<ol><li><strong>Pick your palette</strong>. Stick to either warm or cool colours or various shades of the same colour.</li><li><strong>Look for one to two types of greenery with different textures and three to four types of flowers</strong>: A filler flower, a flower with some height, the "star" flower to grab attention, and a more complex flower such as berries.</li><li><strong>Look for healthy flowers</strong>. The flowers should have green stems and firm petals.</li><li><strong>Prep your plants</strong>. Cut stems at a 45-degree angle and remove leaves that will be below the waterline in the vase.</li></ol>

Find the right flowers

<p>Put your vase on a lazy susan so you can spin it as you work.</p><ol><li>Start with the greenery</li><li>Then add your filler flowers</li><li>Next, add the tall flowers to create a high point</li><li>Then add the "star" flowers</li><li>Finish off your arrangement with the dainty flowers</li></ol><p>Ensure your bouquet has different layers of height and feels full and balanced all around.</p>

Build your bouquet

<UL><picture>
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            <img src="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2020/12/21/lifekit_tile_3000x3000_sq-b3f049c61e447353e6d40c158e91a260f707b64f-s100-c85.png" alt="Life Kit" width="77" height="77">
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                Florist Alexander Campbell shares tips to help you level up your supermarket bouquet. We followed his advice to create this arrangement from grocery store flowers.
                
                
                
            </p><div class="caption"><span aria-label="Image credit">
        
        Photo Illustration by Becky Harlan/NPR
        
    </span></div><p dir="ltr">Maybe you forgot to order flowers for a special occasion. Or you just want to exercise a new creative muscle. Either way, these tips from <a href="https://www.acfloralstudio.com/" dir="ltr">florist</a> and <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@acfloralstudio?lang=en" dir="ltr">TikTok sensation</a> Alexander Campbell will help you select and arrange grocery store flowers so they look like you got them from a florist. </p><p dir="ltr">
                Left: warm colors; Middle: cool colors; Right: a single color in varying shades
                
                
                
            </p><div class="caption"><span aria-label="Image credit">
        
        Photo Illustration by Becky Harlan/NPR
        
    </span></div><p>Think about what colors the recipient likes. If you need help deciding on a "color story," Campbell suggests sticking with a palette of either warm or cool colors, or various shades of the same color — like light purple to dark purple. </p><h3>2. Go shopping! </h3><picture>
            <source srcset="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/04/29/lk_flowers_composite-copy_wide-beac7ecd3048aa01e8b35971ed8158931d249a71-s400-c85.webp 400w, https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/04/29/lk_flowers_composite-copy_wide-beac7ecd3048aa01e8b35971ed8158931d249a71-s600-c85.webp 600w, https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/04/29/lk_flowers_composite-copy_wide-beac7ecd3048aa01e8b35971ed8158931d249a71-s800-c85.webp 800w, https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/04/29/lk_flowers_composite-copy_wide-beac7ecd3048aa01e8b35971ed8158931d249a71-s900-c85.webp 900w, https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/04/29/lk_flowers_composite-copy_wide-beac7ecd3048aa01e8b35971ed8158931d249a71-s1200-c85.webp 1200w, https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/04/29/lk_flowers_composite-copy_wide-beac7ecd3048aa01e8b35971ed8158931d249a71-s1600-c85.webp 1600w, https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/04/29/lk_flowers_composite-copy_wide-beac7ecd3048aa01e8b35971ed8158931d249a71-s1800-c85.webp 1800w" sizes="(min-width: 1300px) 763px, (min-width: 1025px) calc(100vw - 496px), (min-width: 768px) calc(100vw - 171px), calc(100vw - 30px)" class="img" type="image/webp">
            <source srcset="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/04/29/lk_flowers_composite-copy_wide-beac7ecd3048aa01e8b35971ed8158931d249a71-s400-c85.jpg 400w, https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/04/29/lk_flowers_composite-copy_wide-beac7ecd3048aa01e8b35971ed8158931d249a71-s600-c85.jpg 600w, https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/04/29/lk_flowers_composite-copy_wide-beac7ecd3048aa01e8b35971ed8158931d249a71-s800-c85.jpg 800w, https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/04/29/lk_flowers_composite-copy_wide-beac7ecd3048aa01e8b35971ed8158931d249a71-s900-c85.jpg 900w, https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/04/29/lk_flowers_composite-copy_wide-beac7ecd3048aa01e8b35971ed8158931d249a71-s1200-c85.jpg 1200w, https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/04/29/lk_flowers_composite-copy_wide-beac7ecd3048aa01e8b35971ed8158931d249a71-s1600-c85.jpg 1600w, https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/04/29/lk_flowers_composite-copy_wide-beac7ecd3048aa01e8b35971ed8158931d249a71-s1800-c85.jpg 1800w" sizes="(min-width: 1300px) 763px, (min-width: 1025px) calc(100vw - 496px), (min-width: 768px) calc(100vw - 171px), calc(100vw - 30px)" class="img" type="image/jpeg">
            <img src="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/04/29/lk_flowers_composite-copy_wide-beac7ecd3048aa01e8b35971ed8158931d249a71-s1100-c50.jpg" alt="At the store, look for textured greens, filler flowers, flowers with some height, &quot;star&quot; flowers and dainty flowers." width="612" height="344">
        </picture><div><button>Enlarge this image</button></div><div class="caption"><span aria-label="Image credit">
        
