Although many florists still use cheap paper to wrap their flowers, it doesn't take much to make even the most ordinary blooms look sensational. Once you get them home, replace the florist's wrapping with generous amounts of tissue paper and shiny cellophane, and secure with raffia or ribbon.

Choose colours that complement the flowers, and make sure the bow is big and bold. Vibrant hot-pink tissue paper looks funky wrapped around acid-green chrysanthemums, while paler shades emphasize the delicate nature of orchids and their satiny petals, and ordinary brown wrapping paper is neutral enough to suit most flowers, from the sculptural simplicity of a few bold stems to the most lavish bouquet.