Want to freshen up your home before friends arrive? Fresh flowers instantly lift a room, and you don’t need to spend a lot to make a big impact.
The money you save arranging your own bouquets can go toward a special appetizer or a nice bottle of wine — or two.
Start with a few bundles of fresh flowers from your local market.
- A couple stems of hydrangea and seeded eucalyptus can be very affordable — mine cost about fifteen dollars.
- Pick up a few fresh vegetables that catch your eye — they make striking accents in an arrangement.
- Vegetables like baby artichokes and Brussels sprouts add interesting color and texture for just a few dollars.
If you have a yard, bring cutters and forage a bit — branches, berries, or ornamental grasses can add unexpected color and texture.
Choose a container, cut florist foam to fit if you like, and you’re ready to build a lovely centerpiece.
- Begin by creating a base with your greens before placing the larger blooms.
Use wooden skewers to secure vegetables like baby artichokes and Brussels sprouts into your arrangement.
- Insert the pointed end of the skewer into the base of the vegetable.
- Trim the skewer to the right length — start slightly long and shorten as needed.
- Adjust placement until the vegetables sit naturally among the flowers and greens.
In this arrangement I positioned the artichoke with the larger blooms, then added Brussels sprouts and extra eucalyptus to balance the composition.
When you’re satisfied with the look, add water and your handmade centerpiece is complete.
You’ll likely have leftover stems — which is a good thing. Those extras are perfect for creating smaller accents around the house.
Look through cabinets for interesting vessels: jars, vintage glassware, or any container you love will work.
Fill with water, trim stems to fit, and arrange. Simple, inexpensive, and charming.
All this for under twenty dollars. DIY for the win!
