When beautifully and creatively arranged, monochromatic flower arrangements make quite the statement. Here, floral designers show us how to master the art of white blooms through every season. Whether spring is in full bloom or you're at that wishful transition period between late summer and early fall, these stunning white flower arrangements will bring serenity and organic beauty into your home.
These lovely ideas can serve as excellent starting points for helping you dream up the perfect arrangement with a favorite local florist for whatever event you're hosting. You can also add personalized touches and pops of color with flowers from your own garden!
Changing Seasons
"I am often most moved by the immediacy of what’s emerging—and sometimes fading—around me," says Vancouver-based floral designer Daisy Fung. "From my gardens and the containers planted by my doorsteps to neglected landscapes and patches, there’s always something to intrigue my eye."
Fung's duch*ess of Edinburgh clematis found its voice this year, and its white hue inspired this arrangement. "I wanted to feature these amazing flowers and all the subtleties of white among the tangled transition to early summer," she says. Fung also included rugosa roses, spirea, pineapple sage, violas, and snow-in-summer for this late-spring creation.
The Statement-Maker
Depending on the occasion, sometimes the most impactful arrangements are composed of just one type of bloom. Here, floral designer Keith Robinson used hydrangea paniculata to tower over this buffet and lend a natural yet elegant air to the afternoon gathering.
Texture, Texture Everywhere
Dallas-based flower shop Bows and Arrows recommends using texture to your advantage when working in a monotone palette, as shown in this cream and white arrangement: "Pick interesting and unique seasonal flora accompanied with white textures. Flowers with various sized petals and shapes keep the eyes moving and exploring within the arrangement. Try an asymmetrical composition creating depth."
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Layered and Lush
The mantra of Anastasia Casale of Sag Harbor Florist when arranging? "Capturing nature's beauty," she says. "Keep your ingredients local and seasonal, and your outcome will speak for itself." Here, hellebore, lisianthus, ranunculus, sweet peas, jasmine vine, and Playa Blanca roses make the perfect centerpiece for a dinner party. "I’m drawn to garden-inspired arrangements that have a monochromatic color palette," says Casale. "It evokes nature in the spring—soft and gentle."
A Delightful Mix
Keith Robinson employs refined blossoms and rough-hewn branches to create a beautiful arrangement that's more than the sum of its parts. Snowy Jewel roses, ornamental kale, white sweet peas, Festiva Maxima peonies, variegated euphorbia, lichen branches, and seeded eucalyptus create a very textured, low arrangement. The vase is from Aero, and the wallpaper is from Thibaut.
Power in Numbers
"Whites and greens are always fresh and uplifting and work anywhere," says Victoria Brotherson of London-based Scarlet & Violet. "Our choices are always driven by season and the flowers that are available." This grouping of glass vases are given new life with a playful mix of hydrangea, eucalyptus, and other greenery.
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Delicate and Lacy
Susanne Hatwood of The Blue Carrot uses wispy elements to create a delicate arrangement that feels as light as air.
"I love combining white flowers with very natural other elements like berries or interesting branches, seed heads or grasses," she says. "The other way to make them shine is what I call a black and white arrangement, combining white or cream with very dark flowers or leaves like dark dahlias, copper beach etc." In this arrangement, an unexpected pop of lavender does the trick!
Summer Sophisticate
For Alethea Harampolis and Jill Rizzo of Studio Choo, it's all about paying attention to the blooms you're using.
"When you're making a summer arrangement, let the flowers be as natural as possible in the vase," Harampolis says. "We don't manipulate our flowers very much. We do our best to use all the leaves and buds, if any. Look at the shape of the flower and stem before you add it to the vase. The flower will tell where it wants to go in the composition."
Here, an arrangement of hydrangea, sweet peas, peonies, parrot tulips, lilac, gardenias, and cymbidium orchids comes together for a fresh centerpiece.
Stand Alone
Keith Robinson used dahlias, snowberries, and Festiva Maxima peonies in various shades of ivory to make this versatile, textured arrangement. Perfect for a winter gathering, this creation would shine on a console, coffee table, or as part of a tablescape. The vase is from Aero, and the wallpaper is from Gracie.
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Fruit
Adding a bit of fruit creates an unexpected pop of color and is ever so chic. The fruit can rotate with the seasons, and looks effortless with a few sprigs of greenery spread along the table to make a statement arrangement just a little bit less fussy.
Airy and Asymmetrical
"Anytime I make a monochromatic arrangement, I like to incorporate different shades of that color—it adds interest and dimension," says Julio Freitas of the Montana-based The Flower Hat. "For this particular one, the pure white hydrangeas and stock are an effortless complement to the creamy daffodils and ivory rose. I wanted to create something that was lush and clean but give it a little bit of a wild feel at the same time." Freitas clipped the double tulips, daffodils, and begonia leaves from his own garden to create this whimsical arrangement.
Wreath
White floral arrangements don't have to just live in a vase. They make for an elegant wreath during the holiday season like this one from Holly Carlisle. It feels festive and creates a unique way to display your favorite blooms.
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One, Two, Three
Vases in varying heights make a sweet addition to a space. A trio of arrangements by Keith Robinson that includes garden roses, seeded eucalyptus, dusty miller, silver brunia, hydrangea, ranunculus, and hyacinth adds interest as a centerpiece and allows for mixing in other elements, like candlesticks and other objects. The vases are from Frances Palmer Pottery, and the wallpaper is by Gracie.
Add Some Color
Adding some color doesn't necessarily break the rules of a white arrangement, as displayed in this one from Kathleen Varner. Choose only one other color to pair with your white florals, and use it as an accent. In this case a bright yellow was used, but soft pinks can also serve as a more subtle approach.
Statement Vase
With white florals, consider the statement the vase will make. Should it be colorful to offset the flowers, or blend into the arrangement? In this arrangement by Ariel Dearie Flowers, a turquoise pitcher offers the best of both worlds. The color blends beautifully with the greenery to make the white flowers pop without being distracting.
Rachael Burrow
Style Director
Rachael Burrow is the Style Director at VERANDA, covering the latest design and market trends, from jewelry to fashion, tabletop to furnishings, and everything in between.
Sara Clark
Sara Clark is the Style Assistant at VERANDA, where she writes about interiors, fashion, style, and the latest design trends.
