Dry arrangement ideas
Decorating with dried flowers: 12 pretty arrangements |
(Image credit: Future)
Decorating with dried flowers is a lovely way to bring the beauty of nature into your home all year round.
Popular during Victorian times, decorating with dried flowers has made a big come back in recent years as a way to connect with nature, and makes a fabulous alternative to fresh flowers.
There's no denying that fresh floral bouquets can bring a room to life, but they do have a limited lifespan. Dried flowers, on the other hand, are everlasting and will bring joy to interiors month after month without having to be continually refreshed, making them a far more sustainable way of decorating with flowers.
There are plenty of ways to display dried flowers throughout your home. To help get you inspired we've rounded up our favorite creative ideas along with some tips on how to create them.
Decorating with dried flowers – where to start
If you're keen on decorating with dried flowers there are blooms you can buy ready dried, but there’s something even more special about collecting the ingredients for your display from your own garden.
An age-old craft, drying flowers is a great way to preserve beautiful blooms from the garden and is easy to do at home with our step by step guide on how to dry flowers. You could even preserve a wedding bouquet as a precious keepsake.
'Drying flowers is a lovely way to make treasured flowers last for years and will keep happy memories of summer alive throughout the seasons,' says Melanie Griffiths, editor at Period Living magazine.
Pressing flowers is another brilliant way to preserve flowers for decorating. By learning how to press flowers you will be able to create beautiful artworks to display throughout your home.
1. Fill a jam jar
(Image credit: Future)
Jam jars, produce pots and even charity shop glass oddments make low-key but lovely holders for hand-tied posies.
We used daisies, bunny tails, eucalyptus, flax, gypsophila, oats, broom and phalaris for variety and texture.
Gradually add stems of flowers to one hand, starting with longer stems for the middle.
Add two or three of the same stem at a time, twisting the posy to maintain equal flowers and create a rounded feel.
Tie off with some florist wire and snip the ends so the posy fits perfectly into the jar.
2. Create a pretty table centrepiece
(Image credit: Dan Duchars)
One up from fresh flowers, this dried flower garland is a fabulous fall table decor idea which can be used time and again.
We used rose buds, mimosa, flax, matricaria, daisies, helichrysum, broom, delphiniums, poppy heads, phalaris, bunny tails, eucalyptus, gypsophila, oat stems and statice.
Cut all the flowers to a length of 10cm and fix together groups of the same flower with florist wire. Take a length of garland and wire in some eucaplytus stems. Starting at one end, push a group of flowers into the garland and secure in place with florist wire. Gradually build up with flowers, mixing up for fullness.
Finish with three groups of flowers pushed in the opposite way to hide the wiring.
3. Hang a wreath
(Image credit: Future / Dan Duchars)
This dried wreath is perfect for brining cheer to a plain wall, but would also make a lovely Easter wreath.
To make it, begin with a ready-made grapevine wreath. Arrange the stems and flowers in separate groups – we used mimosa, eucalyptus, oats, bunny tails, delphinium, gypsophila and helichrysum.
Start laying the first group of flowers along the front of the wreath at the base, with stems facing down. Secure in place with covered florist wire. Repeat with the next group of flowers, making sure the heads cover the wire. Continue until the centre is reached then repeat the other way.
Finish and cover the last stems with helichrysum flower heads
4. Create a pretty posy for a vase
(Image credit: Future / Dan Duchars)
This colorful dried flower posy would look great display in a simple vase or makes a pretty and lasting gift idea.
Separate the stems into groups – we used oats, bunny tails, delphinium, gypsophilia, grasses, daisies, statice, rosebuds and helichrysum.
Start with the flatter stems in one hand, keep these longer and to the rear of the arrangement, then add in neater stems in slightly shorter lengths, keeping the stems straight and pointing down.
Gradually fill in with rounded flowers, covering the stems. Secure with florist wire, keeping the stems long but trim to neaten. Wrap the stems with ribbon and finish with a bow.
5. Make a floral napkin ring
(Image credit: Future / Dan Duchars)
A beautiful dining table decor idea, this dried flower napkin ring is the perfect way to pretty-up place settings.
We used mimosa, daisies, bunny tails and gypsophila. Take a length of covered florist wire and wind in a circle a few times to make the ring base, then wind the wire over on itself around the ring to support the structure.
