My studio is dangerously close to a wholesale flower shop—literally three buildings away—which has been both delightful and disastrous for my wallet. Lately I’ve been finding any excuse to buy fresh blooms, and today that excuse was a DIY floral centerpiece. The dahlias were irresistible when I visited the shop, and then I discovered a “secret” ingredient that pushed me to create a holiday bouquet right away.
Want to make one yourself?
Here’s what you’ll need for the centerpiece.
Flower list:
– 10 stems of dahlias
– 1 large stem of pepperberry
– 5 peonies
– 3 stems of rosemary
The secret ingredient for this DIY holiday centerpiece is the pepperberry. It brings an instant seasonal feel without being overpowering—if you can’t find pepperberry, look for a similar filler with small clustered berries and a woodland look.
How to assemble:
First, choose a medium-to-tall vase and prepare your flowers by removing excess leaves and any damaged petals. Start by gathering the stems in your hand to work out the arrangement and the varying heights. Use a crisscross method with the stems to build structure: cross stems over each other so they lock in place and create a stable framework.
Once you’re happy with the hand-held composition, trim the stems at an angle so they can drink properly, keeping them slightly staggered in length to maintain shape. Transfer the bouquet to the vase while keeping the composition intact. You can always tweak the placement after the stems are in water—add more flowers or filler if the arrangement looks sparse.
Don’t worry about perfection—natural, slightly asymmetrical arrangements often look more interesting and organic. The mix of large dahlia blooms, soft peonies, pepperberry accents, and aromatic rosemary gives the centerpiece texture, color contrast, and a hint of holiday scent.
Photography: Amelia Tatnall
Styling: Brittni Mehlhoff
So, what would you do if a flower shop was just a few doors away? Would you, like me, find every excuse to bring blooms home, or do you have better self-restraint when it comes to fresh flowers?