Use Foam & A Serving Bowl To Turn Any Flower Arrangement Into A Statement Piece

With the right tools and the right strategy, you can transform grocery store flowers into a DIY floral arrangement that looks high-end. While flowers look lovely styled simply in a vase, you can achieve stunning displays by incorporating floral foam. This age-old trick of the trade has helped professional florists take their designs to the next level since its invention in 1954. Made from porous plastic, florist foam soaks up water to keep flowers fresh while also helping to give the arrangement some structure.

This miraculous invention remains the ultimate tool for crafting stunning flower arrangements. Coming in a variety of different shapes, sizes, and densities, it can be applied towards an incredibly diverse array of arrangements. You don't have to be a professional florist to take advantage of this tool. With a statement serving bowl and a block of florist foam, you can craft an impressive floral centerpiece. You'll need a selection of your favorite flowers, faux moss, and, of course, floral foam and a fun serving bowl. Opt for a wide, shallow basin. Shop around for options at your local thrift or browse online sources for eye-catching options. Shop for florist foam based on how soft or hard your flowers are. Soft springtime flowers will need a softer material than woody or tropical stems. Once you have these materials in order, you can get started building your arrangement.

You can select a rainbow of flowers or opt for a monobloom arrangement; just make sure the stems are long enough to cut at varying heights. If you're using soft-stemmed flowers such as poppies, seal the end of the stem by holding it up to the flame of a lighter or candle. This works to seal in the sap and preserve the bloom for longer.

Once your stems are prepared, place your block of florist foam in the center of the serving bowl. Slowly fill the basin with water, allowing the foam to soak up the moisture. Now gently press the stems into the foam. Arrange the tallest stems in the middle and shorter ones toward the perimeter. Once you're satisfied with your arrangement, cover the floral foam with faux moss. You could also opt to use pebbles or sphagnum moss for this step. And there you have it: A floral centerpiece your visitors will gush over.

While floral foam is extremely useful, it's not great for the environment. Even options that tote their biodegradable qualities just break down into harmful microplastics. Thankfully, there are plenty of more sustainable ways to pull off this arrangement. Swap foam for a TerraBrick, chicken wire, or a floral frog for a more eco-friendly alternative.