Pinch together a small group of flowers, snipping off long stems.
Place along the edge of the wire then wrap and secure them in place with more covered wire. Snip off the ends of the wire for a neat finish.
6. Decorate a mantelpiece
(Image credit: Photograph: Future / Dan Duchars | Floral arrangement: Star + The Rose)
Dried flower arrangements make beautiful mantel decor ideas, helping to create a focal point of your fireplace.
Created by Star + The Rose, this bespoke arrangement featuring sculptural twigs, honesty, ruscus and ferns, makes a lovely fall mantel decor idea, with its emphasis on muted tones and sculptural shapes rather than summer brights.
7. Adorn a mirror
(Image credit: Layla Robinson )
Crowning a mirror with a dried flower arrangement is a lovely way to bring a pretty, feminine touch to a dressing table or a guest bedroom. Created by Layla Robinson, this display was designed to 'combine a vibrant, textural wild feel of nature and flowers, with a faded classic style of glamour and opulence,' says the floral designer.
'It features foraged birch, bracken, and traveller's joy, strawflowers in shades of peach, apricot, and cream, lady’s mantle, honesty,' says Layla.
She also used ornamental grasses such as bunny tails, quaking grass, and miscanthus sinensis, 'and for a pop of color, acid yellow billies buttons, and purple xeranthemum annuum.'
8. Showcase arrangements in a decorative dome
(Image credit: Future / Dan Duchars)
Displaying dried flowers in domes is a lovely way to keep arrangements looking their best.
Measure the chosen flowers against the size of the dome – we used poppy heads, bunny tails, daisies and mimosa – leaving a few centimetres gap between the flower heads and the glass.
Shape a piece of dry oasis to fit in the base. Cover the sides by winding around raffia and stick to the dome base with double-sided tape. Taking the tallest flowers first, push into the oasis starting at the centre.
Add the flowers and grasses in a gradually shorter style around them. Cover the remainder of the oasis block with shorter stems of mimosa flowers and foliage.
9. Display dried flowers in vintage jugs
(Image credit: Flicky Wallace / Dot & Dandelion)
If you love decorating with antiques then why not display a dried bouquet in a vintage jug? Using vintage pieces is a brilliant way to create a quirky display and would look lovely on a mantelpiece or used as a table centerpiece in a cottage kitchen.
Featuring dainty honesty, colorful strawflowers and sculptural grasses, this arrangement by Dot & Dandelion really sings when set against a dark backdrop.
When decorating with dried flowers be careful to place them out of direct sunlight. 'If exposed to too much light the colors of the flowers will fade,' says Flicky Wallace, owner of floral studio Dot & Dandelion.
10. Display and dry fragrant herbs and flowers
(Image credit: Future)
If you're planning to dry your own home-grown herbs and flowers then why not make a beautiful display at the same time by tying bunches to a wreath to create a scented display?
Cut herbs and flowers and group into bundles. Tie with twine and then secure into place on a wreath, hanging each bundle an equal distance apart. Hang the whole wreath with plaited twine or rope tied to four sides.
To finish add ribbons to the bundles and weave in flowers into the wreath frame to create a pretty display.
'To dry flowers and get the best results you want to dry them in bunches of stems around 5-10 – no bigger otherwise the flowers in the middle will rot,' says Flicky Wallace of floral studio Dot & Dandelion.
11. Decorate the fireplace
(Image credit: Simon Bevan)
Whether in a dining room or living room, decorating with dried flowers is a brilliant way to create a focal point of a fireplace for when guests come to visit. Teaming a wreath and a mantel garland together will really make an impact.
If you have a neutral living room, consider dried flower arrangements that feature just one flower to keep the space feeling calm such as these sculptural dried teasels – for a pop of color add a simple ribbon. Wonderfully sculptural, the teasels will cast beautiful shadows in the candlelight – but be sure to place your candles where they won't set the the arrangements alight!
(Image credit: Little Greene)
When it comes to decorating with dried flowers there's no need to have a large bouquet, single stems can look just as stylish.
You could try one large sculptural stem of dried hog weed, or alternatively, 'try individual stems in a collection of collected or salvaged pots, bottles, and jars along a mantle or in the center of a table,' suggests floral designer, Layla Robinson.
