How To Turn Supermarket Flowers Into A Show-Stopping Centerpiece

Flowers from the supermarket don't often seem like they have the same level of finesse and vibrancy as their meticulously arranged counterparts from a professional florist -- but they can.

Floral design studio owner Clover Chadwick says that even the more ho-hum bouquets from the grocery store have the potential to transform into stunning centerpieces. As she demonstrates, it requires minimal effort to rearrange those bulky buds into a cohesive, blooming display. It just comes down to following a few simple steps.

Step 1: Start with your biggest, bulkiest flower (ex: hydrangea)

Many supermarket flower bouquets include hydrangeas, so separate these large blooms from the pack and cut the stems so that they rest around the lip of your vase.

Step 2: Add your "branchiest" greens (ex: eucalyptus)

Next, determine which greens have the most branches. "This is going to give you shape, plus stability," Chadwick explains. "Eucalyptus is great because it has lots of little branchy arms."

Step 3: Add leafier greens (ex: lemonleaf)

To tighten up the space and bolster the stability, reach for your leafy stems. "Lemonleaf is the other one you'll see quite commonly used in grocery store bouquets because it's super-bulky, has a great color and it's really durable," Chadwick says.

Step 4: Add the larger, more durable flowers (ex: chrysanthemums and carnations)

Now that you've created your basic shape, it's time to build into it with flowers. Chrysanthemums and carnations take up a decent amount of space and add a needed pop of color to add balance to the arrangement.

Step 5: Add your next-largest flower (ex: lilies)

This piece should be your show-stopper. Place these flowers -- like lilies -- strategically, in areas in which they are easily visible and can truly stand out. "Make sure with lilies that you always remove the pollen," Chadwick instructs. "That will make them last longer."

Step 6: Fill in the holes with your remaining pieces (ex: alstroemeria, roses and gerbera daisies)

Use whatever is left over to fill out the shape of your arrangement -- and be sure to save the most delicate flowers (like gerbera daisies) for last. Flowers with longer stems can also be used to add height as well as layered color.

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