Do you celebrate Valentine’s Day in your house? I love any excuse to celebrate, but my floral business usually consumes most of February 14th, so this year we’re planning a cozy evening in. I’m breaking out my Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking cookbook and I’ve already bought a lovely bottle of Italian wine that we’re really looking forward to.
I’ve shared a few Valentine’s Day-inspired tutorials in the past, including these pretty bouquets perfect for giving your bestie and this centerpiece to adorn a table for two. So this year, Joanna and I wanted to change things up and try a modern flower arrangement that felt more like an installation. The result is dramatic and unexpected — but still easy to recreate yourself. Here’s how!
When you have flowers as captivating as these, sometimes all you need to do is make a really simple arrangement! Minimal floral elements allows each bloom to shine — especially the ornate beauty of the orchid and the delicate lushness of the sweet peas. As with the prior Ikebana-inspired floral tutorial we shared, this style of arrangement is all about composition. You’ll know when you’ve achieved the right balance.
How to Make A Pastel Hued Modern Flower Arrangement for Valentine’s Day | DIY
Materials
- White Protea Flower
- Several stems of lavender orchid cuts
- Full bunch of pale pink sweet peas
- Burgundy Astilbe
Tools
- Flower pruners
- Flower pin frog
- Marble fruit bowl
- 2 yards of ivory tulle
- Small nail or tack
Directions
Place the flower pin frog in the base of the marble fruit bowl and fill with water until it is just below the brim. Next, trim and place the protea. For this and all the flowers, gentle press the stem into the flower pin frog until it holds in place. The protea is the anchor of the arrangement, so I placed it low and just slightly off-center. From there, trim and place the astilbe. Since this flower is the darkest and the most voluminous and structural, it really defines the shape of the arrangement. Stagger the stems, placing them at different depths in your modern flower arrangement.
Now it’s time to trim and place the orchids. Because these are the focal point of the arrangement, I was strategic about placement. Keep then visual flow in mind as you place them, so that the eye is immediately drawn to these captivating blooms. I suggest positioning the orchid cuts so that they are easy to follow visually from left to right in the arrangement.
Once you’re happy with the placement of your orchids, trim and place the sweet peas. I used this flower in two ways: first to fill in some blank spaces within the arrangement. And second, as the final touch in the arrangement to give it height. To do this, place some of the longest stems flowing out of the arrangement in three places (I suggest 9:00, 11:00 and 1:00). I also had one of the sweet pea blooms touching the surface of the water. Since this arrangement is so minimal, sweet little moments like this one really stand out.
Place the arrangement in the location you want it. We used Joanna’s bar cart in the corner of her dining room where it could be enjoyed from many vantage points. Also, it looks so good on the copper glass!
Now comes the fun part: arranging the ivory tulle around the arrangement. This gives it a modern edge and a touch of drama. I used a small nail that was already in Joanna’s wall from hanging a photo, but you could also use a tack or anything else that would hold the tulle in place without being visible. I draped the tulle and carefully gathered it around the arrangement in a way that highlighted the flowers without hiding them.
Here’s a pro tip: anytime you make an arrangement in such a shallow bowl, especially when using a flower frog, make sure to keep the water topped off. It will evaporate quicker with the large surface area and the flowers will drink it quickly as well! This is key to making a modern flower arrangement like this one last.
As always, be sure to tag @jojotastic and @thestemmery on Instagram so we can see how our DIYs turn out for you! Joanna will be sharing them in her Instagram Stories, too. It’s always so fun to see how our tutorials are translated.
Looking for even more Valentine’s Day DIY ideas and tips? Try these:
- A Blush & Cream Galentine’s Day bouquet for Your Bestie
- DIY Essential Oil + Soy Wax Sachets
- Non-Traditional Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day
- DIY Floral Bath Salts In a Dip Dyed Pouch
- Valentine’s Day Bath Bombs DIY
