How to Use Florals to Make Every Interior Install Feel Editorial—Without a Stylist

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Yes, florals can be predictable—especially in spring. But arranged thoughtfully, they truly can be transformative. After all, they add emotion, texture, color, and movement to a space. They create focal points, introduce natural shapes, and bring a sense of life that can make even the most carefully curated interiors feel more personal.

Of course, the key is to escape clichés and think about scale, structure, and storytelling. Before you rush to photograph another space for your portfolio, learn how to elevate your project with florals—no stylist required.

This article was originally published in the Spring-Summer 2025 issue of DesignDash Magazine. Read the full article and more here.

10 Ways to Elevate Your Next Install With Florals

#1 Think in Layers

Like great interiors, great floral design is all about layers. Start with a base—dense greenery, branches, or structural stems—then layer in smaller, more delicate blooms. Mix fresh and dried elements for contrast or pair sculptural branches with soft petals to create depth.

Consider the surrounding materials, too: a rough ceramic vase, a marble plinth, or a textured linen tablecloth can all be part of a non-competing composition.

#2 Play with Height and Scale

Next, play with height and scale. Not all florals have to be tabletop arrangements. Tall, sculptural branches can anchor a corner or frame a piece of furniture. Low, sprawling bowls of wildflowers can ground a coffee table or wind their way down a dining table.

Think about the architecture of the room and choose vessels that play off it—tall urns for entryways, wide, shallow dishes for dining tables, or clustered bud vases for a more intimate, collected effect.

#3 Embrace Negative Space

Resist the urge to fill every inch. Negative space can be just as impactful as a dense arrangement. Leave breathing room around your florals to highlight their shape and shadow or let a single, dramatic branch extend into an otherwise empty area. Restraint often feels more considered and editorial, so allow the arrangement to read as part of the architecture, not just an accessory.

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#4 Choose Tonal or Monochromatic Palettes

When in doubt, simplify. Sticking to a tight color story—shades of cream, blush, and rust, or deep burgundies and near-blacks—creates a more cohesive, editorial effect. Alternatively, a single vibrant color against a neutral room seems intentional and impactful. The goal here is to make florals feel integrated, not like a last-minute idea you had after arriving on-site.

#5 Add Imperfections to Liven Up the Space

Perfection can be boring; it lacks dynamism and intrigue. Let the twist of a branch, the bend of a stem, or the irregularity of an imperfect bloom simply be. Don’t try to control everything. Asymmetry adds narrative and life to an arrangement to ensure the space feels more personal and less staged. Remember, a slight sense of disorder often reads more confidently than a tightly controlled environment.

#6 Think Beyond the Vase

Vases are classic, but they’re not your only option. Wall-mounted flower frogs, ikebana-style dishes, or even wide, shallow ceramics are a bit more artful and unexpected. Found objects like vintage jars, stone basins, or sculptural metal stands can add character and help a room feel more curated.

#7 Consider the Room’s Mood

Again, florals should feel like part of the space, not just an afterthought. For minimalist interiors, choose restrained, architectural arrangements. For more maximalist spaces, go bold with layered compositions or trailing vines that reference the upholstery, wallpaper, or drapes. Choose florals that support your narrative.

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#8 Don’t Forget: Florals Can Mean Foliage, Too

Not everything has to bloom. Consider large, glossy leaves, sculptural branches, or wild grasses. Palm fronds, olive branches, or eucalyptus can bring texture and volume without the overt romanticism of flowers. This can be particularly effective in more masculine or minimalist spaces where a burst of blooms might seem a bit bizarre.

#9 Know When to Go Faux (and When Not To)

While real blooms are undeniably beautiful, they also come with a short shelf life and ongoing cost. Faux florals, by contrast, are more low-maintenance and long-term but not without their challenges.

If designing a vacation home, a high-traffic rental, or a client’s secondary residence, high-quality faux stems might be the more practical choice. Just be sure to invest in realistic materials—think soft-touch petals, wired stems, and hand-painted details. Don’t be afraid to mix real and faux for a more believable effect.

For primary residences, intimate spaces, or rooms where the client entertains, real flowers typically feel more personal and sensory. Plus, they encourage you to keep things fresh and seasonal, which is part of the charm.

Ultimately, it’s about context and intention. If you are purchasing florals specifically for portfolio photography or images shared to social media, it’s worth purchasing real cut or living plants.

#10 Let the Season (and the Context) Inspire You

Context matters, so consider how you will use these project photos in your portfolio, on social media, in emails to potential new clients, in print, and more.

That breakfast nook in your most recent project might feel sunny, airy, and cheerful—perfectly associated with spring. The great room with soaring floor-to-ceiling windows and pale-neutral upholstery might feel just like summer. That moody bar just between your client’s den and butler’s pantry might evoke the intimacy and coziness of wintertime.

Think about the perceived seasonality of these spaces when selecting florals for your photography session and consider swapping in a few different arrangements if you want more versatile imagery.

Designing—Not Just Styling—with Florals

Like art, the right floral arrangement can change the entire energy of a room. It can create a sense of seasonality, relate a space to its surrounding environment, or add color and texture without overwhelming the architecture. Employed thoughtfully, florals become part of the room’s vocabulary.

As you plan your next project photography session, don’t just check a box with a basic bouquet or send your intern out for a quick grocery store run. Take the time to consider form, scale, color, and context. Approach florals as you would any other design element—with intention and a clear point of view.

Written by the DesignDash Editorial Team
Our contributors include experienced designers, firm owners, design writers, and other industry professionals. If you’re interested in submitting your work or collaborating, please reach out to our Editor-in-Chief at editor@designdash.com.