Decorating with flowers is a great way to instantly add energy and color to a room. Floral design principles can be used when handling fresh flowers, dried flowers, fake flowers, and paper flowers. Choose the flowers you want to use, a beautiful container, and your choice of ribbon or other decorative accent. Read on to learn how to make flower arrangements.
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Part 1 of 3: Preparing the Design
Step 1. Choose the color of the flowers and leaves
You need to choose colors carefully, whether you want to highlight a room in your home or decorate it for a special occasion. Choose between 1-4 different colors that complement each other.
- For a bold look, choose a light color, such as a bouquet of flowers that are all dark red.
- Combine with green leaves for a natural effect.
- Think of yourself as a painter when deciding what colors to highlight each other. Consider using a color wheel reference to help you make your decision.
- You can't go wrong choosing your favorite color. If you like these colors, then you'll love the flower arrangements, so don't limit yourself to traditional options.
Step 2. Make the design of the flower arrangement that you will make
Use pencils, paper, and some colored pencils to make a rough sketch before going to the florist or craft store. You don't have to draw a flower arrangement perfectly, but designing the arrangement will help you figure out what kind of look you're looking for.
- Are you looking for a natural effect? Meaning you need a variety of colors, shapes, and textures.
- For a more formal arrangement, you can stick to one type of flower with a classic shape.
- If you're decorating for a big day, you might also want to add seasonal trinkets like cornucopias (horn-shaped baskets filled with fruit and other items) on Thanksgiving or snowman figurines that can be placed in a flower vase.
- Decide whether you are going to create a vertical or horizontal arrangement when drafting a floral design. Vertical designs often feature tall vases with flowers that are higher in the center and lower at the edges. The horizontal design has a vase that is shallower and places the flowers slightly higher in the middle and arranged to the ends.
Step 3. Decide what container to use
Containers can be the hallmark of flower arrangements. Determine the size and shape of the container to be used. Here are some of the options:
- Traditional glass vases highlight the beauty of flowers and don't overdo it.
- Vases or boxes made of ceramic, wood, aluminum, and other materials are also quite good for flower arrangements.
- Consider using jars, old ceramic teapots, or other existing items to add a personal touch to your flower arrangements.
Step 4. Visit a florist or craft store for supplies
Now that you've got a neat plan in place, it's time to gather the gear. You'll need some or all of the following, depending on the type of circuit you're making:
- Several kinds of flowers
- Green plants, ferns and mosses
- Foam blocks or flower frogs (flower arrangement kits that have a number of nails into which to attach flowers) are perfect for containers
- Other accent items such as buttons, ribbons, and/or seasonal embellishments
- Plaster for flower arrangements in green, white, or clear
Part 2 of 3: Making Flower Arrangements
Step 1. Make sure the flower frog fits into the container
The flower frog at the bottom of the container will tighten the flower stalk to keep it in place.
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If the flower frog is a little too small, you can cut foam blocks for the same effect.
Soak the foam for a few minutes to soften it. Trace the foam onto the bottom of the container, then use a utility knife to cut out the shape. Insert the foam into the bottom of the container.
- You can skip this step for fake flower arrangements, as fake flowers tend to stand in place unaided.
- If you don't have an all-purpose knife, you can cut the foam blocks with scissors.
Step 2. Make a trellis with plaster
If you are using a large decorative bowl as a container for your flowers, making a plaster trellis on the open part of the bowl will also keep the flowers and other elements from falling or falling off. Place half a dozen plasters horizontally on the exposed part of the bowl and half a dozen tapes vertically. This method is useful for fastening flowers according to design.
Step 3. Prepare the flowers
Trim the leaves near the bottom of the stem with scissors, to remove leaf clusters and help flowers stay fresh longer. Use a diagonal cut to cut the flowers to the desired length. The shallower the container, the more you have to cut.
- Consider cutting stems from different flowers at different lengths. This will add a layered row to the floral design.
- If you're not sure how long the stalks should be, do the exercise and hold a bunch of flowers by the side of the container to estimate how long the stalks should be.
Step 4. Put the flower stalks into the container
Make sure the tip of the stem is securely attached to the flower frog. Put the tallest and most prominent flowers into the container first, then fill the gaps with the complementary flowers and flowers of your choice. Continue filling the container until the circuit appears balanced and complete.
Step 5. Turn the flower arrangement over to the other side when the container is mostly filled with flowers
You will need to check the appearance of the circuit from each side to make sure it is consistent. Fix the gaps in the arrangement with other flowers or remove the flowers if they are too full.
Step 6. Add greenery and decorations
Ivy, fern, or baby's breath accentuate the flowers while also adding a strong green to the design. You will need to arrange the greenery around the flowers at the base, decorate the vase in several places or higher up among the flowers, depending on the design.
- You can put moss plants on the flower frog so you can see these trinkets. For example, you could use a moss plant in a see-through vase or on top of a flower arrangement in a basket.
- Instead of moss, you can fill the area around the flower frog with other items. Consider using buttons, glass stones, cork bottle caps, or clam shells.
Step 7. Pour the water into the container
Don't forget this finishing touch! Of course, you want your flower arrangements to last as long as possible.
Part 3 of 3: Trying out Special Flower Arrangements
Step 1. Make a Thanksgiving flower arrangement
Use orange, brown, yellow, and red flowers as well as Thanksgiving-themed embellishments to create a beautiful arrangement on the Thanksgiving table.
Step 2. Make an Easter flower arrangement
Gorgeous pastel colors and soft winter tones are the stars in this range. Purchase eggs, bunnies, chicks, and other Easter decorations to make the flowers stand out.
Step 3. Make a summer table flower arrangement
Take advantage of the abundance of colorful flowers by making summer flower arrangements. This is the time to use a lot of bold, bold colors and patterns in a series.
Step 4. Make a wedding flower arrangement
Use the color of the bride's choice and add wedding bells, love birds, or other sweet accents to create a beautiful wedding flower arrangement.
Tips
- Create small but dramatic flower arrangements by adding ferns and long, light-stemmed flowers to a trumpet-shaped or glass vase for cold desserts. This arrangement can create a flower circle.
- Use leaves like clematis or lilacs to accent greenery. You can save money on fresh flower arrangements by cutting leaves from your own garden.
- Experiment with using colorful vases and colorful flowers. Instead of decorating the room with colorful flowers, use flowers of the same color and vases that match other decorations.
- Secure the faux flower arrangement by adding a dab of hot glue to each flower stalk before placing it on the foam block. A great way to practice flower arrangement before creating a permanent arrangement to save material.
- Add faux berries to flower arrangements for a bright accent. These trinkets are available at many craft stores and are sold in a bundle.
