How to Arrange Flowers

It is impossible to go into every aspect of how to arrange flowers in a single article. This article will cover the basics to get started in the art of flower arranging. As you learn how to arrange flowers you will quickly see how relaxing and rewarding it can be as a hobby and maybe even a source of income.

Flower Arranging Tools

There are a few tools and materials that will make it easier for you to learn how to arrange flowers. As you become more skilled you may like to add more things to your tool kit. Here is a list of some basic items

• Anchor pins or prongs—used to hold foam in the container that you are using for your arrangement.
• Floral foam—available in many types, shapes, styles and textures. Floral foam can be cut to fit the container. Types include:
  • Plastic foam (Styrofoam): Good to use with large silk flowers, can be cut and wedged into the container or glued into the bottom of the container.
  • Dry floral foam: Easier to penetrate than plastic foam, dry floral foam is good to use with silk or dried flowers and is usually glued into the container.
  • Water holding foam: An absorbent, easy to penetrate foam that is ideal for fresh flowers. Saturated foam is held in place with waterproof tape. Also, it can be cut up and stuffed into the container for silk or dried flowers.
• Floral stem tape—a stretchy, strong tape that sticks to itself; it is used to lengthen and strengthen the stems of fresh, silk or dried flowers. This material is great to use in the making of corsages, boutonnieres and bouquets.
• Floral wires—come in many different sizes, colors and styles. It is used to lengthen and support stems or to attach flowers to forms like wreaths.
• Pan melt glue pot—used to melt glue at a low temperature so it can be used to glue foam into containers. A hot glue gun can also be used.
• Waterproof clay—used to anchor dry materials like foam, anchor pins or even candles or figurines.
• Waterproof tape—used to hold foam in tape, it will stick to pottery, plastic, glass and almost anything else. Available in white, green and clear

Other supplies you may discover when you learn how to arrange flowers include such craft tools as spray paints and floral sealers allowing you to be even more creative. The more confident you become in your abilities the more fun you will have with your new hobby.

Elements of Design

Three elements of design are considered when you learn how to arrange flowers.

• Line: Line is the direction that your arrangement moves in. Consider the room that your arrangement will be placed in and the area in which you will display it. Line flowers include tall flowers like
  • Snapdragon
  • Delphinium
  • Veronica
  • Gladiolus

• Mass: Mass is what gives your arrangement weight and is created with rounded, full faced flowers. For example:
  • Rose
  • Carnation
  • Sunflower
  • Daffodil

• Filler: Filler is what rounds out your arrangement. It is comprised of foliage and little flowers like:
  • Fern
  • Baby’s breath
  • Queen Anne’s lace

How to Arrange Flowers Using Color

Color is a very important component in your flower arrangement. A color wheel can be helpful in choosing the colors that will look good together. Also consider the colors and textures of the room that you plan to place your arrangement in.

Complementary colors are found opposite of each other on a color wheel, like red and green or blue and orange. Also consider the balance between light and dark colors. Darker colors have more weight than light colors. In order to create balance you will need several light colored flowers for each dark colored flower.

Harmony is also needed in the sizes of each element in your arrangement. A few large focal flowers are balanced with several smaller flowers. Keep in mind too, the balance of the flowers to the container that they are in. If you are using a dainty tea pot for your container, tall sunflowers would look out of proportion. Instead, you would want to choose dainty flowers to provide a proportionate arrangement. The materials you use in your arrangement-- flowers, candles, ribbons—also need to appear balanced.

Helpful Resources

There are many books and websites that have terrific ideas. Some places where you can find helpful resources are:

• Floral Art Mall has a wide selection of books for beginners who are just learning how to arrange flowers and advanced hobbyists.
• Save on Crafts not only has great prices on your flowers arranging needs, they also have an amazing wealth of information to help you on your journey as you learn how to arrange flowers.

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