Step-by-Step Holiday Flower Arrangements

By Southern Living
Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

Reimagine your Christmas spread with elegant, bold, punchy, and cheery holiday flower arrangements. We know large, ornate Christmas centerpieces can seem involved and well, daunting. But Austin, Texas-based floral designer Elizabeth Lewis gave us some fresh ideas and even better, they come with step-by-step instructions. Holiday flower arrangements don’t get any easier than these classic bouquets, reimagined with bolder colors and shapelier silhouettes. With a vibrant mix of everything from carnations and tea roses to pomegranate and artichokes, these holiday arrangements truly bring the wild and wonderful indoors. We love how these would be perfect Christmas centerpieces on your dining room table or mixed in with a holiday dessert bar or cocktail station. For a season filled with endless events, a bouquet like one of these is the perfect way to mix up traditional holiday décor. Plus the beauties are a convenient way to incorporate often-forgotten family vases and chalices into your holiday décor rotation. Pick your favorite, and get arranging!

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Dark and Dramatic

Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

The Materials: Coleus foliage + bush ivy + artichokes + pomegranates + red spray roses + hellebores

 

The Vase: An earthy dough bowl 

 

Staying Power: Three days

 

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Step 1

Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

Nestle a shallow bowl within a larger horizontal-shaped vessel. It doesn't need to fit perfectly but should be stable.

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Step 2

Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

Arrange coleus and bush ivy around the base of the interior container. Secure their stems into florist foam. Create movement by tucking in one or two longer branches to extend out of the display.

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Step 3

Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

Cluster artichokes and pomegranates in odd-numbered groups of three or more. Place most of the weighty stems low within the arrangement. Fill in holes with spray roses and hellebores.

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Sculptural and Organic

Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

The Materials: Bush ivy + buckthorn berry branches + variegated pittosporum + ivy

 

The Vase: A vintage pedestal Champagne bucket

 

Staying Power: Five to seven days

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Step 1

Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

Ball up chicken wire, and wedge it in the bottom of the bucket. A more eco-friendly choice than typical florist foam, it will help anchor the branches as you insert them.

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Step 2

Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

Add bush ivy to the bucket, placing more on the left side for an interesting organic aesthetic.

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Step 3

Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

Cluster three stems of buckthorn berries on the right and two toward the back. Then add the variegated pittosporum and place trailing ivy on one side for a modern, asymmetrical look.

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Red Punch

Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

The Materials: Amaryllis + rose foliage + carnations + tea roses + anemones + ranunculus

 

The Vase: A classic Revere bowl

 

Staying Power: Three days

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Step 1

Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

Anchor the arrangement with amaryllis or another large flower that will act as a focal point. Select blooms in a range of reds to give dimension to this monochromatic look.

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Step 2

Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

For the Middle Ground, add rose foliage and then tuck in affordable fillers such as carnations and tea roses, placed low in the arrangement.

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Step 3

Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

Add some bolder flowers (such as anemones and ranunculus) above and in the center for depth. Allow their graceful stems to remain long, trimming them slightly only if necessary for balance.

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Classic Cheer

Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

The Materials: Pine + incense cedar + eucalyptus pods + ranunculus + carnations

 

The Vase: A footed brass vase

 

Staying Power: Five days

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Step 1

Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

Incorporate the season's greenery to serve as a backdrop for delicate flowers.

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Step 2

Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

Cluster the eucalyptus pods toward the back of the arrangement, and add more to drape over the front of the container.

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Step 3

Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

Add ranunculus stems, mimicking the way flowers grow in nature by inserting some down low and placing some on top to create varying levels. Then tuck in a few carnations to fill in holes.

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New Year's Eve Winter White

Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

The Flowers: Astilbes + andromedas + hellebores + tea roses

 

The Vase: A quintet of mercury glass vases

 

Staying Power: Keep this collection lively by clipping stems and replacing water each day.

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Step 1

Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

 Start with an odd number of petite vases in various sizes. Here, five vessels were used to give the display breadth.

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Step 2

Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

Stick to a single flower type in each vase to create a more professional look. 

 

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Step 3

Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

Place the displays on surfaces with varying heights for an added element of interest. 

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