Floral decoration

Roses tucked into a bowl of apples make a quick, temporary table decoration. Use water picks, available at a floral supply store, to keep the roses fresh. Flowers shouldn't stand too long near fruits and vegetables, however. Ethylene gas, emitted by produce as it ripens, causes blooms to wilt prematurely. 

Blooming buckets

A humble garden pail gets dressed up when you fill it with vivid-colour flowers. Trim the stems to the depth of the bucket so the blooms just peek out the top. Tie a bow around the bucket using wire-edge ribbon, and extend a piece of ribbon up and over the top like a handle.

Glass containers

Gather a bunch of flowers that are the same hue and assemble them in themed containers of various shapes and sizes. This mantel arrangement features rosy-cheeked pink roses in an assortment of clear glass containers-from a cut-glass candy dish, to stemware, to a florist's vase, to a vintage bottle. The elements are unified on a lace runner that's draped along the mantel. To keep it casual, leave some of the containers empty. 

Mixing greenery

Give half-a-dozen single-colour blooms greater impact by mixing in greenery and arranging them in a standing vase. Think beyond baby's breath and florist ferns. Florists also stock more natural-looking greens, such as asparagus fern and seeded eucalyptus. Or, explore your own yard for options. These peach roses are nestled into a vintage silver vase amid pine branches and lemon leaves.