MY BIG SECRET FOR CREATING GORGEOUS ARRANGEMENTS

 

In a recent email, a StoneGable reader asked how I fill up my dough bowls to overflowing without spending lots of money. What Cindy was asking is our topic for today’s post! She wondered if I filled my bowls with what she’s see spilling out of a bowl or is there some secret substance underneath all the veneer of prettiness. That got me thinking about what I call “filler and fluff”. Filler and fluff is the stuff that beautiful vignettes and centerpieces are made of… and is the cheap groundwork and underpinnings of all my “filled to overflowing” arrangements! I’m sharing one of my best “filler and fluff” diy decor secrets with you today!!!

 

 

There are lots of ways to fill up a bowl or arrangement. Here are a few do’s and don’t tips:

DON’T FILL A BOWL, BASKET OR CENTERPIECE UP WITH THE ELEMENTS YOU ARE DECORATING WITH.

This can be very expensive!!!! And many times the smaller items fall to the bottom of an arrangement and get lost from view!

DO USE A “FILLER” AS A BASE IN YOUR ARRANGEMENTS

My favorite go-to filler is…

ADDING FILLER AND FLUFF IN HOME DECOR- decorator's secret for creating full and beautiful centerpieces, vignettes and arrangements-stonegableblog.com

PINECONES!!! Yes, pinecones. They are fabulous, wonderful, awesome, cheap fillers! I keep a big box of them handy to fill in the bottom of all kinds of home accents I create!!!

Hiding under many of my arrangements is a nice layer of pinecones. They have lots of “arms” and nooks and crannies that fit together in interesting ways. They are also strong and can hold lots of weight and they are a little “springy” and able to squeeze into tight areas! And pinecones are very light… a great bonus!

Sometimes the pinecones are visible and become part of the arrangement and sometimes they are hidden. Just know, that under all the pretty embellishments there is usually a network of hard working pinecones!

ADDING FILLER AND FLUFF IN HOME DECOR- decorator's secret for creating full and beautiful centerpieces, vignettes and arrangements-stonegableblog.com

DO KEEP LOTS OF DIFFERENT SIZES AND SHAPES OF PINECONES ON HAND

Even the smallest vignettes can use a little bit of pinecone stabilizing! I keep little pinecones to use in shallow arrangements!

ADDING FILLER AND FLUFF IN HOME DECOR- decorator's secret for creating full and beautiful centerpieces, vignettes and arrangements-stonegableblog.com

 

DO LOOK FOR BRAMBLY NAPKIN RINGS OR SMALL WREATHS TO LIFT UP AND HOLd ARRANGEMENTS TOGETHER

ADDING FILLER AND FLUFF IN HOME DECOR- decorator's secret for creating full and beautiful centerpieces, vignettes and arrangements-stonegableblog.com

Adding a little organic napkin ring or small grapevine or willow wreaths in the bottom of a small arrangement works like magic! It really corrals items together and if you use a brambly wreath… adds fluff!

I used a little brambly napkin ring to add some interest and to fill in the bottom of the little blue and white bowl that held white pumpkins.

Putting a napkin ring in the bottom of this nest adds a whole lot of interest and seasonal fun! Even these stylized leaves add to the tiny vignette and take up visual space.

ADDING FILLER AND FLUFF IN HOME DECOR- decorator's secret for creating full and beautiful centerpieces, vignettes and arrangements-stonegableblog.com

DO USE FAUX OR REAL “FLUFF” 

For me, fluff means lots of little pieces of greens and berries.

My go-to fluff is this sorta-boxwood looking green that has small berries. I purchased 2 large sorta-boxwood garland on sale at AC Moore a couple years ago and ripped them apart into small clumps. I keep this fluff in a plastic box close at hand. It works fabulously in arrangements. Tucking it here and there and making vignettes extra pretty!

ADDING FILLER AND FLUFF IN HOME DECOR- decorator's secret for creating full and beautiful centerpieces, vignettes and arrangements-stonegableblog.com

Pinecones and my boxwood fluff work beautifully together!!!!

ADDING FILLER AND FLUFF IN HOME DECOR- decorator's secret for creating full and beautiful centerpieces, vignettes and arrangements-stonegableblog.com

 

JUST DO IT!

Give these ideas a try and you will create some beautiful, full, overflowing centerpieces, arrangements and vignettes! And when you do I’d love to see your creations! Email me your masterpieces!!!!

Head over to my blogging friend’s and see what beautiful home decor ideas they have for you!

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Maison de Pax | Fall Patio

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On Sutton Place | Fall Watercolor Printables

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Savvy Southern Style | French Style Guest Bedroom for Fall

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Shabbyfufu | What You Need To Know About Flower Styling On A Budget

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So Much Better With Age | Classic Black Halloween Mantel

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StoneGable | My Big Secret for Creating Gorgeous Arrangements

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Designthusiasm | Repurpose Your Holiday Decor Into a Fall Wreath and Garland

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Remember to pin this to your Pinterest HOME DECOR or VIGNETTES boards. You can follow me on Pinterest and see all the fun things I’m finding to pin daily HERE!

ADDING FILLER AND FLUFF IN HOME DECOR- decorator's secret for creating full and beautiful centerpieces, vignettes and arrangements-stonegableblog.com

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47 Comments

  1. Linda James says:

    Thanks you for sharing your talents with us . You help make all our lives a little beautiful! God bless.

  2. genie steger says:

    Love the use of the brambly napkin wreath with the little little boo pumpkin!

