‘Tis the season for dinner parties and gathering around a table of delicious food. But what would those meals be without an extra something special on the table? To help you add a festive touch to your table this holiday season, we teamed up with San Francisco-based, self-taught florist and founder of Ida Blooms, Annie Heath. “I believe everyone can benefit from working with flowers,” she says, “and you don’t need to know the names, types, or vase life of each stem to get started.” Discover three stunning holiday centerpiece ideas, complete with how-to guides!
Centerpiece #1: Single Arrangement
This statement-making single-arrangement centerpiece uses a taped grid to help divide your vase into smaller compartments, and keep stems in place while arranging.
Great for: Pretty much anywhere, but would look stunning in the center of a round dining table.
Difficulty level: Medium.
Get the full tutorial for this arrangement HERE.
Centerpiece #2: Bud Vases
A collection of bud vases can be a beautiful, budget friendly centerpiece option, or work in tandem with a set of larger floral arrangements. When gathered as a group, they have as much visual impact as a large centerpiece.
Great for: Covering more space or elongating a rectangular dining table.
Difficulty level: Easy.
Get the full tutorial for this arrangement HERE.
Centerpiece #3: Garland
Adorning a pre-made garland base from the Flower Mart, Farmer’s Market, or even the craft store will save you hours of time and a lot of money, while allowing you to create a unique and custom centerpiece.
Great for: Creating a big impact in half the time, and being a go-to option for a meal served family style.
Difficulty level: Super easy.
Get the full tutorial for this arrangement HERE.
How To Pick Your Stems
Now that you have a better sense of the type of centerpiece you’re going for, there are a few tricks to choosing your blooms. Annie advises that every arrangement should consist of three types of stems: thrillers, fillers, and spillers. “Thrillers are your focal flower, the ones that really draw your eye,” she says. “Fillers are secondary flowers – they fill space nicely in a vase, but are less showy than a thriller. Finally, spillers are dramatic stems that add height and movement to your arrangement.”
Looking for more festive floral tutorials? Learn how to make your own holiday wreaths HERE.
Photos by Lyola Rowe, produced by Skylar Frederick