Festive blooms: 3 Singapore experts share their tips on creating your own floral arrangements this Christmas

You’ve got a couple of Christmas dinners lined up, of which you’re playing host. To dress up your home, you’ve decided to create your own floral arrangements and decor. But where do you start?

To help you out, we speak to three floral experts in Singapore who share their insights and tips, whether you’re planning on hosting an intimate dinner with a few guests, or a larger gathering with several of your loved ones.

LELIAN CHEW, FOUNDER, THE FLORAL ATELIER

How can one create a simple floral arrangement for an intimate dinner of two to three guests?

For a small, intimate dinner you can imagine a cosier and more casual set up. The floral arrangement should match the mood as well and provide a lovely backdrop to the flow of conversation and not impede it. Hence arrangements that are more delicate in size work really well. Or even a few smaller bunches of flowers scattered across the table, accessoried with candles can add a touch of flair as well. 

A larger focal flower like hydrangea or peony, accompanied with other smaller flowers, can also provide a dramatic setting without needing a lot of accompaniment. 

How can you create floral styling for a bigger group of four to six guests?

A theme and the seating arrangement of the guests are important considerations when styling for a bigger group. Be it a rustic, casual or formal setting, the importance is that the arrangement should extend its presence across the entire table and be equally enjoyed by all guests. 

So instead of one feature vase in the middle of the table, think of how you can provide an overflowing effect that each and every guest seated at the table can touch. Longer floral arrangements that flow across the length of table is a great way to provide a sense of abundance and generosity. Having additional accent foliage to your arrangements provides more dimension and texture.

Have fun with your accessories and vessels. Floral arrangements do not always have to sit in vases and you can create perfect conversation points when you select non-traditional vessels.

What about something more elaborate for larger gatherings of more than six guests?

Depending on where you are hosting this, there are plenty of ways to create dramatic flora moments to enchant your guests. You can consider the guests' journey and theme, and then identify a couple of key moments that will provide maximum impact. 

First impressions always count, so it can be a big floral arrangement at the welcome foyer decked with a lighting element (candles, lanterns, lamps, fairy lights) and a richly textured tablecloth. Or an overflowing floral arrangement that falls from the head of the table to the floor to greet the guests, gets that first wow. 

Beyond floral, bigger statement elements like arches over the dining table, lanterns of different sizes, or cloth or ornaments cleverly draped as accessories to your styling can easily transform the place and transport your guest to another world. 

Do you have any tips when it comes to shopping for flowers?

When it comes to shopping for flowers, it’s always best to have a theme in mind, and a colour palette. Look online for some inspiration (check out @thefloralatelier.co if all fails!) and that will help you visualise better what you require. 

Map out the quality you need, and then add some more. Chances are you will need more as some of the flowers that you bring home are not up to your standards for display, such is the nature of fresh flowers.

Another tip: It is always best to do a little research on the flowers that are in season before heading down to the floral markets as they are more likely to have a wide selection of in-season flowers (and of better quality) and this would ensure that you would have a diverse and fresh assortment to choose from. Remember that shopping for flowers is a creative and fun experience, so enjoy the process. 

What is your one most important tip when creating floral styling for hosting?

It’s always important to pay attention to the scale of your arrangements and their placement within the space. 

You want to always create an enjoyable experience for your guests and ensure that the floral arrangements do not obstruct guests' views or prevent conversations. At the same time, the scale of the flowers should not feel too small for the space. I also love to celebrate seasonality, and always ensure my choices vary with the seasons to ensure I am honouring nature's best. 

Besides flowers, what are some of your must-have styling items?  

One essential must-have for styling would be candles. Candles add warmth to the space and create an inviting atmosphere to any setting. They are also a versatile element for styling various spaces. 

With larger flower arrangements, tapered candles can complement the scale and height of the arrangement, creating a grand and formal look. For smaller flower arrangements, petite tealights can be used to create a more intimate and understated look. They provide a gentle glow, complimenting the floral display, at a very reasonable price point. 

CHARLOTTE PUXLEY, FOUNDER, CHARLOTTE PUXLEY FLOWERS

How can one create a simple floral arrangement for an intimate dinner of two to three guests? 

Simple, interesting bud vases that have a few stems are good for these cosy gatherings. Of course, with candlelight, always. A good example is something from our Pick N Mix collection, it doesn’t break the bank but sets a tone – intriguing, yet not overwhelming.

How can you create floral styling for a bigger group of four to six guests?

It definitely helps to have a theme as it will make the process of choosing flowers easier. When arranging them, you don’t want your flowers to be too high that people can’t see over them. I like to compliment one larger, low arrangement with two bud vases on either side, so the table feels full and balanced. Our Field Peas is perfect for this – with flowers grown by us in our gardens in Singapore, making it a more sustainable choice without compromising on intriguing flowers.

What about something more elaborate for larger gatherings of more than six guests?

If I am having a larger dinner, I often would do something bolder either at the entrance or on the island unit area to compliment the table setup. This often should be architectural shapes, layering lots of one thing. High accents, greens, purple alliums, or a collection of Pennisetum grasses all spring to mind.

Otherwise for the festive season, our line of The Pickles Do Christmas Perfectly is a good example of a substitute for a Christmas tree – half the commitment, but still with a festive touch and longevity.

Do you have any tips when it comes to shopping for flowers?

Avoid places with large fridges, these often mean that their flowers can be kept for too long and it’s hard to know if they’re old. It really helps to have one supplier or florist and work closely with them. They will always let you know when the best deliveries are, or which flowers are in season. If you’re a real flower lover, flower subscriptions are great for regular deliveries of the freshest bunch!

To prevent wastage, how can we reuse flowers for when holiday hosting is over? 

Flowers last a week, so if you’re going to enjoy them for one night or just a few days, encourage your guests to bring them home. Repurposing them to give to your friends or neighbours is also a fun idea. Ultimately, flowers still die, but that’s the joy of them. Perhaps they’re more beautiful because they’re fleeting.

AUDE GIRAUD, FOUNDER, ASK A FRENCH

How can one create a simple floral arrangement for an intimate dinner of two to three guests?

The holiday season is all about about Christmas trees and Christmas wreaths! For a small dinner, one thing that would definitely create an intimate table is a candle in a Christmas wreath centrepiece. If you are not familiar with making your own wreath, you do not have to be an expert to create some magic. Here's what I suggest: Pick your favorite candle or chandelier and place or lay flat some festive flowers and pine leaves all around in order to create a circle. It's a very simple styling technique that will do the trick.

How can you create floral styling for a bigger group of four to six guests?

Double the above design for four to six guests.

What about something more elaborate for larger gatherings of more than six guests?

Beyond the table you can have flower arrangements that recall your table styling. In your arrangements, you can add some ribbons and baubles to make them look more festive. 

Do you have any tips when it comes to shopping for flowers?

To shop flowers by the stems, I recommend Tiong Bahru wet market. Always choose the freshest looking ones so they last longer. Have in mind where you want to place them in your home so that you know what colours they will be placed next too. For contrast, choose colours that are different from your main space. For something that will blend more into the space, choose colours that are similar to the ones in your home. Also think about picking flowers with different textures to create something wilder.

To prevent wastage, how can we reuse the flowers for when holiday hosting is over?

Use eucalyptus, Baby's Breath, caspia, or any foliage that can dry so you can recycle them into dried arrangements for the little corners of your home.

What is your one most important tip when creating floral styling?

It needs to reflect your own personality or your mood. There is no rule in how it should look like. Express yourself!