  3. Sometimes I’ve used Walmart bags all rolled up to place under decor, if I’m sure they will be covered by the pretty stuff and not seen?

  4. Theresa at Winterberry Lane says:

    Yvonne, I love all your tips for the use of fillers in your containers, especially the pinecones. We seem to always have an abundance of cones from our windbreak trees. Pinecones also make wonderful starters for outdoor weinner roast fires. Have a great fall day???.

  5. Karen VanLoo says:

    I always love your tips and ideas! The best one you ever gave me was the use of “fluff” and now I use it all the time! I just buy garlands and cut them up. My sister thinks that is the neatest idea! Buy them on sale, when you can find good ones. Just lovely! Have a wonderful day my friend.

  6. mattsgramma says:

    How do you make everything so shiny? Do you spray something on your little pumpkins, acorns and gourds or just wash them? They looks so gorgeous.

    1. I just wash them. The acorns are not real so that is why they are not shiny.

  7. I’ve been using pine cones for a long time to fill my containers and it works great!!! Such a fabulous idea that helps save a Ton of money!

  8. Yes, using filler is a must. Pinecones are a great idea and so easy to find in our area. I use them a lot in decor this time of the year. Your centerpieces are beautiful with the little berries in them. Thank you.

  9. Thanks for sharing this!

  10. Great information with the pine cones.

  11. Sherry Pelle says:

    Great arrangements, colors and tips!

  12. Jacy Cole says:

    Thank you Yvonne! What fabulous ideas and solutions! I am off to harvest some pine cones and hunt for a garland to make that magic filler…

  13. Diana Prendergast says:

    Love the pinecone and brambly wreath/napkin ring ideas! Genius! I found some little grapevine wreaths at the dollar store the other day, and now I know how I’m going to use them!
    Thank you, Yvonne!

  14. Always love seeing your fall decorating ideas. Just finished my center pieces using your great filler idea. Also made the acorn napkin rings last year and everyone wanted to make them and your roasted pumpkin recipe will continue to be on my Thanksgiving menu. Thanks for your continued sharing of ideas. Love reading your blog.

  15. Norma Rolader says:

    As always your decor is fabulous and your filler idea is awesome: I use to use newspaper as a filler buy as days went by you could slowing see the arrangement has sunk down some God bless

  16. I use pinecones as filler inside and around potted plants outside.Also moss and thick paper you get from TJ Maxx and Homegoods that they wrap a breakable in.I cut the paper into skinny strips and use as grass filler.Great ideas Yvonne and your arrangements look lovely.

  17. Love the mercury bowl with the white pumpkin and hydrangea!

  18. Thanks for sharing your “secrets” with us! I never would have thought of using pine cones, but now I am!

  19. Diane | An Extraordinary Day says:

    Yvonne… best idea ever!! I used to do that, but somewhere along the way the idea dropped out of my head. Thanks for the reminder, oh queen of sweet vignettes!!

  20. Thank you for sharing your secret to beautiful centerpieces! What a great idea! Your centerpieces are always so gorgeous! I have a beautiful wooden bowl to fill but I’m going to grab those pine cones first! Have a great day!

  21. Thank you, thank you, thank you This is just what I needed to know. Is this in a printable form?
    I forget along the way and having a hard copy would be a blessing

  22. I also use plastic bags and paper towels to lift items in a bowl. Moss on top and tucked among the items and no one knows what is on the bottom.

  23. Great ideas for the “Fluff” I can never remember to do that!

  24. Janet - Shabbyfufu says:

    I just love all of your tips Yvonne and your farmhouse stylings are the BEST! Happy weekend…Janet

  25. Yvonne, for the second week, I can’t get a link to your menu for the week from the email you send. Is it me? Are others having this problem?

  26. Nana Diana says:

    I use so many of the same little tricks, Yvonne. I love putting things together and have always ‘filled’ underneath with something ‘cheap’. lol I have also found that dried moss works as a great filler, too, and I have even used acorns on small arrangements. Love the pinecones, too!!
    You have such an eye for putting things together. It is always fun to see what you are up to—hope you have a great night- xo Diana

  27. Cindy Finter says:

    Thank you so much for sharing your filler and fluff ideas. I would never have thought about pine cones.

  28. Do you know how special it makes us feel when you share your little secrets??? 🙂

  29. Beautiful! Looks amazing as always!

  30. I remember you sharing your pine cone secret awhile back and it’s genius.

  31. Donna Fitzsimmons says:

    Love your page and style! So glad I opened your pin!

  32. Ricki Jill Treleaven says:

    Thanks for the tips, Yvonne!

  33. Ricki Jill Treleaven says:

    Thanks for the tips, Yvonne!

  34. marian zimmerman says:

    love white pumpkins and blues.
    thanks for sharing blue looks nice with orange

  35. Best decorating tip ever and one I will use repeatably! Thank you!

  36. Susan Birky says:

    I love the way you do your arrangements. The free form look is much more interesting than the strictly stylistic ones. I enjoy your use of natural ingredients and fresh items. Thank you for sharing your gift.

  37. Vicki Sewell says:

    Loved this segment. So pretty and helpful. Thank you

  38. Suzanne Delaney says:

    Thank you…I just love your Blog. You get right to what your topic and show all that is needed to be creative. Just wonderful! Thank you, Suzanne

  39. Your arrangement is absolutely breathtaking. I will be using your ideas to decorate my home. Thank you for sharing your gorgeous ideas with us.