        Photo Illustration by Becky Harlan/NPR
        
    </span></div><p>Look for one to two types of greenery with different textures and three to four types of flowers in your color palette:</p><UL><LI>A filler flower (we chose mums)</LI><LI>A flower with some height (here, we used a lily)</LI><LI>"Star" flowers that really grab your attention (for us, a protea) </LI><LI>A daintier or more complex flower (berries)</LI></UL><h3>3. Look for healthy flowers </h3><picture>
            <source srcset="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/05/02/lk_harlan_flowers-healthy-copy_custom-c448d72ca742316630d5d17fef626ae92e344ce3-s400-c85.webp 400w, https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/05/02/lk_harlan_flowers-healthy-copy_custom-c448d72ca742316630d5d17fef626ae92e344ce3-s600-c85.webp 600w, https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/05/02/lk_harlan_flowers-healthy-copy_custom-c448d72ca742316630d5d17fef626ae92e344ce3-s800-c85.webp 800w, https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/05/02/lk_harlan_flowers-healthy-copy_custom-c448d72ca742316630d5d17fef626ae92e344ce3-s900-c85.webp 900w, https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/05/02/lk_harlan_flowers-healthy-copy_custom-c448d72ca742316630d5d17fef626ae92e344ce3-s1200-c85.webp 1200w, https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/05/02/lk_harlan_flowers-healthy-copy_custom-c448d72ca742316630d5d17fef626ae92e344ce3-s1600-c85.webp 1600w, https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/05/02/lk_harlan_flowers-healthy-copy_custom-c448d72ca742316630d5d17fef626ae92e344ce3-s1800-c85.webp 1800w" sizes="(min-width: 1300px) 763px, (min-width: 1025px) calc(100vw - 496px), (min-width: 768px) calc(100vw - 171px), calc(100vw - 30px)" class="img" type="image/webp">
            <source srcset="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/05/02/lk_harlan_flowers-healthy-copy_custom-c448d72ca742316630d5d17fef626ae92e344ce3-s400-c85.jpg 400w, https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/05/02/lk_harlan_flowers-healthy-copy_custom-c448d72ca742316630d5d17fef626ae92e344ce3-s600-c85.jpg 600w, https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/05/02/lk_harlan_flowers-healthy-copy_custom-c448d72ca742316630d5d17fef626ae92e344ce3-s800-c85.jpg 800w, https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/05/02/lk_harlan_flowers-healthy-copy_custom-c448d72ca742316630d5d17fef626ae92e344ce3-s900-c85.jpg 900w, https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/05/02/lk_harlan_flowers-healthy-copy_custom-c448d72ca742316630d5d17fef626ae92e344ce3-s1200-c85.jpg 1200w, https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/05/02/lk_harlan_flowers-healthy-copy_custom-c448d72ca742316630d5d17fef626ae92e344ce3-s1600-c85.jpg 1600w, https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/05/02/lk_harlan_flowers-healthy-copy_custom-c448d72ca742316630d5d17fef626ae92e344ce3-s1800-c85.jpg 1800w" sizes="(min-width: 1300px) 763px, (min-width: 1025px) calc(100vw - 496px), (min-width: 768px) calc(100vw - 171px), calc(100vw - 30px)" class="img" type="image/jpeg">
            <img src="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/05/02/lk_harlan_flowers-healthy-copy_custom-c448d72ca742316630d5d17fef626ae92e344ce3-s1100-c50.jpg" alt="Shop for flowers with green stems and firm petals." width="612" height="382">
        </picture><div class="caption"><span aria-label="Image credit">
        
