How To Turn Supermarket Flowers Into A Show-Stopping Centerpiece

You won't even recognize it.

Flowers from the supermarket don't often seem like they have the same level of finesse and vibrancy as their meticulously arranged counterparts from a professional florist -- but they can.

Floral design studio owner Clover Chadwick says that even the more ho-hum bouquets from the grocery store have the potential to transform into stunning centerpieces. As she demonstrates, it requires minimal effort to rearrange those bulky buds into a cohesive, blooming display. It just comes down to following a few simple steps.

Step 1: Start with your biggest, bulkiest flower (ex: hydrangea)

Many supermarket flower bouquets include hydrangeas, so separate these large blooms from the pack and cut the stems so that they rest around the lip of your vase.

Step 2: Add your "branchiest" greens (ex: eucalyptus)

Next, determine which greens have the most branches. "This is going to give you shape, plus stability," Chadwick explains. "Eucalyptus is great because it has lots of little branchy arms."

Step 3: Add leafier greens (ex: lemonleaf)

To tighten up the space and bolster the stability, reach for your leafy stems. "Lemonleaf is the other one you'll see quite commonly used in grocery store bouquets because it's super-bulky, has a great color and it's really durable," Chadwick says.

Step 4: Add the larger, more durable flowers (ex: chrysanthemums and carnations)

Now that you've created your basic shape, it's time to build into it with flowers. Chrysanthemums and carnations take up a decent amount of space and add a needed pop of color to add balance to the arrangement.

Step 5: Add your next-largest flower (ex: lilies)

This piece should be your show-stopper. Place these flowers -- like lilies -- strategically, in areas in which they are easily visible and can truly stand out. "Make sure with lilies that you always remove the pollen," Chadwick instructs. "That will make them last longer."

Step 6: Fill in the holes with your remaining pieces (ex: alstroemeria, roses and gerbera daisies)

Use whatever is left over to fill out the shape of your arrangement -- and be sure to save the most delicate flowers (like gerbera daisies) for last. Flowers with longer stems can also be used to add height as well as layered color.

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State Flowers
Alabama: Camellia(01 of50)
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(credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Alaska: Alpine Forget-Me-Not(02 of50)
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(credit:foxtail_1/Flickr)
Arizona: Saguaro Cactus Blossom(03 of50)
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(credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Arkansas: Apple Blossom(04 of50)
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(credit:Muffet/Flickr)
California: California Poppy(05 of50)
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(credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Colorado: Rocky Mountain Columbine(06 of50)
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(credit:tommaync/Flickr)
Connecticut: Mountain Laurel(07 of50)
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(credit:Martin LaBar (going on hiatus)/Flickr)
Delaware: Peach Blossom(08 of50)
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(credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Florida: Orange Blossom(09 of50)
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(credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Georgia: Cherokee Rose(10 of50)
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(credit:Old Shoe Woman/Flickr)
Hawaii: Pua Aloalo(11 of50)
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(credit:sonstroem/Flickr)
Idaho: Syringa(12 of50)
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(credit:hello-julie/Flickr)
Illinois: Violet(13 of50)
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(credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Indiana: Peony(14 of50)
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(credit:bill barber/Flickr)
Iowa: Wild Prairie Rose(15 of50)
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(credit:mrsdkrebs/Flickr)
Kansas: Sunflower(16 of50)
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(credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Kentucky: Goldenrod(17 of50)
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(credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Louisiana: Magnolia(18 of50)
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(credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Maine: White Pine Cone And Tassle(19 of50)
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(credit:esagor/Flickr)
Maryland: Black-Eyed Susan(20 of50)
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(credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Massachusetts: Mayflower(21 of50)
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(credit:reverend barry/Flickr)
Michigan: Apple Blossom(22 of50)
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(credit:Muffet/Flickr)
Minnesota: Pink & White Lady Slipper(23 of50)
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(credit:TBoard/Flickr)
Mississippi: Magnolia(24 of50)
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(credit:Chiot's Run/Flickr)
Missouri: White Hawthorn Blossom(25 of50)
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(credit:Thorbard/Flickr)
Montana: Bitterroot(26 of50)
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(credit:brewbooks/Flickr)
Nebraska: Goldenrod(27 of50)
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(credit:wht_wolf9653/Flickr)
Nevada: Sagebrush(28 of50)
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(credit:Jim Morefield/Flickr)
New Hampshire: Purple Lilac(29 of50)
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(credit:photogramma1/Flickr)
New Jersey: Violet(30 of50)
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(credit:Dendroica cerulea/Flickr)
New Mexico: Yucca(31 of50)
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(credit:Martin LaBar/Flickr)
New York: Rose(32 of50)
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(credit:GodsMoon/Flickr)
North Carolina: Dogwood(33 of50)
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(credit:iiMull/Flickr)
North Dakota: Wild Prairie Rose(34 of50)
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(credit:USFWS Mountain Prairie/Flickr)
Ohio: Red Carnation(35 of50)
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Oklahoma: Oklahoma Rose(36 of50)
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(credit:T.Kiya/Flickr)
Oregon: Oregon Grape(37 of50)
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(credit:starmist1/Flickr)
Pennsylvania: Mountain Laurel(38 of50)
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(credit:Martin LaBar (going on hiatus)/Flickr)
Rhode Island: Violet(39 of50)
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(credit:David Illig/Flickr)
South Carolina: Gelsemium sempervirens(40 of50)
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(credit:Shef-time via Getty Images)
South Dakota: Pasque Flower(41 of50)
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(credit:USFWS Mountain Prairie/Flickr)
Tennessee: Iris(42 of50)
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(credit:discutant/Flickr)
Texas: Bluebonnet(43 of50)
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(credit:p_d_t/Flickr)
Utah: Sego Lily(44 of50)
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(credit:Tony Frates/Flickr)
Vermont: Red Clover(45 of50)
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(credit:MFCarter/Flickr)
Virginia: American Dogwood(46 of50)
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(credit:John-Morgan/Flickr)
Washington: Coast Rhododendron(47 of50)
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(credit:keltickelton/Flickr)
West Virginia: Rhododendron(48 of50)
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(credit:FreedomMaster via Getty Images)
Wisconsin: Wood Violet(49 of50)
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(credit:Shotaku/Flickr)
Wyoming: Indian Paintbrush(50 of50)
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(credit:smithco/Flickr)

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