Garden Love

5 Tips for a Great Floral Arrangement

Surprise! I’m a floral designer by trade! I was trained (in my opinion) by some of the most amazing floral designers in the business.

Do you ever want to make a floral arrangement for your home or for a project? Let me help! First off:

 

1.) Pick colors that compliment the other colors

Colors don’t have to always match. Or all be the same color. Some colors help bring out other colors in the flowers. Let’s say one of your flowers has a hint of yellow. Then pick a yellow flower that will really pull that color out. Then maybe you want to use a purple to make the arrangement less bold and more calming. The colors really decide the feel and effect of the arrangement.

IMG_0355

2.) Use greenery

When doing a floral arrangement you can’t use all flowers. You need to put some greenery in with it too. It acts as a filler and helps make the colors pop, the flowers more dramatic, and really adds a floral feel to the arrangement. Greenery includes leather leaf (ferns), ruscus, belles of ireland, pittosporum, and italian ruscus. There are many more–those are just a few of my favorites. (Also, do your greenery first. Then put your flowers in. The greenery should go in the corners of the foam, around the base of the foam and container, and in random areas around the top of the foam.)

IMG_0357

3.) Pick a main flower

Pick a flower that you want to use as the main accent. Then use 1-2 other kinds of flowers to accent that flower. Your main flower needs to be a little bigger than the other flowers you plan to use. You want them to really POP. Depending on the size you may only use one or even up to five. The larger the arrangement the more flexibility you have.

IMG_0356

4.) Have a center flower

Once you have picked your main flower you need to stick it smack dab in the top middle of your foam. This helps you keep track of how tall, round, and big your arrangement will get. Then start placing your main flower around the biggest areas of the container/foam, such as the corners, center front, center back, and sides.

IMG_0358

IMG_0361 IMG_0360

5.) Use a filler flower

Once you have all the greenery in and all the flowers in then you need to look at it. Are there bare spots? If not, then you don’t need a filler flower, but once you start using one, I think you’ll always think you need one. I personally love filler flowers. They just help cover up the bare spots and add a little touch of color. Not too much, but not too little. Some examples of this are statice, baby’s breath, limonium, wax flower, hypericum berries, and many others! Have fun with your fillers. You’ll love them once you get used to using them!

IMG_0363

Have any questions? Ask me! Want me to help with an arrangement? Send me a picture and I’ll let you know what you need to add/move/change! I absolutely love doing arrangements and helping others learn!