How do you decorate with dried flowers?
There are lots of ways to decorate with dried flowers. Grouped together in a posy, dried flowers are a fabulous way to pretty up shelves or a coffee table, or you could display single stems in a series of vases or vintage bottles.
Using dried flowers to make a garland is a lovely way to decorate a mantlepiece, plus would make the perfect table centerpiece, you could use it to adorn a mirror, too.
For a beautiful statement display you could even, 'hang small bunches from a twisty horizontal branch, that is suspended from the ceiling,' suggests floral designer Layla Robinson.
'Dried flowers have a beautiful texture and architectural structure, as well as being wonderfully long lived,' says Layla Robinson of their appeal.
(Image credit: Mark Bolton Photography)
How do you display pressed dried flowers?
Pressed dried flowers are perfect for framing and displaying as botanical wall art. A series of pressed dried flowers mounted and framed in the same way and displayed in a grid would make a beautiful feature in a bedroom, helping to bring the beauty and calm of the outside into the home.
'If you want to create a gallery wall, then I'd always advise laying your frames out on the floor to create the layout, says Helen Armon-Jones, founder at The Art Buyer . 'This will allow you to move pieces around until you find the layout that works best for you, and will avoid you creating many holes in the wall. Ultimately, the key is to create a relaxing room, allowing space and room to breathe around artworks and furniture,'
Alternatively, framed pressed flowers would look lovely displayed singularly resting on a mantel or used for decorating shelves.
(Image credit: Paul Raeside)
Pippa is Content Editor on Homes & Gardens online contributing to Period Living and Country Homes & Interiors print issues.
A graduate of Art History and formerly Style Editor at Period Living, she is passionate about architecture, creating decorating content, interior styling and writing about craft and historic homes. She enjoys searching out beautiful images and the latest trends to share with the Homes & Gardens audience. A keen gardener, when she’s not writing you’ll find her growing flowers on her village allotment for styling projects.
With contributions from
- Jennifer EbertDeputy Editor (Digital)
6 Dry Flower Arrangement Ideas
Dried flowers were very popular in the past, but with time, people started going with fresh ones. Nowadays, dry flower arrangements have become a trend, and a lot of new ideas are coming up to arrange them! Let’s take a look at some of these arrangements.
6 Dry Flower Arrangements
These arrangements will inspire you to do the same thing at your place! And remember dried flowers can last for long!
1 – A Jar Full Of Dried Flowers
If you are looking for a unique dried flower arrangement, then we recommend going with flowers in a glass jar.
At Joi Gifts, we took a further step to arrange dried flowers in a very unique way. You can find En Provence By Plaisir that has dried flowers in an antique jar, or you can choose Visage Lavender and Crystal Candle Giftset that comes in a nice and unfamiliar vase.
If you want to arrange dried flowers by yourself, remember that you can mix more than one type of sticks or you can just stick to one. We recommend starting with the longer stems and put it in the middle, then moving to outer space with shorter stems. Please note that you can add two or three of the same stem at a time.
2 – Centre piece
Using dried flower arrangements becomes so popular during the fall. And many people use it as a centre piece for their tables.
Those dried flowers usually have nude colors to refelect the season. Delicate Pink Flowers Bouquet from Joi Gifts is a nice arrangement as a center piece, it comes in a black box and it has 2 dried hyderangea, 3 pampas, 3 pink pampas, 2 euclayptus, dried oryngium and 3 gypso.
When choosing your own dried flowers for a center piece, try going with rose buds, mimosa, flax, matricaria, daisies, helichrysum, delphiniums, and poppy heads!
3 – Wreath
This is one of the most common dry flower arrangements. It’s easy to maintain and it can last for a long time!
People use a wreath to decorate their main door, and it is so popular during christmas.
For a dried wreath it’s better to go with mimosa, eucalyptus, oats, bunny tails, delphinium, gypsophila and helichrysum.
4 – A Dried Bouquet
Who said bouquets are for fresh flowers only? Dried flower bouquets are beautiful as well and can be a great gift since it can last longer.
You can order Bouquet Provencal By Plaisir from Joi Gifts, which is a rustic bouquet of dried flowers
You can arrange a dried bouquet that has the following flowers as well:
- Bunny tails
- Delphinium
- Gypsophila
- Grasses
- Daisies
- Helichrysum.
