Charleston event planner and weddings expert Calder Clark is back on Belle Decor, this time to teach all of us how to take the stress out of flower arranging.

Check out her thoughts below.

Guest post for Belle Decor by  Calder Clark

You’re probably mastered a few no-fail dishes or are already a genius on the grill, which makes you the ideal host for a crop of last minute summer fêtes. One thing you may be missing is a green thumb, but we’ve got you covered.

I think a few blooms in your home make your party look polished—like you went the extra mile to show guests a good time. It doesn’t have to cost much at all; in fact, you may have the tools already lying around your house.

Here are some ground rules:

1. When in doubt, go mono-botanical or “single species”. If you have a hydrangea plant, a camellia bush, a magnolia tree, even a stand of papyrus- you’re halfway there. Stick to one type of flower for the best look. Trouble brews when you dabble in mixing varieties. 

2. Keep it simple. A mason jar, a vintage tea cup or three, even an old tea tin—these are containers you may have gathered over time that make your arrangements easy and effortless. 





3. Always use good floral shears. Grab a pair from your local hardware store to keep on hand for easy cutting of blooms from your yard. Run stems under water as you cut, then fill your container-of-choice with a few great hearty flowers until it looks full and happy.

4. Your mantel, your dining table, your foyer—these are easy places to drop little arrangements, but don’t forget your powder room! (Talk about using what you have around the house—blooming branches in an old pair of Wellies make a hospitable foyer [see below]).


 

5. Dudes—you too can dig in your closet and come up with something rugged but fitting for your backyard barbecue (see below).





*Designer’s tip: take cheap double-sided tape and make a waffle-weave grid on the mouth of your container for an automatic structure that will hold unwieldy stems in place. That’s how the pros do it!