Bringing natural beauty and fresh scent to your table doesn’t have to be complicated. Floral designer Rachel Bull reveals how a lush arrangement featuring lilac and viburnum can elevate any meal with minimal effort.
- Use only lilac and viburnum for an easy, seasonal design
- Employ a ‘long and low’ vase to keep sight lines clear
- Reuse chicken wire for a sustainable floral structure
What happened
Rachel Bull, floral designer and Head of Gardens at Homes & Gardens, shares her secrets for making a beautiful spring table arrangement using just two flowers: lilac and viburnum opulus, also known as guelder rose. This floral pairing provides not only abundant texture but also a lovely fragrance, offering an elegant yet effortless statement piece for your dining table.
The design centers around simplicity and seasonality, with a focus on using a ‘long and low’ vase filled with a pillow of chicken wire secured by floral tape. This setup allows for easy placement of the flowers and helps maintain the shape and structure of the arrangement without the need for floral foam, making it a sustainable option for repeated use.
Why it feels good
The combination of lilac’s light purple blossoms with the vibrant lime green viburnum creates a fresh and inviting atmosphere, perfect for spring or early summer gatherings. Both flowers have large, frothy heads made up of many tiny individual blooms, providing natural movement and softness that add depth and interest to the design.
Using fewer flower varieties and a clever vessel choice simplifies the arranging process, reducing the stress and time required to prepare a centerpiece. The tactile satisfaction of working with these fragrant blooms and seeing them spill naturally over the vase edges lends a warm and abundant feeling to your hosting experience.
What to enjoy or watch next
For those inspired to try their hand at floristry, Rachel Bull’s weekly video series Petals & Roots offers step-by-step tutorials and seasonal advice on flower arranging and gardening. Each episode delivers practical tips alongside inspiration to help anyone create beautiful, natural displays at home.
If you appreciate floral and gardening ideas, signing up for the Homes & Gardens newsletter is a wonderful way to receive fresh seasonal features and expert advice directly to your inbox. Whether planning your next dinner party or enhancing your outdoor space, there’s always something blooming to discover.