Accessorising with flowers is a great idea because greenery and other plants throughout your home add texture and soften the room. Make sure the container suits the room’s style whether formal or informal.
Five Basic Flower Arrangements
The Horizontal Arrangement
For this arrangement, use a shallow container. Anchor foam with a lot of glue or use anchor pins, and position sprays of line flowers to establish the shape of the design. Insert focal flowers in the middle so they gently droop over the lip of the container on both sides, reach towards the line material and extend on either side of the middle. Fill in around the edges with smaller flowers and foliage.
The Vertical Arrangement
Wedge or secure foam in a vase with hot glue. Cut the stems of the tallest flowers or leaves to reach three or four times the height of the vase. Place the focal flowers vertically within the diameter of the vase. Fill in the areas as needed with filler flowers.
The Triangular Arrangement
Secure floral foam. Determine the vertical height and horizontal width with the smallest line flowers and leaves. Make the height higher than the width. Position the largest focal flowers in the heart of the arrangement and slightly lower to give weight and balance. Fill in with the filler flowers and foliage keeping within the triangular shape.
The Crescent Arrangement
Secure foam in container. Determine length of crescent and insert curved line flowers or leaves to follow the crescent form. Angle the shape to balance in the container. Insert the focal flowers fairly low in the bowl to achieve balance, stability and depth. Fill in around the focal flowers with smaller flowers and foliage. Place wisps of filler flowers that gracefully taper off the ends.
Minimal Arrangements
Glue foam to container. Insert vertical line flowers to determine the height, and secure the horizontal line flowers to give the basic outline of the arrangement. Place the focal flowers and a few smaller flowers.
Here are a few Unique Ideas for Accessorising with Flowers.
- Start off small flowering plants like African violets or grape hyacinth in old, mismatched teacups.
- A collection of small plants or cacti can be planted in a ceramic bowl found at a yard sale.
- In the kitchen, place plant pots inside old tin containers that contained items like crackers, tea, coffee, etc. If you don’t want to see the pot, place a cover of moss over the top of the pot.
Dried flowers
A large basket or earthenware pot is perfect for a dried flower arrangement. There are several popular techniques for drying flowers. The best and most popular way to achieve dried flowers is the state of the art method of freeze-drying flowers. One of the oldest processes used to dry flowers is to air dry them by hanging them in a reverse position.
Another way of drying flowers is using silica gel, or placing the flowers in the microwave.
When choosing the flowers for a dried flower arrangement, it is important to be aware of both colour and shape.
Colour selection is the most personal element in the dried flower arrangement. The preference for colour will vary with each individual. As dried flowers age, the colour tends to change and the green of the stems and leaves will turn to a more golden hue. Pink, red and blue colours become deeper and richer when dried, while yellows and greens are less permanent.
A dried flower arrangement which is perfectly symmetrical is dull and boring. A lively dried flower arrangement is much more attractive and interesting to display.
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