5 – Dry Flower in Domes
Those are a very nice gift that can lighten up any place and it can stay for so long.
So many people prefer to go with this type of flower arrangements especially if they want it as a giveaway in a wedding or an event.
When choosing dried flowers in domes, try to go with a small number of flowers to showcase them in a better way.
Usually roses can be perfect for this type of arrangements.
6 – Single Stem Dried Flower
When it comes to decorating with dried flowers, there is no need to have a large bouquet. Single stems can look just as stylish!
You can go with pampas grass or a stem of hogweed. Try our handmade Coral Stone Stem By Plaisir.
Best Flower Types For Dry Arrangements
Some flowers can be better than others when dried, and this list has the most common flowers you’ll find in dried arrangements:
- Roses.
- Lavender.
- Hydrangea.
- Baby’s breath.
- Hanging amaranthus.
- Billy buttons.
- Yarrow and tansy.
- Cornflower.
- Protea cynaroides.
- Eryngos.
How Long Do Dried Flower Arrangements Last?
Dried flowers are an easy way to add some color and structure to your space without worrying about watering it and taking care of it. Dried flowers can last for months or even years!
It is important to keep dried flowers out of the sun and away from the heating source as it can cause the colors to fade or change.
Did you know that insects and moths can be attracted to dried flowers? These types of flowers make a lovely meal for them. In order to avoid that, lightly spray your fried flower arrangements with insecticide to keep them away.
Dried Flower Arrangements from Joi Gifts
When it comes to flowers and gifts, we make sure to offer all the things you think of! Here’s a list of our best seller dried flowers arrangements:
- Dried Bougainvillea With Vase: It is an antique vase with a rustic mix of dried flowers.
- Crème De Cotton: This is a nice bouquet that has different rustic types of dried flowers
- Coral Stone Stem: It is a handmade coral stone stem that is made of dried flowers.
- A Pair Of Cotton Stick: The gift comes as a one piece cotton stick, that can be used to decorate your home, office or any other place.
- Mixed Flower Bicycle Arrangement: It is a unique bicycle and cart filled with mixed dried flowers to decorate your space, and it can be a great gift!
Check Joi Gifts for more flower arrangements and gifts!
If you’re interested in more tips, make sure to check out our guide on floral arrangements.
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Anisimova, Anastasia Vladimirovna We decorate the house with indoor plants / Anisimova Anastasia Vladimirovna. - M.: Niola-Press, 2011 . - 713 c. 
- 571 p. 
- 121 c. 
, Shevyreva N. Lessons in floristry. Dried flowers: Arrangement. Range. Technique 
S., Utenko L. M. Floristics. Dry bouquets and compositions in our house flower arranging, photo of flower design in the interior of an apartment
Contents
- Arranging plants with color in mind
- Choosing a color scheme for arranging flowers
- How to make a flower arrangement taking into account the season
- Compositions of indoor flowers in containers
- Compositions of home flowers in monochrome
- Compositions of flowers for the interior according to a similar scheme
- Compositions of indoor flowers and photo arrangements according to a contrasting scheme
- Combination of colors in the composition: balance and dynamics
- 9
- 9
- arranging: proportions, background, texture
- Flower Arrangement Ideas Using Handy Equipment
Do you remember if you ever looked at flower arrangements made from real flowers and immediately realized that they were created by an experienced arranger? You may have been overwhelmed by the size or the presence of exotic flowers in the arrangement.
Maybe you were attracted by the unusual shape of plants or elegant packaging. However, in interesting compositions of flowers that cause instant admiration, there is something else - this is Harmony. nine0018
To achieve harmony, it is not necessary to buy some exotic plants. Beautiful flower arrangements for the interior can be created using the most common violets, balsams and other familiar “windowsill friends”. Before you make a flower arrangement - look around you, you are surrounded by a wide variety of objects that can become part of a flower arrangement.
Harmony is a design term used to describe an object in which separate parts merge to create an attractive whole. To achieve harmony, all or almost all of the main features of good design must be present - a variety of textures, the proportionality of components, a sense of movement, and the correct use of color. All these design requirements relate to the beauty of the arrangement of fresh flowers in a container. However, in our case, we must also consider the background, since one of the main goals of the arrangement is to improve the overall decor of the room, and not just decorate it.
