Martha Stewart’s Floral Heart Centerpiece Is the Most Romantic Valentine’s DIY Decor Idea – and It’s Easy to Get the Look

Martha Stewart recently sent me into a nostalgic spiral with her most recent Instagram post. She shared a carousel of vintage Martha Stewart Living magazine covers, and honestly? I was absolutely not ready for all the feels. The February 2012 cover (4th image) featured an adorable heart made entirely of pink and red flowers that screamed Valentine’s Day. It was romantic, full, and seriously on-trend for 2026. What can I say? Martha’s influence on me and the world at large is eternal.

If you’re looking to elevate your Valentine’s Day décor, impress dinner guests, or simply treat yourself (because why not), this floral heart look is made for you.

Now, before you start panicking and thinking this requires some next-level floral wizardry, do not be worried. With the right materials and some strategic flower placement, you can totally recreate this look at home and make Martha proud. Probably.

Gather Your Materials First

Now, before you start jamming stems into a piece of green foam and hoping for the best, you’ll need to get your supplies in order. You need a floral foam base, but not just any, as it needs to be a heart shape (believe it or not, this does exist, and it’s available on Amazon).

Pro Tip: To keep your flowers hydrated and happy, soak the foam in a bowl of water until it sinks.

You will also need some floral scissors or shears, a shallow dish or tray to catch any water drips, and of course, your flowers. Try these Corona Carbon Steel garden scissors from Lowe’s, which have an extra sharp tip, perfect for snipping flower stems.

Choose Your Blooms Wisely

Flowers are really where the magic happens. To get that Valentine’s Day look, you should use shades of pink and red, but not just any random color assortment.

Alicia Schwede, a floral designer who runs Fleurs Creative and the blog Flirty Fleurs says, "Think of color in families, not individuals. Choose one dominant tone, perhaps a soft mid pink, and let it do most of the talking.”

She continues, “Use deeper reds as punctuation rather than everywhere at once, spacing them evenly so the eye travels around the arrangement. Pale blush or dusty pinks are wonderful as transitions between strong hues and help everything feel intentional rather than scattered."

As for what types of flowers to use, think in terms of the usual Valentine’s Day bouquets. Garden roses, ranunculus, carnations, spray roses, and maybe even some tulips if you’re feeling fancy. You’ll want to use a mix of showstopper flowers along with other filler flowers for texture and to fill gaps.

Build Your Heart from the Outside In

Where beginners (and who isn’t a beginner when it comes to creating a heart such as this) often go wrong is when they start stuffing flowers in the middle, hoping the shape will work itself out. Spoiler alert: It doesn’t. You need to establish an outline first.

"Start by defining the outline," Schwede advises. "I like to 'draw' the heart first using greenery or a line flower with some flexibility, placing those stems right at the edge. Once the perimeter is established, work inward in layers. Add the flowers in so the petals are touching and almost overlapping to achieve a fullness to the arrangement."

To trace that iconic heart shape, use small sprigs of greenery or flexible stems with the curves at the top, and the point at the bottom. This will ensure you have a framework that actually looks like a heart and not a vaguely romantic blob.

Layer Your Focal Flowers First

Once you’ve created your outline, it’s time for the stars of the show to emerge.

Schwede says, "Focal flowers carry the shape and visual weight, so place them first. Garden roses, ranunculus, or carnations work beautifully here. Once those are in, use filler flowers to knit everything together and to add texture.

She continues, “If fillers start competing for attention, the design can lose clarity. Think of them as supporting actors, always enhancing the lead."

Trim your focal flower stems to about 2-3 inches and insert them into the foam at a slight angle, making sure you work from the outer edge in toward the center. Be aware of spacing them evenly, keeping the color gradient in mind. You don’t want to cluster all your deep reds into one corner; your heart will look lopsided, and that is surely not the romantic look you’re going for.

Fill in the Gaps Thoughtfully

Now it’s time for the supporting cast, and they are just as important. Smaller flowers, spray roses or wax flowers work perfect here. These fill in the spaces and add visual interest without appearing overwhelming.

As you’re adding your filler, frequently step back to asses. And I mean frequently. Schwede’s advice here is gold: "Edit as you go. Every few stems, step back and turn the arrangement slightly. Beginners often keep adding without pausing, which can muddy both shape and color. That small habit of checking balance early saves a lot of fussing later and gives the final piece a calmer, more refined feel."

Rotating your arrangement helps you spot bare patches or color imbalances before they become problems. It’s much easier to adjust as you build that trying to rearrange everything at the end when your flowers are locked in.

The Finishing Touches

Once your heart is full (romantic pun intended), and you’ve stepped back approximately 108 times, do one last check to make sure there aren’t any gaps or spots where foam could be peeking through. If you still see any bits of green, add a small filler flower or bit of greenery.

Pro Tip: For an extra-polished appearance, you can mist the whole arrangement lightly with water. This keeps everything fresh and dewy-looking.

Floral arranging is one of those skills that seems intimidating at first, but once you give it a try, you’ll realize it’s mostly about having patience and a willingness to adjust as you go. Kind of like most things worth doing.