A guide to floral chandeliers

Elevate your blooms with a beautiful hanging display

Whether it’s a lavish wedding, a baby shower or a birthday bash at home, a floral chandelier makes the perfect party centrepiece for a special event. A whimsical alternative to the traditional table centrepiece, suspended flowers make a stunning focal point in any room – and as they don’t encroach on valuable table space, they offer a practical solution, too.

To create the perfect DIY floral chandelier for your party, there are just a few simple rules to bear in mind…

Rule #1: Keep your flowers fresh

To prevent your flowers wilting before the best man’s speech or the big birthday cake moment, give them a big drink of water before you start. Well-conditioned flowers should stay fresh from first guest to last man standing. To do this, trim an inch from each stem at a 45-degree angle and plunge immediately into clean water for an hour.

For a display that will stay beautiful for three days straight, why not try this clever DIY self-watering arrangement using test tubes.

Rule #2: Work with your space

Now for the practicalities of suspending your floral arrangement – in other words, how’s it hanging? How you choose to do this depends on the design of your space – and your DIY abilities. Use the room’s natural features – such as the beams of an old barn, the metal framework of a marquee or an existing light fitting or chandelier – as a starting point for your arrangement and work from there.

Rule #3: Choose the right blooms

For a full and luscious display – ideal for drawing attention to the top table at a wedding – opt for flowers with plenty of volume. Peonies are the go-to bloom for romantics, while hydrangea make a great alternative for a rustic, country wedding.

For a smaller-space or a more intimate gathering, go for daintier petals. Ranunculus, lisianthus, anemones are freesias are delicate but can really pack a punch when it comes to colour.

Get inspired! 5 floral chandelier ideas

1. For a Moroccan inspired event, suspend terracotta pots of flowers from ceiling beams or hooks. Choose flowers in deep pinks and oranges, evocative of desert sunsets.

2. Keep things simple but organic by hanging small flowers in a single colour from a tree branch. Use vibrant blooms for a great colour contrast.

3. Take one vintage ladder, a few old jam jars and some rope and you have yourself the perfect floral display for a rustic wedding. Hang the ladder horozontally and hang jars of flowers from it. Finish with a mix of iconic flowers, such as sunflowers, daisies and hyacinths.

4. For an outdoor hanging flower display (no ceiling required), weave your flowers around a glass lantern and suspend from a tree branch. Stick to roses for an English country garden vibe.

5. Make the most of an existing chandelier or light fitting. Create a lavish wreath of flowers around a chandelier base, or try cascading flower garlands add further drama to the look.