30 Simple Flower Arrangements (2024)

Readers often tell us how much they appreciate the listing of materials, the “flower list,” that accompanies many arrangements featured in Flower magazine. Arrangement how-tos include the list and sometimes feature a materials photo: a table loaded with vases; buckets; and heaps of stems, greenery, and blossoms. Browsing through the lists and pictures, you might assume that a gorgeous design requires a flower shop full of posies. Not so! Many of the most popular designers featured in the magazine accomplish an elegant look with only two or three materials. We’ve gathered a collection of simple flower arrangements (none of them with more than three ingredients) to reassure and inspire budding designers.

FLOWER LIST: variegated sweet peas; hydrangea, clematis
Kirk Whitfield of K & Co Flowers in Atlanta creates a riot of amethyst and green with variegated sweet peas tucked into clusters of hydrangea along with bell-shaped clematis blossoms in a footed wooden bowl. Photo by Laurey Glenn.
See More of Kirk's Arrangements

FLOWER LIST: peonies, hydrangeas
Renny & Reed created an arrangement of lime colored hydrangeas with two shades of pink peonies for our photo shoot at Pineapples, Palms, Etc. in Jupiter, Florida. Photo by Carmel Brantley.
See More from Pineapples, Palms, Etc.

FLOWER LIST: clematis vines
In this arrangement from her book, Seasonal Flower Arranging, Ariella Chezar shows off the power of just one ingredient. The entire display consists of four clematis vines. The red of the 'Madame Julia Correvon' variety makes a strong statement, especially when placed against a wall and mantel in a beautiful shade of blue. The arrangement also shows that floral beauty does not need to be complicated. Simply trim the vines and place them to flow to the right and left, with at least one straight up. For added drama, Chezar wove some vines around and through the candlesticks.
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FLOWER LIST: 'Coral Charm' peonies, variegated pittosporum, lily grass
For wedding chair markers, Sayles Livingston Design filled vintage, aqua Mason jars with 'Coral Charm' peonies and variegated pittosporum, along with seashells from the couple's hometown beaches on the Atlantic Ocean and the Caspian Sea.
See More Peony Arrangements

FLOWER LIST: white delphinium, alliums
Interior stylist and design writer Mieke ten Have arranged white delphinium with puffs of purple allium in a green glass vase for a Matthew Patrick Smyth designed room. Photo by John Gruen for Smyth’s book, Through a Designer’s Eye
See More from Mieke ten Have

FLOWER LIST: Dutch parrot tulips, 'Ad Rem' tulips
With two varieties of orange tulips, Palm Beach floral designer Tom Mathieu created a lush, blazing arrangement. Photo by Jessica Glynn
See More Tulip Arrangements

FLOWER LIST: 'Crème de la Crème' roses, hydrangeas, peonies
New Orleans floral designer Stephen Sonnier of Dunn & Sonnier Antiques and Flowers gives timeless treasures a fresh, new look. This elegant but simple flower arrangement in all-white balances the ornate gilding and carving on this Venetian starburst-topped mirror. Photo by Eugenia Uhl
See More Peony Arrangements

FLOWER LIST: pampas grass, sanguisorba
Kim Starr Wise filled a classical-style stamnos jar by sculptor Rosario Muni of Sicily with pampas grass and sanguisorba at Richard Dragisic's Magazine Street shop, Sud. Photo bySara Essex Bradley
See More from Sud

FLOWER LIST: ranunculus, sweet peas
Brooklyn-based designer Ingrid Carozzi designed this pink effusion of blossoms with only two types of flowers. She reveals secrets of the trade and step-by-step instructions on how to achieve her organic, lush look in her book, Handpicked. Photo by Paul Brissman
More of Ingrid's Arrangements

FLOWER LIST: 'Rilona' amaryllis, kiwi vine, citrus
Palm Beach floral designer Tom Mathieu ties a bunch of peachy amaryllis and anchors them in a bowl of citrus to create a chic, simple arrangement. Photo by Jessica Glynn
See More of Mathieu's Arrangements

