Translated by Nick R
Have you ever wondered how you can decorate some spaces in your home, family events, birthdays, parties, and others? Or maybe you don’t know what gift to bring for your significant other? Well, in this blog, you will find the answer you are looking for.
Flower arrangements go great for any occasion. Besides, they are not difficult to make. Here, I will show you the types of arrangements you can make, what flowers to use, the materials you need and the step-by-step to build your own flower arrangement.
Table of Contents
What should you keep in mind before starting?
There are some fundamentals you need to keep in mind when creating flower arrangements. These will guide you to start creating beautiful, eye-catching and flawless arrangements. You will become a professional in the matter.
Composition:
It involves devising and planning the organization of the elements that you are going to use. Depending on the occasion you decide which base or vase you will use as well as what flowers, foliage, accessories, and structure. This will make it clearer when you get down to work so your arrangement will be perfect.
Proportion and scale:
This principle is related to the size of the elements and the available space. Keep in mind that the size should be consistent with the type of arrangement, the elements, the environment, and so on. Otherwise, the attractiveness of the arrangement could be compromised.
Quantity:
It goes very much hand in hand with the previous principle, so while there should be consistency in size, also in quantity. This will give balance to the arrangement so that it can be appreciated in all its brilliance.
Unity and harmony:
Unity helps all the elements of the arrangement to be perceived as a complete design and pleasant to the eye. This is related to harmony since the way in which you combine colors, textures, materials and so on is the basis of harmony.
Rhythm:
This principle provides your design with visual movement. It will ensure that your floral arrangement is not boring and will attract people’s attention. You can achieve this principle by experimenting a little with the positioning of the elements, textures, colors, shapes and sizes. Of course, without compromising the other principles.
Emphasis:
This principle allows you to choose the focal point of your floral arrangement. That element that you want to be striking at first sight. You must choose it carefully so that the other principles are not altered and your creation does not suffer. You can take into account the size, color, texture and shape to choose the most appropriate element.
Balance:
There are 2 types. The first is the visual balance which proposes stability of the elements for people’s eyes. It can be symmetrical since it has a similar amount of elements. Asymmetrical as the distribution is unequal, but in harmony. And, finally, the open balance which can incorporate the two previous ones.
For the physical balance, it focuses on the weight of the elements you use in the floral arrangement. This principle is vital for the arrangement not to be unstable and to avoid accidents.
Flowers and foliage to use in flower arrangements
There is a wide variety of flowers and foliage (the leaves of plants) that you can use in your arrangements. It all depends on the occasion, the event, the size, the colors, even the scents and shapes. However, I will mention some of these elements so you can get a guideline.
Flowers
Roses:
These are the most common for floral arrangements, yet they are still beautiful. You can find a wide variety of colors that will liven up the arrangement. They are most often used for weddings, but you can also use them for centerpieces in your home.
Roses give off a pleasant aroma and symbolize love, passion, friendship, sweetness, purity, beauty, and more. For this reason, they are a nice option for your floral arrangements.
Tulips:
These flowers come in a wide variety of colors and stand out for their elegance. They can be used as main or focal flowers. Their meaning is linked to their color. For example, yellow tulips can represent friendship, sincerity and transparency.
Red is for passion, love and fire. And peace and purity when they are white. Choose the color you want according to your wishes.
Hydrangeas:
The shape of these flowers is very striking because it resembles a bouquet. They can be used for party decorations, flower archways, large floral arrangements, etc.
You can match these flowers with roses or panicle flowers and they will look spectacular. Their colors are pink, lilac, blue and white, and they can convey feelings of romanticism, gratitude and abundance.
Carnations:
These are multi-petaled flowers that are used most of the time to fill or complement the arrangement. They can be red, yellow, pink, white, blue and bicolor. They symbolize beauty and pride, but can also have different meanings depending on the color like tulips or roses.
They are attractive, versatile, moldable, durable and economical flowers. They will add a great touch to your floral arrangement.
Gerberas:
They are as popular as roses. They can be used as the main or focal flower. They look good in centerpieces, bouquets and even updos, as these flowers are often used for weddings.
They symbolize fun, joy, love, and happiness, among others. They are found in white, yellow, red, orange, pink and other colors naturally found.
Panicles:
It’s a small flower that is also known as a “Bridal Veil” or “Cloud”. It is characterized by having a large number of simple, fragile and very fine bouquets.
Their color is white, but they can be found in other colors due to the technique of putting them in water with dye until they take the color. It works excellent as a complement to your floral arrangement and symbolizes innocence.
Sunflowers:
They are beautiful flowers that you can combine with others to create a unique floral arrangement. Its yellow color transmits joy, positivism, admiration, love, among others.
You can use it as the main flower in your creations, besides, it is an excellent gift for your friends or family. Do not hesitate for a second to use this amazing flower.