In this section, you will find information about all these techniques of good flower design, learn how to arrange arrangements from indoor flowers, and also learn the rules for arranging plants. nine0018
There are additional design requirements. You need to use a style that suits your skill, creative temperament, display space, etc.
Another fundamental question remains - do you have to slavishly follow all these rules of form, color, proportion, etc. to be a good flower arranger? After all, most of these principles and elements are common to all forms of artistic creation, but Picasso and Rembrandt couldn't follow the same rules! nine0018
Picasso actually learned the rules and styles of classical painting and he applied them early in his career. His own styles and methods developed later. Apply this principle to your approach to the art of flower arranging - learn and practice the classic rules of good floral design, and then break them if you're really a beginner Picasso.
But do so with the knowledge that you are breaking traditional rules and principles that you know well, and not just doing so out of ignorance. nine0018
Arranging plants with color
Color is one of the first things that catch the eye when looking at a composition, so some understanding of color is helpful. This does not mean that you have to follow a lot of rules. Some of the so-called rules are questionable, and too much has already been written about what goes with what and how to avoid color clashes - "never put pink next to dark raspberry" and so on. Color is a matter of personal taste.
The basis of color theory is the Color Wheel. It consists of numerous pure colors, from which light and dark shades are obtained. There are three main ways to arrange these colors together so that the viewer feels they match. nine0018
The boldest way is to use contrasting colors that are opposite each other across the center of the circle, the quietest way is to use similar colors that are next to each other, and the most sophisticated way is to use shades of the same color.
If you are arranging flowers for the home and not for a flower show, then you can ignore the color wheel and related charts if you like. In this case, it is helpful to have a clear understanding of the properties of warm and cool colors in order to be sure that the chosen colors match the room, lighting, season, container, and arrangement design. nine0018
Choice of colors for arranging flowers
What are the features of the room? Look at the color of the walls, furniture, etc. Try using one of the primary colors in the plant material you choose. The background is important! The composition of a dark tone will stand out strongly against the background of a light wall, but will be lost against the background of dark oak panels or a burgundy curtain. On the other hand, the impression of a composition in light or warm colors against a dark background is enhanced.
How is the room lit? Beware of dark corners. Blue or purple flowers that stand out in sunlight may become invisible in a dimly lit area.
At night, the colors depend on the artificial light source. Conventional incandescent lamps can dim cool colors and brighten warm ones, while fluorescent lamps brighten cool colors and dim warm ones. By candlelight, cold tones darken, and warm tones become yellow. nine0018
How to arrange a flower arrangement according to the season
When arranging flowers, always consider the season. In Japan, the season is very important - in the Western world, it's just an additional parameter to consider.
Look at the flower design photo for spring plants:
Spring is the time of yellow and blue flowers.
Summer is the time for colorful combinations.
Autumn calls for browns, oranges and yellows. nine0018
Well, Christmas is a traditional time for white and bright red flowers.
Indoor flower arrangements in containers
In the floral design of an apartment, the question of which container will be used remains fundamentally important.
A common mistake is choosing a colorful container that detracts from the arrangement. If you are planning to use bright or patterned vases or bowls, then they must match the color in the arrangement, otherwise the container will become a more eye-catching object. When composing indoor flower arrangements, remember that white can play an important role. Always use some white flowers in a house flower arrangement placed in a colorful container. nine0018
Don't use equal amounts of different colors in your scheme - let one dominate and be complemented by others. Don't distribute the different colors evenly throughout the composition or you'll end up with a "spotted dog" effect - group some of the colors together. Be careful with solid colors - they tend to dominate. The classic recommendation is to use them in small amounts and rely mostly on midtones and tints. Light shades are easier than dark ones to fit into most schemes as they work well together. nine0018
Home flower arrangements in monochrome
A monochromatic (single color) scheme uses different tones and shades of the same color.
This is the easiest way to make sure you can convey the mood you want to create—choose red for a dramatic effect, yellow for a vibrant effect, blue for a calm effect, and so on.
