Flower arrangements are the perfect way to freshen up your space and add a pop of color to the room. Learning to arrange flowers is a fun way to add personality and artistic vision to your home. To help you understand the fundamentals, we’re showing you a simple step-by-step guide for how to arrange flowers. No matter your vase size, we have tips on how to make your bouquets look professional and beautiful!
When choosing your color pallet, consider the room and the color psychology of floral arrangements. Yellow sunflowers will add energy to a space, while morning glories will create a calming effect. Whether you are arranging bouquets for a special occasion or want to show off the flowers you bought at the local farmers’ market, taking these extra steps will not go unnoticed.
How to Arrange Flowers: Step-by-Step
Step 1: Gather your materials.
- Scissors — You’ll need scissors to trim the stems. Gardening shears also work well.
- Vase — Choose your favorite vase in which to display the flowers.
- Plant food — Pre-made bouquets usually come with packets of plant food. Your local gardening shop will also carry varieties of plant food.
- Water — Water will keep the flowers alive!
- Flowers of choice — You’ll need greenery, primary flowers and secondary flowers for the arrangement.
Step 2: Remove any extra leaves to create clean stems. It’s okay to leave some foliage, but remember that you’ll also have greenery to fill in any extra space.
Step 3: Measure the flowers against your vase of choice and cut to size. Be sure to cut the stems at a diagonal. This will let the flowers soak up more water and help them stay alive longer.
Step 4: Fill your vase half full with water. You’ll want to change the water every three days. If you use less water in the vase, you should change the water more often.
Step 5: Pour the plant food into the vase. It should naturally mix in, but if it sinks to the bottom, stir it until it’s dissolved.
Step 6: Start by criss-crossing your foliage to create a base. Forming this lattice pattern will create a sturdy base for your other flowers.
Step 7: Add in your focal flowers, making sure they are spread out. The focal flowers are the ones you want to highlight. They may be the most colorful, the biggest or just your favorites.
Step 8: Add in any of your secondary flowers. Secondary flowers tend to be smaller and will round out the flower arrangement.
Step 9: Rearrange or fill in as needed. Remove any petals that are wilted and adjust the foliage so that it fills in any empty spaces.
How to Arrange Flowers in a Large Vase
When arranging flowers in a tall or cylinder vase, it’s important to consider which flowers you are choosing. The vase itself is already large and makes a statement, so you can choose just a few types of flowers. The flowers you decide on should have long and sturdy stems. Find one colored variety that can be used as the centerpiece and then fill in neutral toned secondary flowers around it.
How to Arrange Flowers in a Medium Vase
When arranging flowers in a medium vase you have the most freedom. Medium vases usually have a wide opening and can fit many floral varieties. Try picking a colorful main and secondary flower and then filling in the rest of the vase with textured neutral colors. With this many flowers, it’s important to criss-cross the stems or even tie them with twine so that they stay in one place.
How to Arrange Flowers in a Small Vase
Arranging flowers in a small vase looks best when there are a few bright statement flowers. To create a more dynamic look, choose contrasting colors and a variety of textures. With a smaller vase, it’s not necessary to fill the base with greenery because there won’t be as much extra space that needs to be filled in.
Tips and Tricks for Arranging Flowers
- Pick your vase before you choose your florals. Make sure it’s clean.
- If you have neutral colored flowers, try a colorful vase.
- Purchase more flowers than you think you’ll need. Some may wilt before you arrange them in a vase.
- If you are new to arranging, try using a blend of flowers in the same color family.
- When only using one type of flower, be sure to include greenery to round out the look.
- Add variety to your arrangement with unique flowers like succulents or kale flowers.
- To establish a sturdy base, try creating a grid of tape on the mouth of the vase. Slide the stems into the openings of the grid and rest them on the tape.