        Photo Illustration by Becky Harlan/NPR
        
    </span></div><p>At the store, check the flowers to make sure that the stems are green and the petals are firm. </p><p dir="ltr"><strong dir="ltr">Pro tip</strong>: Look for a mix of buds and flowers that are already in bloom to give your bouquet a longer life.  </p><h3>4. Prep your plants </h3><picture>
            <source srcset="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/05/02/lk_harlan_flowers-prep_custom-421fdd534347860d70c401e84e87a31a5b32c3ff-s400-c85.webp 400w, https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/05/02/lk_harlan_flowers-prep_custom-421fdd534347860d70c401e84e87a31a5b32c3ff-s600-c85.webp 600w, https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/05/02/lk_harlan_flowers-prep_custom-421fdd534347860d70c401e84e87a31a5b32c3ff-s800-c85.webp 800w, https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/05/02/lk_harlan_flowers-prep_custom-421fdd534347860d70c401e84e87a31a5b32c3ff-s900-c85.webp 900w, https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/05/02/lk_harlan_flowers-prep_custom-421fdd534347860d70c401e84e87a31a5b32c3ff-s1200-c85.webp 1200w, https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/05/02/lk_harlan_flowers-prep_custom-421fdd534347860d70c401e84e87a31a5b32c3ff-s1600-c85.webp 1600w, https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/05/02/lk_harlan_flowers-prep_custom-421fdd534347860d70c401e84e87a31a5b32c3ff-s1800-c85.webp 1800w" sizes="(min-width: 1300px) 763px, (min-width: 1025px) calc(100vw - 496px), (min-width: 768px) calc(100vw - 171px), calc(100vw - 30px)" class="img" type="image/webp">
            <source srcset="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/05/02/lk_harlan_flowers-prep_custom-421fdd534347860d70c401e84e87a31a5b32c3ff-s400-c85.jpg 400w, https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/05/02/lk_harlan_flowers-prep_custom-421fdd534347860d70c401e84e87a31a5b32c3ff-s600-c85.jpg 600w, https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/05/02/lk_harlan_flowers-prep_custom-421fdd534347860d70c401e84e87a31a5b32c3ff-s800-c85.jpg 800w, https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/05/02/lk_harlan_flowers-prep_custom-421fdd534347860d70c401e84e87a31a5b32c3ff-s900-c85.jpg 900w, https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/05/02/lk_harlan_flowers-prep_custom-421fdd534347860d70c401e84e87a31a5b32c3ff-s1200-c85.jpg 1200w, https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/05/02/lk_harlan_flowers-prep_custom-421fdd534347860d70c401e84e87a31a5b32c3ff-s1600-c85.jpg 1600w, https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/05/02/lk_harlan_flowers-prep_custom-421fdd534347860d70c401e84e87a31a5b32c3ff-s1800-c85.jpg 1800w" sizes="(min-width: 1300px) 763px, (min-width: 1025px) calc(100vw - 496px), (min-width: 768px) calc(100vw - 171px), calc(100vw - 30px)" class="img" type="image/jpeg">
            <img src="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/05/02/lk_harlan_flowers-prep_custom-421fdd534347860d70c401e84e87a31a5b32c3ff-s1100-c50.jpg" alt="Two photographs side-by-side. The first showing a hand cutting the stem of a flower at a 45 degree angle with a pair of scissors. The second image shows a hand removing leaves from the stem of a flower." width="612" height="451">
        </picture><div class="caption"><span aria-label="Image credit">
        
