Having bought a gorgeous bouquet in a store or collecting flowers in a field, it is not enough just to put them in a vase. In order for your bouquet to look harmonious in the room, you need to learn how to compose compositions from fresh flowers.
For these purposes, you can use various vessels: vases, jugs, containers, baskets, bowls, stands and other items. In this article we will tell you about the elements of flower arrangements and the rules for arranging flowers. You can also learn how to make flower arrangements at home for various holidays and just to decorate the interior.
How to compose a flower arrangement in a container
Before composing your flower arrangement, collect suitable containers, stands and accessories for arranging indoor plants. The range of containers is huge. They come in all kinds of shapes, sizes and materials – glass, ceramics, metal, wood, plastic, wicker, terracotta and so on.
Composing flowers in a composition requires adherence to one rule: the container, plants and environment must match each other. For example, a muted vase against a pastel background, a tall cylinder for a stylized modern arrangement, and so on. You will need a wide variety – thrift stores, trade fairs, and more are excellent sources.
A plastic container that has internal tabs to hold a block or cylinder of a floral sponge. This type of container is cheap, but purely functional. This means that it must either be hidden with plant material or placed in a more attractive outer container.
Arrangement of flowers in a vase and a jug
There is no exact definition of a vase, but this is usually the name given to a container that is at least as high as wide and often has a very narrow neck. Vases are still the favorite cut flower vessels, and the choice is huge. Glass vases for flower arrangements are still popular, although the stems can look unattractive under water. There are tall and narrow vases designed for a single rose, tulip or orchid flower. Metal vases were once popular.
The arrangement of flowers in a vase should correspond to the decoration of the room. Tall, spiky inflorescences usually require vases with nearly vertical sides. Very bright surfaces or spectacular murals are rarely successful. Jugs are vessels with a spout and one handle that are suitable for arrangements in antique interiors.
Composing flower arrangements in hanging vessels, bowls and mugs
Hanging at the end of a bench or on a wall is a wire or plastic frame into which a block of wet or dry sponge is inserted, used to make compositions from fresh or dried flowers.
Composing flower arrangements is also possible in ordinary circles. They are sometimes covered with felt or elastic nylon to make them more suitable as a stand. The cloth is either cut out and glued to the board, or put on it as an elastic cover.
Wreaths decorated with flowers, berries and leaves are favorite decorations for the Christmas table. Vessels filled with moss are sometimes used, but a floral sponge ring is more convenient these days. A candle holder is a shallow plastic or metal bowl on which a block or cylinder of a floral sponge is attached. It has a short stem at the base. Secure this leg to a candlestick or bottle using floral plasticine.
Rose Bowl (bowl with grill). A once popular vessel for table decoration, but now they are rare. The low cylindrical ceramic or glass base contains water, and the lid holds the plants in place either through crisscrossing thick silver-plated wires or a series of round stem holes.
The bowl and tray are small containers. Bowls and dishes are widely used for tabletop compositions. Urn – A bowl made of ceramic, stone or plastic with a short and thick stem and often with handles and a square base. The smallest is the tray, a flat container with raised sides used for linear arrangements.
Arrangements of flowers in a basket and other items
For fresh flower arrangements, it will be necessary to place a waterproof container inside – this can be either a plastic bowl or a sheet of polyethylene stapled to the inner rim.
The list of suitable household items is almost endless – jelly molds, wine glasses, decanters, kettles, pots, old aerosol lids, coffee pots, etc. Sinks and driftwood can serve as containers. Hollowed out gourds and melons look attractive, but the gas emitted from them will shorten the lifespan of the cut flowers.
Collect suitable stands and accessories. A stand is an object placed between the container and the support it stands on. It is used to protect the polished surface from splashing water and condensation. The stand can be used to enhance both visual appeal and a sense of balance. However, there is a danger of using a stand that distracts the eye from the flower arrangement.
An accessory is a non-plant material element that is included in the arrangement or placed next to it. Its purposes are usually purely decorative, although lighted candles can serve a practical purpose as well. Some arrangers never use accessories, except for Christmas, when it is bells, ribbons, candles, etc. are features of desktop compositions. Accessories can add interest, but restraint is needed. Fruits, moss and driftwood are sometimes added to the compositions, but these are objects of plant material, and they are not true accessories.
Wooden coasters can be rectangles or circles made from plywood, joinery, chipboard or fiberboard, but the most popular today is cork.
An oriental-style stand will enhance the oriental look of the painted Chinese vase with an exotic arrangement.
Pieces of marble, slate, gypsum, limestone, etc. when placed correctly they make excellent decorative coasters. The stone gives the feeling of solidity. Stones that have a cavity that can accommodate a small container are especially useful.
A straw, bamboo, or plastic-covered rug placed on a table is the most popular basis for arranging displays at home. When composing fresh flower arrangements on a rug, avoid shiny and richly decorated surfaces. In most cases, a table mat doesn’t add any decorative effect, so use the smallest size that works.
The cross-cut of a tree trunk with or without bark makes an excellent decorative stand for some arrangements. An oval cut is well suited for installing a container with landscape compositions or linear arrangements. The container is usually placed closer to one side and not in the middle of the stand. The saw cut can be left untreated or painted with wood dye; they are often coated with furniture wax or varnish.
Candles are an essential accessory for dining table arrangements. Unlit candles can be decorated with vines, such as ivy, wrapped around each candle, and flowers can close the stand. When lit, they pose a fire hazard if handled carelessly. Make sure each candle is firmly anchored in the composition. One way is to tape four toothpicks to the base of the candle with adhesive tape, and then stick them firmly into the sponge; make sure the plant material does not touch the surface of the wax.
The idea of using figurines made of wood, metal, ceramics, glass, etc. as part of a floral arrangement is either loved or hated. For some, the presence of such an accessory provides additional interest and a way to highlight the theme of the arrangement – biblical figurines next to a Christmas composition, a Chinese fisherman next to an ikebana arrangement, etc. Others find such distracting items unnecessary or completely tasteless.
Bows and curly ribbons are usually used in floristry rather than floral arrangements, but there are times when this accessory can add attractiveness to a composition. Use polypropylene floristry tape, not satin tape. Always cut the ends with a bevel cut. Curl these ends by running the blunt side of the knife firmly and quickly over them. With ribbon decoration, as with other accessories, it is important not to overdo it. It is a useful addition to Christmas arrangements and some church decorations in most cases, but it tends to be out of place in regular living room arrangements.
