Spring flowers are everywhere we look these days, from our garden to the market, and even inside our homes. These flowers are quite literally springing up everywhere! As much as it’s enjoyable to smell the peonies outside, it can be even more enjoyable to turn them into a beautiful spring centerpiece.
Whether you’re planning a brunch with family or an upscale dinner party with friends, it’s easy to bring the outside indoors by creating a spring-inspired centerpiece to impress your guests.
So how do we go about crafting that picture-perfect centerpiece if we don’t have the time or money to visit our favorite florist? We asked two experts in the field what they’re looking for this time of year and they shared some insider tips and tricks. Read on for their helpful advice to guide you in creating your own spring centerpiece at home.
[bibblio style=”bib–row-3 bib–hover bib–white-label bib–font-arial bib–default bib–size-16 bib–shine” query_string_params=”eyJ1dG1fc291cmNlIjoiQmliYmxpbyIsInV0bV9tZWRpdW0iOiJNb2R1bGUiLCJ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ24iOiJSZWNvbW1lbmRhdGlvbnMifQ==” recommendation_type=”optimised”]
What’s in season now?
Some of spring’s favorite flowers include peonies, ranunculus, garden roses, hyacinths, tulips and anemones. These beautiful and fragrant spring blooms are favorites of Cristin Kelly, owner of Cristin Kelly Design & Events, and Dana Vargo, owner of Flowers from the Farm. When creating a spring centerpiece, these two designers pull much of their inspiration from blooms that can be plucked right from the backyard.
“Mixing and matching these particular flowers brings a sophisticated sense of style and creativity to my designs,” says Kelly. She regularly displays peonies and hydrangeas direct from the garden on her kitchen island, along with various colors of garden tulips.
“I love a naked branch and add them to most of my spring arrangements,” says Vargo. She likes to incorporate wild honeysuckle and azalea branches straight from her farm. “These provide texture, dimension and height.”
The Rules of Arrangement
Now that we’ve selected our blooms, how do we create an eye-popping centerpiece? “My preference is to keep things simple,” states Kelly. She believes that “flowers are beautifully imperfect on their own, so the less fuss the better.” With that in mind, Kelly suggests grouping softer color palettes together at first (think classic white, rose and peach) and then switching it up with the boldness of pinks, oranges and lime greens. Her only rule is to “keep the sight lines of guests open!” Achieve this by alternating the height of centerpieces, adding free flowing greenery and cascading flowers or cutting flowers back to create different looks.
Vargo is all about finding flowers that compliment together and in her experience, “most flower colors just don’t clash with one another.” She also suggests going by feel when putting together an arrangement. Her rule of thumb is to “take the focal flower and use in odd numbers – 3, 5, 7 – and place in triangles, then fill in with smaller flowers and foliage.” By creating a sea of white and then lifting it with red, purple or burgundy flowers, you can create a stunning centerpiece in no time.
Finding the Perfect Vessel
“Finding the perfect way to display your flowers and centerpieces is half the battle,” says Kelly. She chooses to mix up her displays using everything from household items such as vintage and metallic tins to watering cans. She also loves featuring natural elements like rustic wooden boxes and hollowed-out birch.
Vargo is a fan of using repurposed bottles, including honey jars. Her rule of thumb for a flower vase is “if it holds water, it can be used as a vase.” However, she is partial to displaying tulips in a clear vase because “seeing the green stems with the vivid colors is pure perfection.”
Other Elements to Incorporate
Yes, it’s spring and flowers are abundant, but it’s also fun to add in other elements that spark interest. Kelly loves to use candles of varying heights and sizes, as well as fruits and vegetables. “Right now my favorite is using bright, bold lemons,” she says.
Ready to create your own masterpiece? Now’s the time to head to the market, stroll through your garden and take out those mason jars to get you started. Create your own spring centerpiece to enjoy in the weeks to come. After all, these spring florals won’t be around for long.
Hero (Top) Feature Image: © juancramosgonzalez / Adobe Stock
Additional Images (in Order) Courtesy:
Flowers from the Farm
Cristin Kelly Design & Events
Flowers from the Farm
Cristin Kelly Design & Events