FLOWER LIST: clematis, moss
New Orleans floral designer Kim Starr Wise made a wow moment using moss and two varieties of clematis (and a unique vessel). Photo by Eugenia Uhl
See More of Kim's Arrangements

FLOWER LIST: fritillaria, ginestra
Designer Mimi Brown shows how striking a simple arrangement can be using only slender stems of ginestra and lily-like fritillaria. She says, "I think flowers can be intimidating. A lot of people just stick their flowers in water as is, and really all you need are a few steps to make them a little more exciting."
See More of Mimi's Arrangements

FLOWER LIST: sweet peas, garden roses, cordyline leaves
Demure little wallflowers? Not a chance! DeJuan Stroud's flirtatious pink arrangement is sitting pretty on an antique chair. Photo by Monica Buck
See DeJuan's Centerpiece of Bouquets

FLOWER LIST: roses, clematis
Whether she’s at home in Los Angeles or Manhattan, decorating rooms for beloved clients, or spending time in the garden, Suzanne Rheinstein is always informed—and inspired—by the botanical world. Here she fills an engraved silver cup with creamy roses and sprightly clematis flowers.
See More of Suzanne's Designs

FLOWER LIST: anemones, muscari
Lounging by the pool, two types of purple blossoms arranged by Christina Springfield of Nouveau Events and Flowers can take the heat. Photo by Paul Johnson Photography
See More Christina Springfield Arrangements

FLOWER LIST: Mock orange
Designer Ariella Chezar says, "Branch arrangements are the easiest way to fill a room with flowers. If set against a white wall, the arching branches need no augmentation. The drama is in the placement of the branches, which should arch as if still on the bush." Here, she proves her point with a vase of Philadelphus coronarius (Sweet mock orange). Photo by Erin Kunkel
See Ariella's Tips for Branch Arrangements

FLOWER LIST: amaryllis, 'Freedom' roses, scarlet spray roses
Massing deep-red flowers in this heart-shaped silver vase adds a dramatic exclamation point to this neutral corner. Ray Jordan and Janet Jackson of Birmingham’s FlowerBuds created this and five more arrangements to complement and celebrate the colors of winter.
See More of FlowerBuds' Designs

FLOWER LIST: viburnum, protea, monstera
Renny & Reed filled a white, ceramic vessel with a crown of viburnum and protea over monstera leaves at Pineapples, Palms, Etc. in Jupiter, Florida. Photo by by Carmel Brantley
See More from Pineapples, Palms, Etc.

FLOWER LIST: cosmos, carnations, love in a mist
Mieke ten Have placed a silver cup of white carnations, white cosmos, and blue love in a mist (Nigella damascena) on a bedside table in a Matthew Patrick Smyth designed room. Photo by John Gruen for Smyth’s book, Through a Designer’s Eye
See More from Mieke ten Have

FLOWER LIST: tulips, roses, spray roses
Mimi Brown combined blossoms from the supermarket to create this simple beauty in a clear drinking glass.
Get Tips for Arranging Grocery Store Flowers

FLOWER LIST: viburnum, bells of Ireland
Jane Packer's informal lime-green flowers of viburnum and bells of Ireland are arranged in layers to bring freshness and vitality to the dressing area. Photo courtesy of Ryland Peters & Small
See More of Jane's Designs

FLOWER LIST: tulips
Celebrated garden designer Butter Wakefield filled a pink lusterware jar with 'Orange Princess' tulips for a festive holiday gathering. Photographed by Clive Nichols.
See More of Butter's Designs

FAQs

How do I make a cheap bunch of flowers look expensive? ›

The best way to make a bouquet look expensive is to mix different kinds of flowers together. Try arranging it so you have a consistent mix of smaller buds, larger focal blooms, and plenty of greenery to frame them.

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What is the rule of three flower arrangement? ›

In Floral Design, even numbers do not create a balanced look. Odd numbers, like 3, help create a balanced distribution of greens/flowers. Note: The brown numbers illustrate three branches. (Not a green, but important to note it also follows the rule of 3 for quantity).

