Whether Canada or Japan and Thailand or Mexico, flower arranging is considered an art form that has long standing traditions in their respective countries. There is a certain skill required when forming fresh cut flowers into bouquets, sprays and other arrangements. Most florists, like the talented floral designers working at 416-Florist.com, study the art in a formal setting (at school or on the job) or learn the craft from older generations in their family.
The basics of creating an aesthetically appealing mixed flower arrangement rely on 4 essential traits.
1. The right colour. Colour can make or break an arrangement. Selecting the right one, depending on factors such as cultural/ethnic background, symbolism and the preferences of the recipient, are key to creating a “beautiful” bouquet or spray. Remember: each flower, as well as its colour, represent an emotion, personality type, or other trait.
2. One of the most beautiful aspects of a mixed flower bouquet is the number of different blooms in a single arrangement. Each bloom adds a certain feature to the finished product, whether it be height, depth, body or serve as the “star attraction”. For example, our florists often use limonium as a filler flower to a mixed flower bouquet. Limonium has a number of small blooms on a single stem, making it ideal to add body without moving the focus away from the larger form flowers, like sunflowers and lilies. They also smell delightful!
3. The right vase or container. This is not an issue if the mixed flower bouquet is simply handtied and wrapped in cellophane.
However, the bouquet will eventually require water and choosing the right vase or container is vital to compliment the beauty of both the arrangement and vase itself.
As a general rule, use a container that is the right size for the bouquet (more flowers = larger vase with larger mouth). If most of the flowers are tall, then use something that is tall as well. There are a variety of shapes and designs available – choose one that matches the overall feeling of the bouquet.
4. Balance and harmony. Don’t think that this can only be achieved by symmetrical designs – complimentary colour combinations, following a general shape (like a triangle or L) and choosing the right flowers can all help achieve an appearance of balanced harmony.
These pointers might not transform you into an expert flower designer overnight, but they will help set you on the right path.
