When it comes to holiday floral arrangements, you don’t need to spend a fortune on fresh flowers. Brooke McAfee, the owner of Lilt Floral in Birmingham, Alabama, demonstrates how to create beautiful floral displays using a mix of materials. If you’re planning to make your Thanksgiving centerpiece, McAfee encourages using what you have at home. She has created five arrangements inspired by the golden hour, incorporating foraged materials, fresh flowers, and unique vessels.
Great Heights
One standout arrangement features the ‘Princettia Dark Pink’ poinsettia. This unique flower is surrounded by softer shades of pink, along with golden yellows and browns. “I love them because they’re unique and have smaller petals than traditional red poinsettias,” says McAfee. She starts by building a foundation with sweet gum and dried beech branches, along with sprigs of pepperberries and scented geraniums. McAfee uses florist frogs to secure dahlias, ranunculus, and poinsettias in place. “Frogs are easy to use. You can stick the stems right into them, and they stay put,” she explains. She prefers using vintage glass frogs. “They also help keep flowers fresh in water.”
Ingredients:
‘Princettia Dark Pink’ poinsettia
Sweet gum branches
Dried beech
Sprigs of pepperberries
Scented geraniums
Dahlias
Ranunculus
Flower frogs
How To:
Start by building a foundation with larger stems and branches: sweet gum, dried beech, pepperberry, and scented geraniums. You can use any foraged items you like.
Place the flowers (dahlias, ranunculus, and poinsettias) into the flower frogs and arrange them in the vessel.
Fill with water and refill as needed.
Small Statements
Instead of a large arrangement, consider using single blooms on a mantel or clustered on a side table. “This is a less intimidating approach, but it’s still stunning and impactful. All you have to do is trim the stems and place them in vases,” says McAfee. This method is also more affordable, as it requires fewer flowers. She suggests using tulips, ranunculus, and dahlias in various bud vases, which can be glass, silver, or recycled bottles. “I like to use one type of vessel or mix them for a more organic look,” she adds.
Ingredients:
A few stems of your favorite flowers (like tulips, ranunculus, and dahlias).
How To:
Choose a variety of bud vases or small containers and fill each with water.
Add one or two blooms to each vase.
Arrange the vases together for a larger effect or scatter them around the table or room.
Foraged Finds
This arrangement concept is inspired by outdoor treasures. “You can simply go to your backyard, cut some pretty leaves, add a few flowers, and you’re done,” McAfee explains. She recommends mixing in candles and fruit, like pomegranates, for an elegant look. Using chicken wire in the bowl, she creates a structure with found branches and adds zinnias for color. “Chicken wire is my favorite design tool. It allows for movement, and everything stays in water, so it lasts longer,” she says.
Ingredients:
Foraged branches with fall-colored leaves
Zinnias (or any colorful flower)
Chicken wire
How To:
Create a loose ball with the chicken wire and place it in the bottom of the bowl.
Insert branches of varying heights into the wire to create structure.
Tuck fresh blooms into visible gaps.
Balancing Act
McAfee prefers designing in sturdy containers like this concrete tub. “A stable vessel allows you to fill it without worrying about it tipping over,” she explains. She anchors the centerpiece with chicken wire and builds its framework using foraged branches, pepperberry sprigs, dried beech leaves, and scented geraniums. She then adds dried ‘Limelight’ hydrangeas and fills it with zinnias, caramel antique roses, dahlias, and ranunculus, creating a visually appealing balance.
Ingredients:
Foraged branches with fall-colored leaves (dried beech leaves and pepperberry sprigs)
Scented geraniums
Dried ‘Limelight’ hydrangeas
Zinnias
Caramel antique roses
Dahlias
Ranunculus
Chicken wire
How To:
In a sturdy vessel, place chicken wire and build the base with branches, sprigs, and geraniums.
Add dried hydrangeas to fill large gaps.
Finally, insert fresh flowers as desired, leaving some negative space.
Breathing Room
This centerpiece focuses on soft pinks and rich oranges. “I like to start with branches, like kangaroo paw and dried beech leaves, to shape the arrangement,” says McAfee. She secures them with florist foam in the footed vessel. She adds zinnias, dahlias, and caramel antique roses for dimension, positioning some flowers deeper to create interest. “I enjoy working with negative space. It keeps things interesting and showcases flowers like ranunculus,” she says. Persimmons at the bottom add texture and seasonal flair.
Ingredients:
Foraged branches with fall-colored leaves (dried beech leaves and kangaroo paw)
Zinnias
Caramel antique roses
Dahlias
Ranunculus
Floral foam
Optional: persimmons
How To:
Soak a block of floral foam and place it at the bottom of your vessel.
Insert branches into the foam, then add flowers around the edges of the vase.
Add ranunculus to fill open spaces and add height.
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