When making flower arrangements with your own hands, use as wide a range of base colors as possible, changing shades from pale to dark. nine0018
Stems and/or leaves are available in midtones and shades of green, brown or white, so a true monochrome scheme is only available in these tones. Limiting variation in floral interior design means that the physical form of the arrangement must be more pronounced through the use of a greater range of shapes, sizes, textures, and more. nine0018
Interior flower arrangements according to a similar scheme
In a similar scheme, two, three or four adjacent colors are used in the color wheel. This arrangement has some of the calm charm of a monochrome scheme, but it has a much larger range of plants to choose from. There is no need to stick to pure colors, tones and shades are very important here, which increase the attractiveness of the composition.
A similar scheme can be subdued and discreet if done only in blues and lilacs, or it can be exciting in crimsons and purples. Don't use each color in equal amounts - let one dominate. In the example shown, yellow tones are suppressed by orange and brown tones. nine0018
Indoor flower arrangements and photo arrangements based on a contrast scheme
In contrast schemes, selected colors are located opposite each other on the color wheel. In modern linear arranging, the goal is often to create maximum effect by coloring the flowers.
Look above at the photo of indoor flower arrangements in a contrast scheme - pure colors are used here. For example, blue iris with orange gerberas, yellow rose with purple lisianthus, and so on. nine0018
Contrast schemes are always lively, but they should not be overly bright. The secret is to use light shades of the colors used and create compositions in pastel colors - pink with pale blue, brownish yellow with lilac, etc.
In this case, the contrast scheme can be muted, just like a similar one. Another approach is to use light shades of the same color and dark contrasting ones.
During the summer, flowers are sometimes picked from all corners of the home garden and then arranged into a multi-colored mixture that spans the spectrum. Reds and purples, yellows and blues, oranges and purples—the result can be pleasing, but very often it isn't. Firstly, the effect may simply be too bright, and therefore it is usually advisable to use lighter shades of various colors. Secondly, the effect can be too colorful - avoid using all colors in equal amounts. Let just a few colors dominate the composition, and use others as a discreet addition. nine0018
The combination of colors in the composition: balance and dynamics
Physical balance is vital - if the composition is noticeably asymmetrical, it can turn over. Structures must always be securely fastened and the container must be heavy enough to support the weight of the plant material.
Add sand, gravel, etc. if needed.
Visual balance when combining colors in a composition requires that the design look stable, even if it is clearly one-sided. There are various ways to visually increase the weight on the lighter side - dark flowers look heavier than light ones, rounded flowers look heavier than tubular ones. There is also a balance between the bottom and top. nine0018
Large flowers are placed centrally and close to the bottom of the composition, giving a sense of good balance - incorrect placement can make the composition look unbalanced.
Dynamic involves the use of techniques and materials that make the eyes move from one part of the composition to another - this movement is associated with the rhythm present in the design.
Without rhythm (for example, a bouquet of roses standing in a vase), the arrangement looks static and monotonous. There are various ways to get this movement, and five of them are illustrated on this page.
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A different design principle, dominance, is applied to many linear-massive compositions and free-style arrangements. This implies that there are one or more areas where the eye stops and stays there for a short time - these areas are called focal points. Usually for this include a small group of catchy flowers.
There are other ways to create focal points - an unusual container, spectacular foliage, and so on. The golden rule is not to overdo it - no single element should dominate so much as to distract the eye for a long time from the rest of the composition. nine0018
Flower Arrangement: Proportions, Background, Texture
A flower arrangement consists of several elements that can be seen - a vessel, plant material and possibly a stand and accessories. Good proportion means that the dimensions of the elements should be in such a ratio as to create a pleasing effect.
This is especially noticeable in landscape, small and miniature compositions, and the main culprits of the imbalance are usually too large flowers and accessories.
But a disproportionate arrangement can be in any style, and the most common cause is a vessel that is not the right size for the plant material. nine0018
The golden ratio shown in the photo above has long been used as a criterion for ideal proportion.
A composition can be quite proportionate, but not at all suitable for the background or environment in which it is placed. To avoid the problem, several aspects must be taken into account. First of all, this is the style of the room - it is obvious that an abstract composition will look out of place in a simple cottage setting. The size of the room is no less important - a miniature composition in large and high rooms can look pathetic. nine0018
It is also important to consider the type of wall surface - see photo above. There are also practical issues that should not be created, such as dining table arrangements that interfere with conversation, and entryway arrangements that impede free passage.
