How I prep for large scale events while working from a home studio

Curious how I prep for large-scale events while working from my home studio?

I wanted to share a little behind-the-scenes of what it actually looks like to design big events from a small space.

I’m Colleen, the owner of Floraloom. I work out of my home studio in a Kansas neighborhood but the events I design are often large-scale and require a lot of coordination, planning, and moving parts. This season of life looks like designing from home while raising a family, and while the workspace may be small, the ideas are not.

Here’s what it really takes to pull off large-scale events in small spaces:

1. Plan, plan, plan:
I spend weeks (sometimes months) thinking through logistics, timelines, and details while project managing freelancers, vendors, and fabricators so there are no surprises when event week hits.

2. A storage unit:
Most installation pieces and hardgoods live off-site. I pull what I need as events approach and temporarily take over the basement (and sometimes the garage) when prep ramps up.

3. Renting what I need:
From trucks to refrigeration to larger build spaces (yes, sometimes full-on forests 🌲), renting allows me to scale up without needing a massive permanent studio.

6. Recycling:
I tend to source local flowers when possible while also getting flowers delivered to my house, so after an event wraps, I break down all the boxes and bring over to the local recycling center.

4. A skilled freelance team:
After designing the concept and creating floral recipes, I equip a trusted team of incredibly talented freelance designers who can bring the vision to life alongside me on event days.

5. A very supportive village:
Family, friends, and babysitters who help watch my little one, paint candlesticks, move heavy boxes, and cheer me on! I truly couldn’t do this without them.

Floraloom may be a small studio but we execute BIG ideas!