DIY THIS STATEMENT FLOWER CHANDELIER
Flower chandeliers are quickly becoming a popular centre piece for weddings, engagement parties and even bridal showers, and it’s easy to see why right?! Whether you’re planning a bridal shower, hosting an outdoor dinner party or celebrating an engagement, taking your floral displays to new heights not only looks amazing, but smells amazing too.
If you’d like to make a floral chandelier but don’t know where to start, then fret not because we brought some experts who are here today to teach us all how! Their step-by-step guide and video tutorial will guide you through making a flower chandelier but before you roll up your sleeves, let’s make sure you have all the materials you’ll need to get started.
YOU WILL NEED:
- Fresh flowers – When selecting flowers, have a theme in mind, consider which blooms are in season and also which flowers will hold up the longest without water. Fresh blooms of different types work well for this project. The florals you select should have long stems, this will make it easier to attach the flowers by threading them through the base.
- Fresh foliage – Select fresh foliage that matches the theme of your chandelier.
- Floral hoop – You’ll need a floral hoop to create the top tier of your chandelier. We recommend a hoop that is 19 inches in diameter, but you can choose any size, as long as it’s smaller than the large wire wreath. Check this Pinterest page for ideas.
- Large wire wreath – A large wire wreath frame will act as the base of your chandelier. We recommend one that is 24 inches in diameter. If you’re not able to find a suitable wire frame, a hula hoop will work just fine. A green hoop is ideal for this project, but if you can’t find one, you can always paint it.
- Floral tape – Floral tape is ideal for fresh flowers due to its strength and elasticity. It also comes in natural hues like greens and browns which blend well with flowers.
- Floral wire – You’ll use floral wire to attach fresh flowers and foliage to your small hoop and large wire frame.
- Fishing line – You’ll need fishing line to hang your chandelier. You can also opt for twine, string or ribbon if you’re going for a rustic or vintage feel.
- Scissors – You’ll need to cut the tape and fishing line, so have scissors or a sharp knife handy.
- Crimp tubes – You’ll use crimp tubes to secure your fishing line in place. These are small metal rings that will make it so your knots don’t slip out of the fishing line.
- Pliers – Pliers will be used to secure the crimp tubes to the fishing line.
Pro Tip: If you use a hula hoop for the base of the chandelier rather than the large wire wreath frame, paint it green the night before.
If you prefer to watch a video tutorial then you can see how these chandeliers are created below, or if you’d prefer to follow the step by step guide in photos then read on!
Make sure to have fun picking out your fresh florals and foliage. For this tutorial we used nine bushels of greenery and ten+ flower bouquets. To make your selection a little easier, we created a recommended list of flowers that are long lasting even when out of water.
PICKING THE BEST FRESH FLOWERS
Flowers that hold up well out of water are the best to pick for your DIY chandelier. We recommend the following blooms:
- Pink Hyacinths
- Carnations
- Amaranthus
- Hydrangeas
- Baby’s Breath
- Craspedia
- Peonies
- Dahlia Buds
While these blooms are great for durability, availability can vary depending on where you are. In the Netherlands, for example, tulips are practically synonymous with the country itself and are incredibly easy to find fresh. They come in a variety of vibrant colors and hold up well for several hours without water, making them perfect for DIY projects. Carnations, also popular in the Netherlands, are another hardy option that come in so many colors, you’ll have no trouble matching them to your wedding color scheme.
In Mexico, marigolds are abundant and often associated with celebrations. These flowers have a long history in Mexican culture and are especially meaningful during the Day of the Dead, so if you’re planning a wedding with any cultural nods or bright, bold colors, marigolds would be a natural choice. Their resilience in hot weather and ability to last a while out of water makes them ideal for a DIY chandelier, especially if your wedding is outdoors.
