5 Simple Hacks That Make Flowers Look More Expensive
Flower arranging is lost on me. No matter how much time I spend trying to make bouquets look good, I usually wind up just plopping the flowers in a vase and calling it a day. So I love simple, quick ways to raise my flower game, even a little bit. Learn these five basic hacks and get the best arrangements of your life.
1. Strip the Stems
Letting leaves rot in water is one of the best ways to bring your flowers down. Before you do anything else, get rid of foliage below the water line, and snip off any leaves that are broken on damaged. Your arrangement will look better and last longer.
Help hydrate the stems by cutting the base of the flower stem at a 45 degree angle. If you have woodier stems, gently smash the ends to help the water get all up in there.
2. Reach for Some Clear Elastic
Once you’ve fiddled with your flowers and like the arrangement, wrap the stems in either a rubber band or floral tape to keep your arrangement in place. If you use a clear elastic, it won’t be as visible once the flowers are in their vase.
Whatever you use, don’t wrap it around the flower bundle too tightly. You don’t want to break the stems, or make your arrangements looked mashed together, and like they can’t breathe.
3. Extend Stems with Straws
If your vase is too tall, or if your bouquet is looking a little on the paltry side, give the flowers some added height using plastic drinking straws. Inserting the stems partway gives you a little bit more length to work with.
Just place the bottom of each stem inside a straw, then arrange the flowers as you normally would. If the straws are clear, they won’t detract from the beauty of the arrangement. They also will give the stems a little more structure.
4. Nest if Needed
If your vase is too big and wide for your flowers, try this nesting technique. Put the flowers in an appropriate sized container (any old thing will do) then place inside a larger, prettier vase.
Fill the space in between the two vases with something decorative, like the loose beads above. Not only will it hide the smaller container, but it adds another layer of interest and texture to your arrangement.
5. Create a Grid
If you can’t fiddle your way to an arrangement you’re happy with, take a step back and rework your vase instead. Use some clear floral tape (or even clear cellophane tape if that’s all you’ve got) to create a DIY flower frog of sorts to separate stems and create an unique bouquet.
Once the tape is in place, place your flowers in the gaps between the tape, working until it’s completely full and you are happy with the arrangement. Aim to cover the tape grid underneath so it’s not visible.
Want to learn more about flower arrangements?
- 6 Foolproof Steps to Flawless Flower Arrangements All Summer Long
- Florist Secrets: How To Process Fall Flowers Like a Pro
- How to Think Like a Florist When Choosing & Caring for Fresh Flowers at Home
- Be A 10-Minute Pro: The Best Flower Arranging Tricks We Know