How to Make a Stunning Floral Arrangements Using Grocery Store Flowers

The dining table-scape i created for my Mother-In-law’s 75th birthday party. I created the flower arrangements from florals I purchased at a grocery store.

When hosting an event or dinner party, nothing conveys elegance and warmth better than fresh floral centrepieces. I absolutely love to use fresh florals when I entertain; I will often plan the entire theme of my table-scape by choosing the freshest and healthiest florals I can find. Every flower conveys a feeling or emotion that your guests will immediately understand by the choice of flowers you use in your arrangements. It is important to remember that the flowers you use should reflect the type of event you are hosting. If you are wanting to host a more casual event like a summer barbecue, you would likely want to choose flowers like sunflowers and daisies, which can make a table feel fresh, casual, and welcoming. Other flowers like roses, lilies, and hydrangeas can create a more formal and elegant table, perfect for fancy dinner parties or special occasion events like anniversaries and birthdays.

When hosting an event or dinner party, nothing conveys elegance and warmth better than fresh floral centrepieces. The vibrant colours, delightful fragrances, and natural beauty of fresh flowers can elevate the atmosphere of any gathering, making it feel more inviting and special. I absolutely love to use fresh florals when I entertain; they are not just decorative elements but also integral components that enhance the overall experience for my guests. I will often plan the entire theme of my tablescape by choosing the freshest and healthiest florals I can find, paying careful attention to the seasonality and availability of blooms to ensure that my arrangements are not only beautiful but will last as long as possible. Every flower conveys a feeling or emotion that your guests will immediately understand by the choice of flowers you use in your arrangements. For instance, the bright and cheerful appearance of sunflowers can evoke feelings of happiness and joy, while the delicate elegance of peonies can bring a sense of romance and sophistication. It is important to remember that the flowers you use should reflect the type of event you are hosting, as well as the mood you wish to create. If you are wanting to host a more casual event like a summer barbecue, you would likely want to choose flowers like sunflowers and daisies, which can make a table feel fresh, casual, and welcoming. For a more formal gathering, such as a sophisticated dinner party or an elegant event such as an engagement party, you might opt for more refined blooms. In addition to the types of flowers chosen, the arrangement style is also crucial. A low, sprawling arrangement can promote conversation among guests, while tall, dramatic centrepieces can create a stunning visual impact however; my personal choice is to limit the placement of high, wide dramatic arrangements to counters, tables and nooks where conversations will not be impacted.

Fresh florals are instantly impressive to your guests; if purchased through a specialty flower shop displays like the ones I created in this blog post can be very expensive. However, you can save a lot of money by creating your own arrangements at home using flowers you purchase at your local supermarket. I used a variety of more formal flowers and an assortment of different varieties of greens to create a lush and elegant look. Mixing different textures and heights of flowers, greenery, and even the vases you use can add depth and interest to your floral arrangements, making them not only a feast for the eyes but it also creates interest for your guests and becomes a very valuable part of the dining experience. Ultimately, the key to selecting the perfect floral centrepieces lies in understanding the essence of your event; the message you wish to convey through your table and décor.

While visiting my daughter in New York, I created this bouquet arrangement for my daughter Aryn as a way of saying congratulations on her new job. I wanted it to feel bright and happy. The colours I chose convey happiness and spring.

To create your own arrangement at home, keep in mind how you want to make your guests feel. Is this a casual dining event or are you celebrating a more important occasion like a birthday or graduation. Think about what you want your guests to notice first, is it a elegant table with formal candles and elegant floral displays that immediately imply this is a special event or do you want them to see a more casual, and relaxed atmosphere. Once you know how you want your event to feel to your guests, take time to gather the dinner plates and table accessories you may be using like candles and display pieces. Formal china and silverware may demand a more formal flower whereas; you can use a more casual dining plate for a more relaxed atmosphere.

For this more informal table-scape, I purchased smaller orchids and placed them in a brass bowl. I then used sphagnum moss to cover the top of the arrangement. I often use orchid bowls like these as they last a very long time and can transition from a formal table to a more informal look.

Now that you have selected all your tableware, and you have determined how your want your event to feel you can select the vessel or vase you want to use. Always keep in mind how high you want the arrangement to be, the higher the vessel the lower you need to build the flower display if you want to keep the design lower for easier communication with your guests. Knowing your vessel or vase height and dimensions will really assist you in choosing the correct flowers when you go to purchase them. For this party, I chose a medium round vintage silver plate bowl I purchased at Goodwill for $12. It was black and very tarnished, with a little elbow grease and my favourite silver polish I had it looking brand new very quickly. The two side arrangements are simple plastic rectangles that I purchased from my local craft store. I used wet oasis foam in all three vessels. I often used playful pitchers and tea pots as vessels as well. Be creative and don’t limit your arrangements to standard glass vases.

