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Fresh flowers can add elegance at a holiday table and around the house, whether they are expertly arranged by a local florist or plucked from a bin at a supermarket or membership warehouse store.
“Your local florist can help you create a cohesive look throughout the house,” says Samantha Monday owner of Gardenias Floral in Metuchen. “Just tell them what your decor looks like, and they can make sure that the flowers will coordinate to be the perfect finishing touch.”
Monday, among local florists offering their work through the flower delivery site, BloomNation, shared the following tips for selecting and ordering holiday centerpieces and other florals:
1. Choose your colors: Are your colors black and white? Florists can create something that will be a good fit if your style is modern or Victorian. “When you order, send an example, such as a photo of your Christmas tree or the table runner you like to use,” Monday suggests. “Your local florist can make suggestions you may not have thought of, like a pop of lime green hydrangeas to go with the red roses, or adding fresh fruit to the arrangement with amaryllis.”
2. Pick your container: “Would you like your flowers to be arranged in a long and slender centerpiece to span the length of your table, or would a smaller, round display work for your intimate dinner party?” If you have a special vase you like to use every year, Monday suggests taking the container to your florist and having the arrangement made in it. Many florists also carry a large variety of trendy containers to make your centerpiece the talk of the table, she says. “Anything from birch bark and burlap for a natural look to mercury glass for glitz and glam and everything in between.”
Don’t forget the guest room, where a small flower arrangement can add a welcoming touch. 3. Add some ambiance: Candles cast a warm magical glow, and florists can incorporate them into holiday centerpieces. “They come in a variety of sizes and colors to match any palette,” Monday says. “Flowers and candlelight are nothing new, but together they make tabletop decorations fit for a splendid holiday gathering.”
4. Envision the big picture: Look for other places around your home that might benefit from flowers. If you are confident, you can even split up a supermarket bouquet for smaller arrangements around the house. Monday suggests considering florist arrangements for a coffee table or fireplace mantle. “Having guests stay over? Don’t forget a small bouquet for their nightstand to make them feel extra special.”
BloomNation is a Santa Monica-based company that offers local florists and floral designers a national platform to run their delivery business online.