Orchids:
These plants are preferred for very special occasions or very exclusive floral arrangements. They are characterized by their elegance, versatility and the variety of species that exist. You can find them in purple, blue, pink, yellow, lilac, red, and white, among others. Its meaning varies according to the color, as it can represent harmony, peace, love, passion, naturalness, purity, etc.
Foliage
Ruscus:
It’s a green perennial shrub that has several stems, which can grow more than 1 meter. The leaves of this shrub can be flat, oval or lanceolate, and in the middle of them is found the fruit.
This is a bright red globular berry and also very striking, it is used along with the leaves for flower arrangements. It is very desirable for its long durability and its active role in the composition of the arrangement.
Pampas grass:
It’s a type of grass that has lately become fashionable for decorations. You can find it in pink, purple or white, making it an ideal plant for events such as weddings.
Its leaves are large and green; however, what is used to make floral arrangements is the inflorescence. This is a spike of plumy flowers found in the aforementioned colors.
Ivy:
This type of leaf is used to create movement and to improve the arrangement rhythm. The leaves are lanceolate, oval, or whole and have a dark green color that is very striking and ideal to complement your arrangements.
Eucalyptus:
Eucalyptus is very popular for event decorations and flower arrangements. They serve to scent the environment and give a subtle and beautiful touch to the place where you put the arrangement. They last a long time and can be combined with various flowers, especially roses.
Ferns:
They give a perfect naturalness to floral arrangements by contrasting with other flowers and matching their colors. The intense green color and volume of this plant are the perfect allies to make your flower arrangements look stunning.
Types of floral arrangements
There are several ways in which you can create your floral arrangements so that each of the elements you use has a chance to shine. In addition, they will add vibrancy to your decor and surroundings.
Below, I will tell you about the most common ones.
Circular
This type of arrangement works well for events held in large spaces such as congresses. You can also use it as a gift for special occasions or wedding anniversaries.
They require a large number of flowers because of their size, this depends on the container you use. As a guide, you can use two dozen main flowers and then add the secondary flowers and foliage.
You should form a 90° angle with the flowers so that your arrangement looks uniform and circular.
Fan
This is one of the most traditional flower arrangements. You should form a 45° angle with the flowers so that the arrangement looks like a fan. It has a symmetrical and balanced semicircle shape.
You must start this arrangement from the center and place the rest of the flowers on the sides at the same inclination. You can use long or short leaves and pointy flowers.
Triangular
It’s a classic style but still used to make floral arrangements, especially for ceremonies. You can make it symmetrical, in which the flowers and foliage you use will form a perfect triangle.
Or it can also be asymmetrical, in which the elements you place in the center will be higher than the ones on the sides, but always forming a triangle.
Vertical
This type of arrangement has more height than width. It can stand for power and strength, and it is also characterized by having few flowers and foliage located in several directions. Keep in mind that the key to this style is that the elements do not exceed the width of the container.
Horizontal
This type of arrangement portrays a sense of tranquility and stability. It is widely used for centerpieces in restaurants, events or dining rooms. Unlike the vertical one, this type is low in height and long in width. In this arrangement, the flowers have their own personality and provide character and style.
Minimalist
Here elegance, simplicity and delicacy prevail, in addition to using a minimum amount of flowers and foliage. Everything is focused on the main flower and from there you can create compositions of varied sizes, shapes, styles and more. Everything is up to your imagination, but without forgetting the focus of this type of arrangement, simplicity.
Materials for flower arrangements
There are several materials you can use to create floral arrangements; however, it doesn’t mean that you have to use all of them. It depends on the type of flower arrangement you build and your creativity. However, all you need is to keep in mind the fundamentals of flower arranging before starting.
- Floral knife: it will be useful to cut everything you need such as flower stems, foam, plastics, etc.
- Pruning shears: this will work for cutting the stems of fresh flowers in case you don’t have a knife or prefer to use only scissors.
- Pliers: to cut the wire and tighten it.
- Normal scissors: will work for cutting paper, fabric, ribbons and so on.
- Floral tape: it will work to cover the wire or also to fix the arrangement bases to the supports. It is green so it can camouflage and not damage the arrangement visually.
- Wire: it will help you to tie flowers, make wreaths, hold the elements of the arrangement, and other things.
- Flower glue: it will help you to glue the flowers or leaves to the base or as a scarring agent for the stems to make them last longer.
- Silicone gun: in case you use other types of elements and want to attach them. It will also work if you use artificial flowers.
- Raffia ribbon: it is an artificial fiber thread used to tie bouquets, as well as for decorative material to make bows or cover wires.
- Floral foam: it is also called oasis and is used to insert the flowers and foliage. If you use natural elements, this foam should be wet to provide the plant with the water it needs and allow it to last a little longer. If you use artificial flowers you can use dry foam.
- Vase: this is an object you can use as an alternative to the floral foam. It also works for fresh or artificial flowers.
Step by step to make a flower arrangement
You already know everything you need to take into account before starting the creation of your arrangements. Now you will learn how to put what you have learned into practice. First of all, you should know that there are two ways in which you can make your floral arrangement.
