5 Brilliant Benefits of Flower Arrangement (and the Workshops to Get You Started)

In psychology, there’s something called the Duchenne smile. It’s a sign of ‘true enjoyment’. And, one study showed the only way to trigger a Duchenne smile in 100% of people was to give them flowers.

As a florist, of course, that makes perfect sense to me. Every time I hold flower workshops, I feel the joy from those around me and, at a deeper level, how the simple art of flower arrangement can create a feeling of community, bringing people closer to each other and to nature.

If you think flower arrangement is prissy or boring, think again! Read on to learn the five brilliant benefits of arranging flowers, and how to find workshops near you.

1. Flowers Boost Our Mood

When I started Botanic Possessions, I had a simple aim: to spread joy through flowers. While most of us intuitively know that flowers boost our mood, the science backs it up too.

A study by Harvard Medical School found that participants who lived with fresh cut flowers for less than a week felt happier and had more enthusiasm and energy in their daily lives, as well as increased feelings of kindness and compassion for others.

Like so many, my floristry journey began in the upheaval of the COVID pandemic. I turned to flower arranging as a way to look after my mental health, and it was transformative.

I think there’s something to the way that flowers slow us down and ground us. For me, flower arrangement encourages me to notice the small details, from the curl of a petal to the structure of a leaf. It brings a sense of presence and wonder that I love to share in my workshops.

If you’d like to learn flower arrangement with me, you can find my floral workshops here, or get in touch to organise a workshop for your team, event or charity.

It turns out that giving flowers is the best way to trigger the Duchenne smile or pure enjoyment, something I love to see at workshops!

2. Natural Aromatherapy

I can’t, of course, write about the benefits of flower arrangement without thinking about scent. Just like forest bathing is gaining popularity as a way to benefit from natural aromatherapy through phytoncides, arranging flowers means you can enjoy lots of deep inhales of the floral essential oils we know and love - many of which are distilled from pressed petals after all!

Think of the scent of roses, which are natural mood boosters. Or you may be working with calming lavender and chamomile stems. Thinking about scent in flower arrangement is another creative layer to this skill as you, or your lucky recipient, will get to experience your bouquet on more levels than sight alone.

The scent of cut flowers can be a way of experiencing natural aromatherapy, especially considering that many floral essential oils are distilled from pressed petals.

3. Building Relationships

We know now that flowers make us kinder, but they also help us express ourselves to others. Think back to the Victorian language of flowers, where a white lily could mean pure love or a blue cornflower, the rather enigmatic ‘be gentle with me’.

While we don’t rely on flowers to convey our emotions anymore, there is something personal about choosing the flowers that stand out to you in flower arrangement. It’s in developing and gaining confidence in your eye for pairing, creating something greater than the individual stems.

It’s this element of expressing yourself that goes a long way towards building relationships, especially at the flower arrangement classes I run for groups. I’ll see participants supporting each other, appreciating the bouquets each person has made and gaining insight into the unique eye for the beautiful that each of us has.

Getting to admire each other’s bouquets, and puzzling through the initial challenge of being beginners together, are what make group flower arrangement classes particularly good at building relationships.

4. Flower Arrangement Improves Creativity

In an eight-month study, Texas A&M University found an unlikely secret to boosting idea generation, creativity and problem solving. Can you guess?

Flowers! And having plants in the workplace too.

Increasingly, it feels like we’re remembering the effect that beauty and elements from nature have on our minds. And, if flowers in an office increase creativity, just wait till you try a flower arrangement class.

I also think there’s another reason why flower arranging boosts creativity, especially if it’s a long time since your art class days. At first glance, the simple act of gathering flowers and foliage together in a way that seems right to you feels pretty low risk.

As you go, you start to see the bouquet you’re creating and how simple choices in leaves, colour, scent and blooms can alter the end result. That’s why flower arrangement can go a long way in honing your creative skill and eye for harmony, contrast and mood in design.

From yellow daisies and calla lilies to spider chrysanthemums, in flower arranging, flowers and foliage become a palette for creating the bouquet you envision.

5. Feeling Closer to Nature

Last of all, flower arrangement has the brilliant benefit of bringing the outdoors in and helping us feel closer to nature. That’s why I’ll have participants working with seasonal flowers in my workshops, some of which I’ve grown in my own garden in Blaenavon.

Especially if you live in an urban area or spend your days working at a computer, learning flower arrangement can be an hour or two to connect with nature, let go of stress and benefit our mental health.

Flower Arrangement Workshops for Teams

If you want to build relationships in your team or charity, flower arranging can be a great way to provide the calming and creative environment that helps people connect.

To give you ideas, here are examples of flower arranging workshops I’ve organised for some pretty inspiring community organisations:

The Workshop Hub, Pontypool Market

Established by Torfaen County Borough Council, The Workshop Hub encourages people to rediscover the market through creative workshops. Under the guidance of the brilliant Kate Thomas, local makers and artists deliver sessions in floristry, ceramics, candle making, willow weaving, watercolours, book binding, journaling, and more.

Cyfannol Women’s Aid, Pontypool

One of the most meaningful workshops I’ve delivered was a Christmas wreath-making session at Cyfannol Women’s Aid for women who have experienced domestic abuse. The session offered a moment of calm, creativity, and self-expression - and the energy in the room was so moving.

Gwent Parent Carer Network, Abergavenny

Recently, I led sustainable jar arrangement workshops for Gwent Parent Carer Network (GPCN), an amazing network offering peer-to-peer support for parents of children with additional needs.

Their ethos of connection, support, and joy is something I resonate with deeply. What better way to spend a couple of hours among friends, creating something beautiful just for you?

The Gwent Parent Carer Network offers flower arrangement workshops as a way to help carers bond, support each other, and enjoy some time for themselves.

Torfaen Talks CIC

I’m excited to be working soon with Torfaen Talks, a grassroots organisation committed to improving local mental health and wellbeing. Based here in Torfaen, I see first-hand the impact their projects have. I can’t wait to share more soon!

Learn Flower Arrangement With Botanic Possessions

If you’re curious about learning flower arrangement, I hope the benefits in this post have given you all the encouragement you need to get started!

Now the summer chaos on the flower plot is starting to settle, I’ll be running a series of flower workshops across South Wales this autumn.

If you’d like to learn flower arranging with me, this is your chance to learn my secrets, meet like-minded friends and, of course, take something beautiful home.

Edible Flower Arranging, Torfaen Food Festival

I’m partnering with Torfaen Food4Growth, Torfaen & Gwent Small Business Markets & Events, and M Cwmbran Shopping Centre for the Torfaen Food Festival at the end of August and into September.

Expect locally grown herbs and flowers, creative inspiration and edible arrangements. Subscribe to my newsletter below for more details soon.

Autumn Wreath Workshop, Pantygelli

Join me for a cosy, hands-on morning crafting seasonal wreaths using autumnal foliage, sustainable materials, and expert floristry tips.

In this beginner-friendly workshop, I’ll guide you through everything you need to know so you can make your own wreaths again and again in future.

• Where: The Crown, Pantygelli

• When: 10am-12pm, Saturday 20th September 2025

• Tickets: £45 per person (all materials included)

To confirm your place, a £10 deposit is required. Email kate@botanicpossessions.com to book.

We have plenty more flower arranging workshops coming up. You can find them here or subscribe to our newsletter for first access to tickets. I can’t wait to share all the benefits of flower arranging with you.

Let’s grow something beautiful, together.