How to Arrange Flowers in a Square Vase

Co-authored by Rachel Cho and Hannah Madden

If you’re making your own centerpieces for a wedding, a party, or your own home, a square vase is the perfect option. This elegant container looks great with a variety of flowers, and there are endless possibilities for your floral bouquet. By keeping a few simple tricks and tips in mind, you can decorate your space with square vases that look both delicate and refined.

1

Cut the stems to the height of the vase.

Tall flowers can stick out of the vase and look a bit off. Use scissors to trim your flowers and greenery until they just stick out of the top of the vase. This will ensure they don’t topple over, too!^{[1]
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- Try to cut your flowers at a 45-degree angle to increase the surface area so they can take in more water.
- If you cut your flowers a little too short, that’s okay. You can disguise the short ones by putting them in with the taller ones.

2

Create a simple arrangement with 1 large flower.

Smaller vases can look overdone with a huge bouquet. You could fill it with water and simply add 1 bright flower or succulent to the center for a delicate, understated centerpiece.^{[2]
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- Try using a bright flower, like a dahlia or an azalea, to draw attention to your vase.
- If you’re going to use a succulent, add potting soil instead of water to your vase.

3

Put heavy flowers on all 4 corners to keep them from drooping.

Larger, heavier flowers might flop down to the side anyway. You can use this to your advantage by putting the bigger flowers on the bottom. Lilies, dandelions, and peonies all create a nice base layer around your square vase.^{[3]
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- This works well if you have a larger square vase. For a smaller one, you could stick to daintier flowers.
- Adding flowers to the corners of the vase helps to fill it out and make your bouquet look robust.^{[4]
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  Expert Source
  
  Rachel Cho
  Floral Designer & Plant Specialist
  Expert Interview. 20 August 2021.}

4

Put the tallest flower in the center as a focal point.

Use tall, long-stemmed flowers to add contrast to your bouquet. If you’re using roses, irises, or any flower with a stiff stem, cut it so it’s about ¹⁄₂ in (1.3 cm) taller than the ones around it. Then, stick it in the center of your vase.^{[5]
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- This is a great method for centerpieces since it gives them a little depth.

5

Spread your flowers out evenly for a balanced look.

If you’re working with 2 to 3 flower types, spread them out.^{[6]
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Expert Source

Rachel Cho
Floral Designer & Plant Specialist
Expert Interview. 20 August 2021.} As you add your flowers in, try to put them on all 4 sides of the vase evenly so it looks beautiful from every direction.^{[7]
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- Square vases are meant to be viewed from all 4 sides, especially if they’re centerpieces.
- Since square vases are usually shorter than typical vases, you’ll probably be able to see the whole bouquet at once.

6

Mix and match flower colors for an interesting arrangement.

Use a variety of flower colors and types to make your bouquet pop. Try using white flowers as a base, like baby’s breath, lilies, or orchids, then adding in pops of color with roses, magnolias, forget-me-nots, or foxgloves.^{[8]
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- Feel free to mix and match with flower size, too. You could arrange some smaller flowers on top of larger ones for a fun pop of color and texture.^{[9]
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  Expert Source
  
  Rachel Cho
  Floral Designer & Plant Specialist
  Expert Interview. 20 August 2021.}
- Don’t be afraid to add in a little greenery, too!

7

Make a grid out of floral tape to keep your flowers in place.

Large, heavy flowers may need a little help staying upright. Use 6 to 8 pieces of floral tape in a grid pattern on the top of your vase to make 1 in (2.5 cm) openings. Slide 1 to 2 flowers into each square to keep it pointing upright instead of falling to the side of the vase.^{[10]
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- If you don’t have floral tape, you can use duct tape instead. Just make sure the outside of your vase is really dry before you add the tape.
- Floral tape is optional, and you don’t necessarily need it for bouquets with smaller, daintier flowers.

8

Add visual interest with leafy greenery.

Use sprigs of myrtle, ivy, or fern as a base layer for your flowers. Add these greenery pieces around the edge of your square vase to droop down over the sides.^{[11]
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- Adding greenery really helps make your flowers pop.
- Greenery is optional, but it’s a great way to accentuate bright, bold flowers.

9

Hide the flower stems with a large leaf.

Disguise clear vases with a large, green leaf. Pick out a leaf that’s about as wide as your vase. Slide it in widthwise to cover the inside of the vase and hide any flower stems inside. You don’t have to add a leaf to your arrangement, but it’s a fun way to spice up your bouquet with a little greenery.^{[12]
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- Banana leaves and palm leaves are perfect for this!
- You may have to wrap the leaf over itself a few times to get it to fit, which is fine.

10

Fill small vases with soil and stones.

Tiny square vases might be too small for flowers with long stems. Instead, fill them with a layer of potting soil and decorative pebbles for a cute, colorful display that you can put succulents or flowers on top of.^{[13]
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- You can plant live succulents straight into the potting soil, or you can perch fake succulents on top of the decorative stones.
- If you’re using flowers, trim the stems and push them straight into the dirt for an easy display.

Expert Q&A

Question

What is the rule of proportion for most floral arrangements?

Rachel Cho
Floral Designer & Plant Specialist
Rachel Cho is a Floral Designer, Plant Specialist, and the Owner of Rachel Cho Floral Design, a floral shop based in New York City. With more than 16 years of experience, she specializes in original and impactful floral design and is known for her dexterity, innate artistry, and design sense. Rachel’s work has been featured in numerous national media outlets such as The New York Times, Harper’s Bazaar, and Huffington Post Weddings.

Rachel Cho

Floral Designer & Plant Specialist

Expert Answer

Proportionality and balance is important when creating an arrangement. The proportion of the flowers at the top should be about double the opening size of the square vase. For example, If the square vase opening is 5 in (12.7 cm), the measurement or diameter across the top of the flowers should be 10 in (25.4 cm).