Let’s be honest, most people don’t think about flowers when planning events nowadays. But in the age of vision boards, everything-as-an-aesthetic/core, and Pinterest, perhaps flowers will make a comeback as a sophisticated backdrop to elevate third spaces, public bars, planned hangouts, and most likely of all, dinner parties.
Think of a wedding. Here, flowers are the glue. Colour also especially forms a statement — usually white, pinks, or soft pastels. Flowers are what tie the table settings, outfits, furnishings, and signage together.
Give your next planned event a touch more intentionality and luxury by choosing some flowers that make it feel real and special. We’ll help you set the tone.
Mood boards = less guesswork
To put it simply, mood boards are fun. They bring your ideas together, no matter how scattered they seem at first, and get you more excited for the event ahead. When planning the perfect event, momentum is everything, and mood boards are a great place to start, giving you a visual overview to fall back on.
Once you begin building your mood board, you’ll begin the process of filtering through your ideas and tying them together. Some ideas seem chic at first—like pairing farmhouse cottagecore lace with purple velvet ribbon—until you realise it’s too much and some vibes clash, or maybe you have to change up a centrepiece when a material is too hard to source. Before you know it, you’ll have your own unique visual language splayed out as you add and subtract images that speak to you.
Whether you settle on a ‘Romantic Tuscan Courtyard’ moment with garden roses and olive branches in sun-drenched elegance, or a ‘Coastal Dream’ theme with blue hydrangeas while picnicking by the sea in breezy linens, a floral mood board will bring a small idea to bloom and elevate your vision into achievable aesthetics.
And don’t worry—you don’t need a design degree. You just need some curiosity to follow your own heart and reach out to what draws you in.
Step #1: First, how do you want it to feel?
Don’t scroll yet. Start by writing a few words down.
How do you want this to feel? Write some words that come to mind — regal and sentimental? Light and fresh? Moody and romantic?
Think of some things you’ve seen, experienced, or watched that has an atmosphere you like. Maybe it’s a movie, like The Grand Budapest Hotel (nostalgic and whimsical, both comedic and bittersweet) or Dune (foreboding, meditative, and existential). Or maybe it’s a day in your life, a memory you remember fondly and as being distinct. Maybe it’s a scent, the smell of a perfume you like, or the smell of the city after some rain. Whatever you choose as inspiration, the emotion it evokes can become building blocks or anchors to ground a creative vision.
These initial feelings you are drawn to — the emotional tone — becomes your compass. When you go looking for floral inspo, you can measure it against what feeling it invokes.
Keep what fits the vibe, and pass on what doesn’t.
Step #2: Choose your hero colour
Let one colour lead (it might be your favourite one), then build around it.
Every palette has a main character — the hue that everything else supports and makes pop.
This could come from anywhere — your favourite flower, a dress you already have, a candle you like the smell of.
Some ideas to get you started:
- Dusty rose – romantic, but make it modern
- Olive green – earthy, calming, low-maintenance cool
- Terracotta – warm, rich, subdued boho
- Powder blue – dreamy, fresh, elegant baby shower
- Butter yellow – happy, gentle, sunshine-in-a-glass
Once you’ve found it, build around it. Add a couple of complementary tones and maybe one pop or contrast to keep things interesting.
Step #3: Find flowers that actually come in those colours
Sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised how many times someone falls in love with a bright blue bouquet, only to realise… most blue flowers are dyed. (Delphiniums and hydrangeas are your true-blue friends, if you’re wondering.)
Here’s a cheat sheet for some combos that work in real life:
- Blush + Cream – garden roses, lisianthus, ranunculus
- Burnt Orange + Rust – dahlias, marigolds, tulips
- Lavender + Lilac – stock, sweet peas, delphinium
- Deep Wine + Plum – calla lilies, cosmos, orchids
- Fresh Green + White – anthuriums, Bells of Ireland, eucalyptus
Also: play with texture. Think round and wild, soft and spiky. The magic’s in the contrast.
Step #4: Create balance (not a colour explosion)
Here’s a simple ratio that works almost every time:
- 60% main colour
- 30% secondary shade
- 10% accent or surprise colour
It stops things from looking like you just discovered the paint aisle at Bunnings. Add in foliage (no, not just “green stuff”) that matches the tone — wild trailing vines feel very different to structured silver eucalyptus.
Step #5: Assemble the board
Now the fun part: assembling the board. This can be digital (Canva, Pinterest, Milanote) or physical (print stuff, glue it, channel Year 9 Visual Arts).
Include:
- Flower types (real images, not AI-generated stock please)
- Colour swatches or paint chips
- Textures like linen, wood, velvet
- Vibe images — lighting, table settings, fashion
- Any sentimental or grounding objects (like a vase, heirloom brooch, or your nan’s tea set)
It’ll start to click once everything’s side by side. You’ll see where it’s working and where you need to rein it in.
Some floral mood board ideas from us!
Just for fun, here are some colour combos we’ve loved playing with lately:
Sage + Apricot + Cloud White – soft, dreamy, like a gentle breeze at golden hour
Fuchsia + Crimson + Champagne – bold, fun, for people who dance early at weddings
Honey + Clay + Olive – warm, earthy, like an Italian picnic in spring
Powder Blue + Buttercream + Mauve – delicate, nostalgic, baby’s first floral moment
The right flowers can set the tone
When done right, flowers aren’t just decorations — they’re a language. A mood. A way to say “this moment matters” without needing a banner that literally says it.
A great floral palette doesn’t just make your event look good. It makes it feel good.
So go ahead — build a mood board. And if you want a hand translating your “moody Tuscan with a pop of joy” into actual stems and petals, we’re always here.
Get in touch with B&M Florist for a floral styling consult. Let’s turn your feelings into florals.
