Ever wish the florist’s shop were run more like a buffet? You could stand in line with a vase in hand and ask for six pink daisies, four orange roses and six yellow lilies. Welcome to the fun-filled world of flower arranging! But, before you break your dependence on professional florists and set out on your own, brush up on the basics of this fascinating art form to craft beautiful bouquets.
Brainstorming is the first essential step in every creative process. Decide whether you’d like to make a horizontal, vertical, triangular, crescent, oval, minimal, lazy “S” or freestanding arrangement. Click here for more information about these varieties.
Choose your vase based on which type you picked.
If your vase is clear, line it with decorative greens like hydrangea leaves to hide the stems.
Move on to the line materials. Think of them as the skeleton of your flower arrangement, and use these greens to form the basic shape.
Continuing the analogy, fill in the flesh and blood of your arrangement with the dominant materials. These are the pieces that will determine your color scheme because they are the main focus of the arrangement. Stick to flowers of a similar hue, like purple and blue or red and orange.
Place the secondary materials evenly around the dominant materials. These smaller groups of flowers simply serve as an accent to the heart of your arrangement.
Plug the gaps with the filler materials. If you’re aiming for a minimal arrangement, don’t go overboard with this step. Just play around with your materials until you find a visually appealing balance.
Pass on this expressive, handmade gift to somebody special and proudly let them know that you’re officially florist-free.
Learn more about the different components of flower arrangements and find more tips at Better Homes and Gardens or get pointers from a professional at Apartment Therapy.
Image: Muffet