        Photo Illustration by Becky Harlan/NPR
        
    </span></div><p>Cut the stems at a 45-degree angle, and remove leaves that will be below the waterline in the vase. </p><h3>5. Build your bouquet </h3><picture>
            <source srcset="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/05/02/lk_bouquet_grid-copy_custom-5d99312e793e117fbaf6d2f9bd1601c83578105c-s400-c85.webp 400w, https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/05/02/lk_bouquet_grid-copy_custom-5d99312e793e117fbaf6d2f9bd1601c83578105c-s600-c85.webp 600w, https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/05/02/lk_bouquet_grid-copy_custom-5d99312e793e117fbaf6d2f9bd1601c83578105c-s800-c85.webp 800w, https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/05/02/lk_bouquet_grid-copy_custom-5d99312e793e117fbaf6d2f9bd1601c83578105c-s900-c85.webp 900w, https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/05/02/lk_bouquet_grid-copy_custom-5d99312e793e117fbaf6d2f9bd1601c83578105c-s1200-c85.webp 1200w, https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/05/02/lk_bouquet_grid-copy_custom-5d99312e793e117fbaf6d2f9bd1601c83578105c-s1600-c85.webp 1600w, https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/05/02/lk_bouquet_grid-copy_custom-5d99312e793e117fbaf6d2f9bd1601c83578105c-s1800-c85.webp 1800w" sizes="(min-width: 1300px) 763px, (min-width: 1025px) calc(100vw - 496px), (min-width: 768px) calc(100vw - 171px), calc(100vw - 30px)" class="img" type="image/webp">
            <source srcset="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/05/02/lk_bouquet_grid-copy_custom-5d99312e793e117fbaf6d2f9bd1601c83578105c-s400-c85.jpg 400w, https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/05/02/lk_bouquet_grid-copy_custom-5d99312e793e117fbaf6d2f9bd1601c83578105c-s600-c85.jpg 600w, https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/05/02/lk_bouquet_grid-copy_custom-5d99312e793e117fbaf6d2f9bd1601c83578105c-s800-c85.jpg 800w, https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/05/02/lk_bouquet_grid-copy_custom-5d99312e793e117fbaf6d2f9bd1601c83578105c-s900-c85.jpg 900w, https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/05/02/lk_bouquet_grid-copy_custom-5d99312e793e117fbaf6d2f9bd1601c83578105c-s1200-c85.jpg 1200w, https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/05/02/lk_bouquet_grid-copy_custom-5d99312e793e117fbaf6d2f9bd1601c83578105c-s1600-c85.jpg 1600w, https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/05/02/lk_bouquet_grid-copy_custom-5d99312e793e117fbaf6d2f9bd1601c83578105c-s1800-c85.jpg 1800w" sizes="(min-width: 1300px) 763px, (min-width: 1025px) calc(100vw - 496px), (min-width: 768px) calc(100vw - 171px), calc(100vw - 30px)" class="img" type="image/jpeg">
            <img src="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/05/02/lk_bouquet_grid-copy_custom-5d99312e793e117fbaf6d2f9bd1601c83578105c-s1100-c50.jpg" alt="tk" width="612" height="696">
        </picture><div><button>Enlarge this image</button></div><div class="caption"><span aria-label="Image credit">
        
        Photo Illustration by Becky Harlan/NPR
        
    </span></div><p>Put your vase on a lazy susan so you can spin it as you work. Add each item in this order: </p><OL><LI>Start with the greenery</LI><LI>Then add your filler flowers</LI><LI>Next, add the tall flowers to create a high point </LI><LI>Then add the "star" flowers that really spoke to you</LI><LI>Finish off your arrangement with the dainty flowers</LI></OL><h3>6. Create layers and balance</h3><img src="https://www.npr.org/assets/img/2022/05/02/lk_flowers_bouquet_harlan.gif" alt="Flower bouquet spinning on a lazy susan" width="450" height="800"><p>Credit: Becky Harlan/NPR</p><p>Make sure your bouquet has different layers of height and that it feels full and balanced all the way around. Look at your arrangement from different perspectives and sides to see if you want to tweak anything. </p><h3>7. Make someone's day! (And make sure they care for your creation)</h3><p>Give your bouquet to your loved one. It will be even more meaningful that you arranged it yourself! </p><p>Campbell suggests adding flower food to the water and changing the water every day or every other day to extend the life of the bouquet. </p><p><em>The podcast portion of this story was produced by Meghan Keane. </em></p><p dir="ltr"><em dir="ltr">We'd love to hear from you. If you have a good life hack, leave us a voicemail at </em><a href="tel:2022169823" dir="ltr"><em dir="ltr">202-216-9823</em></a><em dir="ltr"> or email us at </em><a href="mailto:LifeKit@npr.org" dir="ltr"><em dir="ltr">LifeKit@npr.org</em></a><em dir="ltr">. Your tip could appear in an upcoming episode.</em></p><p dir="ltr"><em dir="ltr">If you love Life Kit and want more, </em><a href="https://www.npr.org/newsletter/life-kit" dir="ltr"><em dir="ltr">subscribe to our newsletter</em></a><em dir="ltr">.</em></p>