In Thailand, according to the experts at eFlorist, orchids are not just a luxury—they’re everywhere and easy to find fresh year-round. These elegant blooms hold up surprisingly well outside of water and come in a range of sizes and colors. Orchids symbolize beauty and strength in Thai culture, making them a meaningful addition to your floral arrangement. Whether you go for the delicate white varieties or more vibrant purples, they’ll lend an exotic touch to your chandelier while staying fresh throughout the day.
Have fun picking out your florals and then get started creating something one-of-a-kind! Read on to find out how.
STEP 1:
Attach the large wire wreath to the floral hoop with the fishing line. You should determine how far apart you want the wire wreath and the floral hoop to be, and then cut that amount of string in four pieces. Each piece of fishing line should be of the same length so that your chandelier hangs steadily. Attach the large wire wreath and the floral hoop together using the four pieces of fishing line evenly spaced around the diameter. Secure the line with traditional knots and a few pieces of scotch tape.
Pro Tip: Secure the knots using crimp tubes and pliers for a more steady chandelier
STEP 2:
Start by wrapping lengths of greenery and foliage around the small floral hoop. Wrap the pieces around the hoop using a small piece of floral wire in order to secure them. Use the tape where you want to guarantee your greenery will stay put or where you think it is needed. You can also use a combination of both. Although, we mainly used the floral wire. Keep in mind the more secure your chandelier is, the better. Make sure that the foliage hangs naturally as you are wrapping. Distribute the greenery evenly and avoid leaving any open spaces between the wire ring and the large metal ring. You won’t be adding any flowers to the top tier of your chandelier, so feel free to make the foliage as dense as you’d like.
Pro Tip: Wind each piece of foliage around the wire ring for added support before attaching with the tape or floral wire.
STEP 3:
Next, add greenery to the base of your chandelier, the large wire wreath. After you’ve finished the top tier of your chandelier, move on to designing the bottom. This portion is the base of your chandelier, so create layers and design with intention as this is the part that’s most visible to guests. Start by adding a few layers of foliage wrapping each individual piece around the wire wreath one at a time securing with a small piece of floral wire. Be mindful of the manner in which the foliage hangs and set it in place using the wire and tape as needed.
STEP 4:
Hang your chandelier. It will be easier to design and assemble your flower chandelier while it’s hanging. Suspend the structure using fishing line, twine or ribbon, taking into consideration how the chandelier will hang. Will it be attached to the ceiling? An exposed beam? You should also consider the height you’d like your chandelier to be, and measure the length of line accordingly. Use three pieces of twine or fishing line of the same length to hang the chandelier. This will assure it’s balanced and will hang correctly. Secure your chandelier by tying extra knots and using crimp tubes and pliers to keep them in place.
STEP 5:
Attach flowers to the large wire wreath. Once you have a layer of greenery, it’s time to add the fresh blooms. Attach each bloom one-by-one by placing the stem into the foliage. Intertwining the stems of each flower through the greenery will help make sure that they stay put. Create clusters of three flowers equidistant from one another around the large wire wreath frame and then design how you’d like. Creating something unique is the best part of this project. Plus, it doesn’t have to be perfect!
Pro Tip: Be mindful of the size and colours of blooms that you use. Select a variety of flowers with different colours and textures to make your chandelier more visually appealing.
STEP 6:
Fill in gaps of your chandelier with small flowers and extra greenery. Use smaller blooms and vines to fill in the gaps of your chandelier. Consider balance, color and shape of the flowers as you are adding in a few extra.
Pro Tip: Step back from your project every so often to be sure you’re on the right track.
While trends vary, we know that the flower chandelier is here to stay, and for good reason! Now that you’ve created an epic centre piece, you’ll want to make sure you get to enjoy it for as long as you can so be sure to mist your chandelier with water before your guests arrive to ensure that your flowers look their freshest for the celebration. And avoid hanging your chandelier in direct sunlight, near heating and cooling vents or near open windows. Beautiful right?! xx
Such a wonderful idea! They really do look great.