Homecoming mums are a great way to show off your spirit during Spirit Week and at other homecoming events. These large floral arrangements help students show off their creative side, and of course, they’re fun to wear.
That said, it’s hard to know what a homecoming mum should look like if you’ve never seen one. Plus, you may want to go with a more unique design to stand out from other students.
Whatever your motivation, we have you covered with homecoming mum ideas.
What Are Homecoming Mums?
Homecoming mums are large floral arrangements with a chrysanthemum serving as the anchor. Aside from having a big flower, mums also include ribbons and other materials to make the design pop out.
These arrangements are worn to homecoming events in Texas and Oklahoma, and girls tend to make them out of a flower that’s given to them by a boy or girl who likes them. In fact, it’s said that the size of the homecoming mum is a direct representation of how much someone loves someone or how much school spirit they have.
The 5 Best Homecoming Mum Ideas
Homecoming mums start with chrysanthemums, but where do you go from there? Sure, you can add a random assortment of ribbons, but that won’t really look great unless you have a vision.
This is where we come in because we’ll help you find that vision. Read on to discover the five best homecoming mum ideas.
1. Simple and Sweet Homecoming Mum
One of the best things you can do is keep it simple. While homecoming mums are meant to be extravagant and extra, that doesn’t mean you have to go over the top and ruin it.
Sometimes, a big flower, long ribbons, and plenty of school colors are enough to have a great-looking homecoming mum. For extra flair, you can add your name, your school’s initials, and the name of your date.
2. Elegant Homecoming Mums
Another great way to show off your school spirit is with a more elegant homecoming mum. Instead of splashing colors around and making it look messy, go for a two-tone look that includes your school’s colors in a classy way.
Then, add jewels, glitter, and sparkles throughout the design to make it shine and pop. If you’re wearing a homecoming dress and your school wants you to wear the mum over it, this is one of the best routes you can take.
3. Sports Theme Homecoming Mum
Big fan of school sports? Or play on one of the teams? If so, why not show it through your homecoming mum?
Using soccer as an example, you can add a soccer ball, cleats, goals, and other designs to your homecoming mum using stickers. Charms for your school’s teams and your jersey number can also go on the homecoming mum.
4. Oversized Homecoming Mum
We know that we covered keeping it simple earlier, but let’s throw that out the window for a second. If you want to make a statement this year, the oversized homecoming mum is your best friend.
This mum is massive, using multiple chrysanthemums to achieve the look of one massive mum. You’ll need triple the ribbons, more glitter, and more trinkets to make the whole design stand out and make sense.
5. Feathers and Fur Homecoming Mum
Another elegant option is the feathers and fur homecoming mum. This design is simple and only requires some extra work around the edges. You’ll want to add features around the flower to help it stand out and fur around the edges of the backer board.
We recommend going the faux fur route to ensure that no animals are harmed in the production of your homecoming mum. The color of the fur and features can also be important, so make sure it goes well with the overall design.
Impress Your School With the Best Homecoming Mums
Wearing a homecoming mum is all about being creative, connecting with others, and showing off your school spirit. And while these things are all important, so is having the best possible homecoming mum on campus.
Whether you want to impress your peers or win a contest, the mum ideas we covered in this article will help you get there. When choosing a homecoming mum style make sure you choose one that best represents you and don’t get too carried away.
Journalist Chloe Rivera studied at the University of Missouri and has covered mindful, stylish living since 2013. She joined us in 2025 to curate realistic routines, budget-friendly décor, and community stories that help readers craft balance without perfection pressure. When offline, Chloe volunteers at urban farms, photographs street style, and hosts weekend swap parties for preloved clothes and books in her neighborhood.
