Frugal Fall Flowers

I interrupt Fall Cookie Week for a very important message (Don’t worry, there’s still a cookie recipe for today. Click here.) Today, I’m taking a break from baking to share a quick and easy decorating idea. I teamed up with Laura of Finding Home and a few other fabulous ladies to share decor ideas throughout the year that can come together in less than 10 minutes. With crazy-busy schedules, it’s nice to have a few decorating ideas in your back pocket that you can throw together in a jiffy.

Last week I shared my Fall Home Tour. (Thanks again for all of the love!) When you looked at the pictures of my house, you may have noticed that I have flowers scattered here and there. I’ve made it a habit to pick up a cheap bouquets of flowers at the store. Even though I live alone, there is something about having flowers around that makes me happy. And for a few bucks, I’m all in.

As you know, grocery store flowers can be a little boring. So today I wanted to show you how you can take a $5 pack of flowers and make wow-worthy arrangements for fall in just 10 minutes. Aka Frugal Fall Flowers.

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Sound good? Let’s do it!

First, pick up some flowers at the store. I bought three different varieties just so I could show you more possibilities. All three of these together were still under $20. If you’re throwing a fall get-together, $20 isn’t too bad. As you’ll see, I was able to get five arrangements out of them.

Next, give these flowers a little love. Go ahead and quickly remove most of the leaves. And by most, I mean pretty much all of them. You can also remove any broken flower heads and pick off any petals that are brown, ripped, or otherwise damaged.

Much better already.

At this point, we need some fillers. Keep your pajamas on, put on your Crocs, grab a pair of scissors, and run around your yard collecting pretty leaves and flowers. (Your neighbors will think you have truly lost your mind. However, you’re the one who will have the pretty flowers. You win!)

While you’re collecting, remove any excess leaves so that the bulk of the foliage is toward the top of the stem.

Good.

Now, gather some containers from around your house and fill them with water. Think outside of the box. You don’t necessary need a flower vase. Use a mason jar, coffee cup, pottery, etc.

Then, start putting your arrangements together.

I really don’t know how to explain this part, but have fun with it. Play around with things until you like what you see. If it helps, use some of my examples for inspiration.

A few tips:

• Keep any leaves out of the water. They will turn yucky and your flowers won’t last as long.
• If you’re having trouble deciding which flowers and foliage to use, stick with a similar color scheme and vary the shades.
• Use different textures – some bigger leaves, some smaller leaves.
• Try keeping things wispy. You can also keep things compact. Both work.
• Do what you want. Some of you are going to love my creations; some of you aren’t. However, what matters is that I love them and they bring me joy. Same thing goes when you’re arranging your flowers.

Okay, let me show you what I came up with.

Something for the kitchen in one of my favorite mugs. Remember, things don’t have to be in-your-face-fall. A few red leaves sends that message.

In the dining room, I added a pop of color with some roses.

I used this cowboy boot glass to hold some botanicals on my bar cart.

Then, in the living room, I tucked a few flowers into a small Weck Jar to add some interest to my mantel.

I also used the lilies with some golden yellow leaves for an arrangement on my side table. The lilies haven’t opened yet, but when they do, the color show will be spectacular.

And that’s it. Quick, inexpensive, and totally beautiful. And an easy way to spread happy fall color around my house.

For two other ideas, let me refer you to my fall home tour.

This arrangement is just yellow roses and fall leaves. (I actually shared the closeup via Instagram.)

And this arrangement on my coffee table happened by accident. The store was out of flowers, so I ended up picking all of these zinnias from my own yard at 11 o’clock at night (again in my pajamas and Crocs). The flowers totally work and were absolutely free!

I hope you find this little guide helpful.

For more 10-Minute Decorating Ideas, check out what my blogger friends are up to below. And now, back to Fall Cookie Week – today’s recipe can be found here: Maple Cream Sandwich Cookies.

Faucet Handle Velvet Pumpkins from Finding Home

Gold Studded Pumpkin from Not Just a Housewife

Fall Leaf Art from I Heart Organizing

DIY Fall Planter from Four Generations One Roof

Wood Block Fall Banner from Thistlewood Farms