The first is with floral foam and the second is in a vase or a similar container. These two objects need different preparation before you start and I will explain them below.
Step 1
You must have a clear idea about your flower arrangement, for what occasion you will use it, what style you are going to choose and what materials and elements you are going to need. Remember that this is one of the principles for the creation of your arrangement.
For example, you want to make a simple rose arrangement for your home. You want to place it in a container that is similar to a salad bowl and has a circular shape. You will use pastel colors and a total of 30 roses. You are going to attach these roses later with wire or floral tape in bunches of each color to form a mini bouquet.
Step 2
Once you have the idea of the floral arrangement you want to make, you should start to list the materials and elements you will use. The amount may vary depending on the type of floral arrangement.
Following our example, in your medium-sized, simple and circular floral arrangement you will use 30 roses grouped in 5 groups, by color. Just as you thought of it, you are going to prepare the wire or ribbon that you will use to join the flowers giving them a bouquet shape.
This way the arrangement will look symmetrical and bushy. If you want to add a few leaves of foliage that you hadn’t planned initially, you can do it without any problem. You can even leave it with the roses alone, after all, it’s something simple and meant for you.
Step 3
Before placing the flowers in the container, you must clean them, that is to say, remove the natural leaves. This is because they could ruin the arrangement since they occupy the space of another flower or foliage.
Cut the flower stems and foliage according to the size and shape you want for your creation. This cut should be made on a diagonal with pruning shears or a floral knife so that the plant can better absorb the water.
In our rose arrangement example, you will clean the roses’ stems. And if necessary, remove the thorns and the leaves you don’t need. Place the vase on a table and take a rose as a guide. Measure the stem to the height of the pot, that is, from the base to the top of it.
For example, if the container is 20 cm high, you will cut the stem from the base of the container to where it measures 20 cm. If at the moment of pouring the rose into the container it sticks out, you can cut again what you need to make it uniform.
Cut the other roses following the pattern of the first one and begin joining them in groups, fastening them with the wire or ribbon. Remember that the cut at the base of the stem must always be diagonal.
Step 4
When you have your flowers ready, adjust the container you are going to use. If you plan to use the floral foam, you must previously put it in a pot with a good amount of water until it is absorbed. In the water you are going to add flower food, this is a powder that contains nutrients so that the plant can last longer.
You should not force the foam to submerge as it will gradually absorb the water. As soon as you see it almost completely submerged, take it out and place it in the base of your choice, a tray, a flowerpot, or a wooden box will do. You can cut the oasis so that it adjusts to the base and no parts are left hanging outside.
On the other hand, if you prefer to use a vase for your floral arrangement, you must choose one of a suitable size. This will depend on the type of arrangement you want to make and the occasion. Pour some water with flower food covering at least 5 or 10 cm of the stem from the base.
In our example of the rose arrangement, you are going to use a pot with water, apply the food and leave it ready to start positioning the roses.
Step 5
When you have the container and the items ready, you have a free hand to start your flower arrangement idea. An important tip I give you is to start with the main flower. This flower will be the starting point, you can place it in the center or on the sides, it depends on the type of flower arrangement.
After the principal flower, add the complements, these are the foliage and the other flowers that will serve to fill the arrangement and give it a nice view. At this point, feel free to imagine and combine colors and shapes, but without leaving aside the initial plan.
If you use the foam or the vase, do not hesitate to use the materials you need. Ribbon, wire, and raffia, are your unconditional friends, they will be there for you when you need them.
With the arrangement we have as an example, you start placing the groups of roses in the vase following the circular shape. Alternate the colors and place 4 bouquets on the edges and the fifth one in the middle.
As this arrangement is simple, your main flower will be the rose. And as I told you in step 2, if you want to include foliage, here you will add it after the roses and in the locations you like.
Step 6
Once you are done placing the foliage and flowers, you can start adding the accessories you want. Ribbons, bows, spheres and others will give a spectacular touch to your arrangements.
Of course, you should not overdo it, because an overloaded arrangement may not be much to your liking. The design varies according to the purpose of your creation, birthday parties, cocktail parties, family lunches, weddings, etc.
As our example is a simple arrangement of roses only, there is no need to add more accessories. But of course, if you like you can do it with no problem, let creativity take you away. Remember that these accessories must match the roses you used.
Step 7
The last thing left to do is to place your finished floral arrangements in their final places. It could be as table centerpieces, door arches, pathways, corners, in your home and even as a gift.
The rose floral arrangement we use as an example can be placed as a centerpiece in your living room, dining room or home entryway. Some people place tables close to the front door as decoration and to store various objects.
I hope this information on how to make flower arrangements has been useful. Once you get the practice you will look like a professional in the field. You will see that family and friends will come to you for decoration advice. Encourage yourself to do something new that will help you to distract yourself a little from the daily routine. I know you won't regret it.