Whether you forgot to order flowers for that special occasion, or you just want to flex a new creative muscle, here's how to DIY a professional-looking bouquet with grocery store flowers.

<ul><img src="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2020/12/21/lifekit_tile_3000x3000_sq-b3f049c61e447353e6d40c158e91a260f707b64f-s100-c85.png"> <li>subscribe  </li> </ul>

<p>Florist Alexander Campbell shares tips to help you level up your supermarket bouquet. We followed his advice to create this arrangement from grocery store flowers. </p>

<p>Maybe you forgot to order flowers for a special occasion. Or you just want to exercise a new creative muscle. Either way, these tips from <a href="https://www.acfloralstudio.com/">florist </a>and <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@acfloralstudio?lang=en">TikTok sensation </a>Alexander Campbell will help you select and arrange grocery store flowers so they look like you got them from a florist. </p>

<p>Left: warm colors; Middle: cool colors; Right: a single color in varying shades </p>

<p>Think about what colors the recipient likes. If you need help deciding on a "color story," Campbell suggests sticking with a palette of either warm or cool colors, or various shades of the same color — like light purple to dark purple. </p>

<p>Look for one to two types of greenery with different textures and three to four types of flowers in your color palette: </p>

<ul><li>A filler flower (we chose mums) </li><li>A flower with some height (here, we used a lily) </li><li>"Star" flowers that really grab your attention (for us, a protea) </li><li>A daintier or more complex flower (berries) </li> </ul>

<p>At the store, check the flowers to make sure that the stems are green and the petals are firm. </p>

<p><strong>Pro tip </strong>: Look for a mix of buds and flowers that are already in bloom to give your bouquet a longer life. </p>

<p>Cut the stems at a 45-degree angle, and remove leaves that will be below the waterline in the vase. </p>

<p>Put your vase on a lazy susan so you can spin it as you work. Add each item in this order: </p>

<ol><li>Start with the greenery </li><li>Then add your filler flowers </li><li>Next, add the tall flowers to create a high point </li><li>Then add the "star" flowers that really spoke to you </li><li>Finish off your arrangement with the dainty flowers </li> </ol>

<p>Make sure your bouquet has different layers of height and that it feels full and balanced all the way around. Look at your arrangement from different perspectives and sides to see if you want to tweak anything. </p>

7. Make someone's day! (And make sure they care for your creation)

<p>Give your bouquet to your loved one. It will be even more meaningful that you arranged it yourself! </p>

<p>Campbell suggests adding flower food to the water and changing the water every day or every other day to extend the life of the bouquet. </p>

<p><em>The podcast portion of this story was produced by Meghan Keane. </em> </p>

<p><em>We'd love to hear from you. If you have a good life hack, leave us a voicemail at </em><a href="tel:2022169823"><em>202-216-9823 </em> </a><em>or email us at </em><a href="mailto:LifeKit@npr.org"><em>LifeKit@npr.org </em> </a><em>. Your tip could appear in an upcoming episode. </em> </p>

<p><em>If you love Life Kit and want more, </em><a href="https://www.npr.org/newsletter/life-kit"><em>subscribe to our newsletter </em> </a><em>. </em> </p>

How to arrange supermarket flowers like a pro : Life Kit

Find the right flowers

Build your bouquet

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