Vintage silver plate vessels I use for flower arrangements, make sure your vessels are clean and water tight.

When you purchase your flowers there are a few things to keep in mind when choosing what your will buy. Try to pick the freshest flowers you can find, with roses try gently squeezing the flower. If it is very soft you may want to avoid choosing them. You want the rose head to feel firm but not hard, too hard and they may not open. Think about purchasing fruit, you want it to be softening up, not rock hard and not mushy. Next choose the the types of flowers you want to buy, keeping in mind the feeling you are creating. I generally buy one or two bouquets of one type of flower and then one bouquet that is mixed, and a bouquet or two of greens. For the flower arrangements I did for this last party I created 3 large arrangements and a number of small posey styled arrangements and I spent $140. That may sound like a lot but if you have every gone into a florist shop you would realize the hige savings. One arrangement the size of the large round arrangement I created would be double that and in an inferior vessel. Be sure that flower food is already tucked into the pre-wrapped flowers. If there is none tucked at the base of the arrangement ask for some, they are free and will help extend the life of your flowers.

For my mother-in-laws75th birthday party, I did the floral arrangements the day before the party and I purchased all the flowers from Safeway for a total cost of $140.

Once you bring your flowers home, place them in water until you are arranging them. Once I have gathered my vessels, floral snips and scissors, and have begun soaking my oasis foam I cut open the flowers and sort them by variety and colour. To make entertaining easier, I very rarely do my flower arranging or table setting the same day I am hosting guests. You can easily do flowers a day or two before your event. Once sorted, I begin the joyful task of arranging the blooms. The first step is placing the wet oasis foam into our vessel. I cut the foam on a cutting board and I use a serrated knife to cut the wet foam. Once cut to the appropriate size, I place the foam into the flower vessel, I will cut smaller pieces to fill in the gaps if needed.

Flower vessels filled with Oasis Foam

Flowers sorted by type and colour

I begin by placing the large greenery that will create the shape of my arrangement. From there, I place the larger “featured” flowers such as lilies or hydrangeas. When I am using three arrangements that will sit side by side, I arrange all three together and I do try to create a pattern with the two rectangular arrangements so some sense of symmetrical design is created. I place all the showy flowers next, like roses. Then I begin placing filler flowers like alstroemeria and mums. Finally I end with the detailed flowers, little filler that has moment and creates drama. Please remember, in design DETAILS MATTER. Take time to step back and look at your arrangement. Is there dark spots that need a little light through a filler flower, check that your shape is uniform from all sides, and visually FEEL your display.

Start by placing larger greenery and larger florals like lilies, hydrangeas, or sunflowers. Buds are amazing to add as well for visual interest.

When doing arrangements that will sit side by side, I arrange them together for continuity and symmetry.

Once the arrangements are complete I move them to their desired location and add more water to the vessels. Be sure to use water that has flower food in it. It is very important to keep the water topped up and clean. The warmer the room the faster blooms will open, so if you are wanting to arrange your flowers more than a day before your guests arrive, try to place them in a cooler environment until closer to your event.

Floral arrangements set on the table complete with the chosen dinnerware and candles.

The dinnerware and the the floral arrangements compliment each other perfectly.

Remember I said that the details matter? Notice in the picture above how the dinnerware I selected and the flowers I chose seem to feel the same, they reflect the colours and motions of each other. If you pay attention to the details, working to create a theme between everything on the table you will impress your guests and make them feel very special. After events I will often move the arrangements to more visible locations such as the kitchen. Be sure to reuse these beautiful arrangements again while they are still so pretty, in the pictures below I set a lovely lunch table for myself and a guest using the centrepiece from the birthday party and a posey bouquet I had created and placed by a photo display I had done. Setting a beautiful table and using grocery store flowers to create beautiful arrangements is not difficult and is an extremely cost effective way to create something so special for yourself and your guests. Fresh flowers in the home always elevate the energy and really are a very important step inn living an inspired life.

I used the floral centrepiece from the party to set an intimate luncheon table, I also incorporated a posey bouquet and some spring decor items to elevate the look.

When setting a table, do not be scared to mix patterns and textures. This creates visual interest and layers the table-scape.