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What flowers look expensive? ›

Carnations: Carnations come in various colors and last a long time. Their ruffled petals give them an expensive appearance. Alstroemeria: Also known as Peruvian lilies, Alstroemeria flowers are elegant and affordable. They have unique patterns and come in various shades.

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What is the 3 5 8 rule in floristry? ›

One of the European designs that we create in floristry is called the Form Linear, in which we apply flowers by using the 3:5:8 rule, with 3 main focal groups: 3 = Sub-dominate Group/Placement. 5 = Contrasting Group/Placement. 8 = Dominate Group/Placement.

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What is the golden rule in floral design? ›

Employ The Golden Ratio

According to Bruni, the "golden ratio" for floral arranging is creating a visual where the arrangement is two-and-a-half sizes bigger than its container.

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How many flowers should be in a flower arrangement? ›

How Many Flowers Do I Need to Make a Bouquet?

Arrangement	Mixed Bouquet (Focal Flower, Secondary Flower, Filler, and Greens)
Stem Count for Small Arrangement	10 Stems
Stem Count for Medium Arrangement	18-20 Stems
Stem Count for Large Arrangement	25-30 Stems

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How tall should flowers be in a vase? ›

The 'Rule of Thirds'

Cut your stems according the height of your vase, so that your arrangement extends 1/3 or 2/3 the total height of the vase. So if the vase is 25cm (10 inches) then the overall arrangement should be about 75cm (30 inches).

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How do you make a flower arrangement without an oasis? ›

Use pebbles, sand, gravel, clay, marbles, wood aspen, compact moss or even fruit to support floral arrangements. Re-trim floral bouquets and change the water regularly to prolong flowers life.

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How do you cut flowers for arranging? ›

Cut the stems to length with a clean, angled cut without leaving jagged edges that could lead to decay. Place prepared stems in a bucket of clean water and leave in a cool place for at least two to three hours or, ideally, overnight. This will allow the flowers to drink before being brought into a warmer environment.

What makes a good floral arrangement? ›

Create a mix of complementary colors and varieties or choose one shade or variety. Don't forget to add greenery for texture and color. Choose your vase based on the type of flowers you plan to use and the size and style of arrangement you want to create.

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What is the code for flower arrangement? ›

HSN Code 0603: Cut flowers and flower buds of a kind suitable for bouquets or for ornamental purposes, fresh, dried, dyed, bleached, impregnated or otherwise prepared.

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What is modern flower arrangement? ›

Modern floral design describes an open, minimalist design, inspired by the mid-century look of the 1950s. Contemporary means “of the moment”, which means that contemporary describes the en vogue floral design of the moment. At this time, modern floral design is very popular.

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How do you make cheap fake flowers look good? ›

Try any of these:

Trim the stems. Just a little bit of trimming can make a huge impact on a living look. ...
Throw in a real flower. Mixing fake and real flowers is a fun trick that will go over most people's heads, every time. ...
Opt for wired stems. ...
Try before you buy.

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How do you make supermarket flowers look more expensive? ›

“If you just stick to some basic rules, even supermarket flowers can look impressive.” “Stick to one variety and keep it tonal,” she continues. “Creams and whites look more expensive than a mix of different colours.” Fashion people love sticking to single varieties and one colour.

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How do you make fake flowers look good? ›

Opt for high-quality fake flowers.
Add some real flowers to the mix.
Make the stems look Imperfect.
Use a gorgeous vase for your fake floral arrangement.
Add water to the vase.

Mar 15, 2022

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How do you dress up a bunch of flowers? ›

Stagger Your Blooms

“Do the same with the roses and then the tulips, fanning them all out on top of each other. Tie the stems with a ribbon so they'll be easier to handle, then cut the stems the same height. Wrap both ends of the paper around them and tie again with a ribbon.”

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30 Simple Flower Arrangements (2024)

FAQs

How do I make a cheap bunch of flowers look expensive? ›

What is the code for flower arrangement? ›

References