether your aesthetic is modern, romantic, rustic, minimalist, or seasonal, there’s a floral arrangement for you. Here are five easy-to-recreate looks:
Monochrome Luxe
Opt for a monochromatic bouquet in a sculptural vase for a sleek, high-end look. I love a fluffy vase of cosmos that dance in the breeze in an earthen vase that compliments their texture. Rough stone and frilly petals, I love the combination here. By using one type of bloom, the feeling is sophisticated and high end.
Monochrome Luxe - Single variety cosmos in a sculptural vase
Monochrome Luxe - Black/Deep Purple Calla Lilies create a more modern spin on a single variety
Romantic Charm
Soft, pastel blooms like peonies, ranunculus and garden roses with trailing greenery create a dreamy, vintage feel. Think English Cottage garden in a vase. I never like a structured bouquet and am always inspired by the natural way that blooms fall and vines intertwine in nature. You’ll find that my floral designs are reminiscent of this too.
Romantic Charm - Hellebore, Tulips, Eucalyptus, Snowberries, Hypericum Berries, Blackberries, Pussy Willow
Romantic Charm - Eucalyptus, Italian Ruscus, Hops and Ranunculus
Romantic Charm - Peonies, Roses, Delphinium/Larkspur, Dahlias, Lavender and Bunny Tail
Romantic Charm: Dinner Plate Dahlia font and center is adorned with Eucalyptus, Yarrow, Dahlias, Nigella Pods, Waxflower, Bachelors Buttons, Zinnias and Bunny Tail.
Rustic Beauty
Wildflowers, sunflowers, and mason jar vases bring a farmhouse-inspired touch to any space. Contrary to what you may envision with the word “rustic” I like a fresh spin on the yellow sunflower and bright red wildflowers on a burlap runner idea.
There is a beautiful simplicity in picking wildflowers and plunking them into a mason jar of cool water on a hot summer day. I love their spindly nature and the way they dance in the breeze.
Rustic Beauty - Black Eyed Susans, Zinnias, Cosmos, Echinacea plucked straight from my garden. Most of these grew as volunteers from past years - the true definition of wildflowers.
Rustic Beauty - It doesn’t get much more joyful than an armload of strawflower! I love how unique strawflower are and the fact that they look just as pretty dried as they do fresh!
Rustic Beauty - Sunflower, Cosmos, Zinnia, Scabiosa
Minimalist Chic
A single stem of a statement flower in a simple vase adds effortless sophistication. I love to find blooms that stand out on their own and can be just as impactful as a full arrangement.
Minimalist Chic - Hellebore. My favorite flower.
Seasonal Delight
Use what’s in bloom! Tulips, Daffodils, Lilac, Cherry Blossom in spring. Dahlias, Roses, Zinnias, Cosmos in summer. Chrysanthemums and color changing foliage in fall. Dried floral in winter create instant seasonal magic.
Seasonal Delight - Spring Focus (Lilac, Ranunculus, Chamomile)
Seasonal Delight - Summer Focus (Dahlias from my incredible Dahlia Gardener friend Chelsey!)
Seasonal Delight - Fall Focus (Wreath with freshly foraged greenery that will dry just as pretty as it is here.)
Seasonal Delight - Winter Focus (I love incorporating dried floral in winter arrangements with softer tones, deeper hues, and lots of texture. Some favorites for dried are ferns, seed pods, wild dried grasses, dried hops, dried/bleached Italian Ruscus, Lunaria and anything that you can forage off the side of the road in the winter!)
2. Pro Styling Tricks for Longer-Lasting Blooms
Make your fresh flowers last longer with these florist-approved tips:
Trim Stems at an Angle: This increases water absorption and prevents the stems from sitting flat at the bottom of the vase.
Remove Extra Leaves: Foliage sitting in water leads to bacteria growth, shortening the lifespan of your flowers.
Change Water Regularly: Fresh water every two days helps flowers stay vibrant and healthy.
Keep Flowers Away from Direct Sunlight and Heat: Too much exposure can cause premature wilting.
Use the Right Water Additives: Keep those blooms happy and fed with flower food. Here is Martha Stewart’s DIY flower food recipe to make it right at home with three simple ingredients in your pantry.
Choose a clean container for mixing and storing.
Combine 4 cups warm water, 2 tablespoons sugar, 1 tablespoon vinegar, and 1 tablespoon citric acid or lemon juice.
Mix well until all ingredients are dissolved.
3. How to Capture Your Floral Arrangements for Instagram
Want to make your floral styling pop on social media? Here’s how:
Find the Right Lighting: Natural light is key! Take photos near a window for soft, diffused light.
Choose a Clean Background: A clutter-free backdrop lets your arrangement be the focal point. I love to use a canvas painter’s dropcloth or a linen sheet
Experiment with Angles: Capture overhead shots, close-ups of delicate petals, and wide-frame compositions.
Use Editing Apps: Apps like Lightroom or VSCO enhance colors and sharpness while keeping a natural look. Lightroom is my favorite.
4. Budget-Friendly Ways to Source Flowers
Creating beautiful floral arrangements doesn’t have to be expensive. Here are my favorite ways to find stunning blooms on a budget:
My favorite farmers market basket full of blooms. Perhaps one of my favorite things in the world!
Farmers Markets: Often offer fresher, locally sourced flowers at lower prices than traditional florists. Plus, supporting local farms is the absolute best!!
Grocery Store Finds: With a little rearranging and trimming, supermarket bouquets can look pretty good. I highly recommend Trader Joes for grocery store blooms. They have the best selection and quality.
Foraging and Growing Your Own: My favorite option is to grow your own. There is nothing quite as satisfying as enjoying an arrangement you grew all on your own. Even if you just use a few blooms from your garden in combination from others you source, they add a special something beyond anything you can purchase. I’m also not opposed to asking a neighbor with some amazing blossoming branches in their yard if I can cut a few in exchange for a fresh bouquet! I also keep clippers in my glove box at all times.
Wholesalers Open to the Public: Some wholesale markets allow the general public to shop them too. Take a few minutes to call around and see if there are any near you who do! My favorite spot here in Nashville is Import Flowers and they are open to the public as well as industry pros.
Repurposing Arrangements: Refresh fading blooms by mixing them with new ones or creating smaller arrangements from a larger bouquet.
Get Your Free Ultimate Floral Styling Guide!
Want a step-by-step guide to styling flowers like a pro? Download my Ultimate Floral Styling Guide for foolproof formulas, vase recommendations, and color pairing ideas!
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If designing floral for yourself and your home still feels like too much, I’m here to assist with keeping your home full of fresh blooms! Whether you need flowers for a dinner party or would like to join our floral subscription for fresh flowers all year - learn more about my floral design services.
Happy designing, friends!