After sharing our outdoor kitchen reveal a couple weeks ago, one of my most asked questions happened to be about the floral arrangement I styled. Believe it or not- it’s all faux! I was scrambling to shoot images and wanted to pull together an easy, maintenance-free arrangement for the fall season we could enjoy all autumn long… well after our outdoor space was finished. I also needed it to be durable for the two-day photoshoot in the elements (including wind). If you’re looking for a simple, aesthetically pleasing asymmetric arrangement for the season of gathering, look no further. This would be perfect for a dinner party tablescape or festive centerpiece since it’s filled with seasonal flowers in rich colors and neutral fall tones. Click through for my step-by-step tutorial…
While these were perfect for our outdoor kitchen reveal, this arrangement would be most practical styled in an indoor space. If you need inspiration for your Thanksgiving table or entry, this would be the perfect addition or even a thoughtful gift for the host. I tried to incorporate my favorite colors of fall… deep browns, ochre, rust, dark green, and desaturated rose hues, but this fall vase arrangement is easy to customize, once you get the framework. I’ll tell you what to look for…
Supplies & Flower Selection
Whether I’m assembling fresh florals or faux seasonal blooms, I typically start with a floral frog. These are ideal for vessels with a wide opening (like a pedestal bowl). They’re the perfect way to give your beautiful flowers a sturdy framework to build from. I’ll link all of the stems I grabbed that I could find online, but everything came from my local At Home.
When selecting florals, I keep an intentional color palette in mind (3-4 main colors), I try to grab a variety of textures, filler foliage, and a few showing stopping statement blooms. If it looks like a cohesive fall bouquet as you’re compiling while shopping, you’re probably onto something good.
Choose Your Vessel
For a designer-looking arrangement that has a more organic or asymmetric feel, I’d recommend using a bowl, pedestal bowl, or vessel with a wider mouth or opening. You can also nest a vase within a planter or larger vessel, like I did above. Place a heavy floral frog at the bottom of your container.
Build Out a Base
The first step is to build out a base. I started with some brown curled leaf branches to create a framework. Choosing rich colors with a neutral undertone for this layer is usually what I go for.
Add Texture
Next, I added texture in a monochromatic color palette. I looked for interesting shapes and textures… which led me to purchase thistle balls and artichokes. Using your wire cutters, arrange them randomly, at varying heights to create an organic composition. I definitely recommend cutting the stems rather than bending them (even though they’re faux). It’s much easier to arrange!
Integrate Color
I prefer fall arrangements with a variety of colors. My next step was to add some mustard or ochre hues. Shove the colorful stems into the floral frog as you see fit. I was going for a diagonal aesthetic.
Add Statement Florals
The finishing touch for this arrangement was the addition of oversized hydrangea and English rose blooms… those were my statement stems. They’re a fall favorite of mine (in that color) this time of year.
Tips for Making Faux Florals Look Convincing
While faux florals are super practical since they’re maintenance-free, and can be used year-after-year… they do present some styling challenges. Here are my best tips for making them look more realistic:
- Break the grid… style them in an organic way that looks a little unruly and not too perfect.
- Cut each stem to size… rather than bending faux stems, use wire cutters to cut them to length.
- Layer… the most realistic fall floral arrangements have depth, so buy a few more stems than you think you’ll need- in at least 4 varieties.
- Spread your statement florals… don’t isolate your statement blooms in one area- mix them throughout at varying heights.
- Go low… intentionally spill some greenery or florals over the edge of your vessel, and don’t be afraid if it drapes or contacts the surface it is resting on.
FAQ
Fall floral arrangements look beautiful in so many spaces… styled on an entryway table or console, on a kitchen counter or island, on a coffee table, as a dining table centerpiece, on a sideboard- or even in a powder room (if you have the room). I’d recommend areas within your home you or houseguests frequent (communal spaces), so you can really highlight the essence of the season with color & texture, that can be appreciated most often.
If you have a cake decorating turntable or a lazy susan- rest your vase on it and spin it as you arrange! It’s a great hack for considering all sides of a floral arrangement. If you’re styling it against a wall, the back can definitely be flat… but if it’s centered, you’ll end up with a composition that feels round or oval.
Absolutely! This is the perfect impressive arrangement for special occasions, gifting, or the holiday season ahead. The process will remain the same, just choose stems & blooms in a different color palette when making your selection. Stick to green, red, and neutral hues.
Related
Look for more floral arranging or decorating posts? I’ve shared quite a few over the years. Here are some reader favorites…
Or- if you’re interested in seeing more of our outdoor kitchen reveal, definitely check out the full tour! We just wrapped up that project a couple weeks ago (though we’re still tiling over a concrete patio in certain areas).
I hope this post was helpful! I had a lot of requests for this specific floral arranging tutorial. It was a fun one to assemble! I started decorating our house and outdoor spaces for the holidays over the weekend and I’m excited to share this year’s Christmas tour once it’s totally finished. I’ve got quite a bit left to tackle, but it’s looking good! I think you’ll be surprised by this year’s color palette. I’ve got a bad cold and sadly my doctor didn’t clear me for exercise or lifting last week as I had hoped (post surgery), but I’m doing my best to get creative with decorating this year. It’s been an interesting challenge. Have you started yet? Usually I’m finished by now, ha.