The plant material can have all sorts of textures - glossy, velvety, hairy, dull, prickly, etc. The glossy flower becomes brighter when matte foliage is nearby, while the shiny leaves give shine to the composition in strong light. The role of different textures is to increase the attractiveness of the arrangement through diversity. This is very important when there is only a slight difference in the color of the flowers, and when a free style arrangement uses a small amount of plant material. nine0018
Flower Arrangement Ideas Using Handy Equipment
In order to bring your flower arrangement ideas to life, you need to be “armed” thoroughly. Don't be put off by the large number of tools and other equipment illustrated and described on these pages. Only a few (bucket, scissors, knife, and watering can) are essentials for the beginner—the rest are optional. Keep sharp objects such as scissors and knives out of the reach of children, and try to keep all tools together in a box.
When arranging flowers, place a large plastic sheet over your work surface. nine0018
A bucket of water is a necessary piece of equipment for collecting flowers from the garden and storing them when creating an arrangement. Choose a bucket with side handles, as the standard handle swings freely and can damage the flowers during transport. Don't use the flower arranging bucket in the kitchen.
Cut flower preservative in powder or liquid form mainly contains germicides to prevent slime and odors from developing in water vases, and sugar to prolong the life of fresh flowers. nine0018
Buy a knife with a sharp blade - it will be suitable for all kinds of use. You will need it to clean the stems, remove leaves and get rid of thorns. It is also used for processing the ends of the stems - oblique cuts and, sometimes, vertical splits. There is also a need to cut out the floral sponge and remove excess molding material.
A watering can is needed for adding water to the container and wetting the floral sponge with a composition of fresh flowers.
Buy plastic ones with a long and narrow spout starting at the base of the watering can. nine0018
Never try to cut thick and woody stems with regular scissors - use secateurs instead. You can buy regular garden pruners, but there are also narrow-bladed models made especially for florists.
Handheld sprayer capable of producing a fine mist of water droplets helps keep the composition fresh in warm weather. Spray mist just above the top of the composition. Do this once when the arrangement is complete and repeat as daily as possible. nine0018
Most ordinary scissors are not suitable for cutting stems - they tend to crush tissue. Choose flower scissors with short blades, one of which is serrated. There may be a groove at the base - use it for cutting thin wire, but not for woody stems.
Use wire to tie bunches of cut flowers together. There are three main types of wire. The thickest is sold in the form of segments-blanks. Wire for tying roses and other flowers is thinner, and the thinnest is wound on a reel - it is widely used by florists to bind plant material. nine0018
Toothpicks are a handy multifunctional tool. Use toothpicks to poke a hole in the flower sponge for soft stems or to attach fruit to the flower arrangement sponge. Several toothpicks are sometimes screwed around the base of the candle to secure it in a tabletop arrangement.
Spray paints can be used to finish flower arrangements at any time of the year, but they are especially useful at Christmas - arrangements with gold or silver pine cones, berries, leaves and flowers can be seen everywhere. Paints are widely used on vessels, fasteners, stands, etc., as well as on plant material. nine0018
Obtain necessary fasteners. Arranging flowers in a vase or jar of water is an ancient way of creating flower arrangements, but virtually all modern arrangements require the use of materials that hold the leaves and flowers in place within the container. These materials and related aids are known as fasteners. They must be securely fastened and hidden from view. Only a few (floral sponge, floral clay, arranging grid and frog fixers) are essentials - the rest are optional.
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Floral sponge (also known as floral foam) is a porous plastic invented in 1940. It has become the main method of fixing flowers for home arrangements. There are two types - green "frog" sponge, which is soaked in water and then used for fresh plant material, and brown or gray sponge, which is used only for dry and artificial compositions. Green sponge comes in a variety of shapes - blocks ("bricks") and cylinders are the most popular. This is a very light material, but its weight increases by more than 30 times when saturated with water. This green sponge should never dry out after soaking it. nine0018
If you wrap it in foil or plastic wrap after use, it may be suitable for a few more arrangements. The great advantage of the sponge is that the stems can be positioned at any angle, both in shallow and deep vessels, and the problem of water rotting is also eliminated. It has few drawbacks - for a large composition, additional support with wire mesh is needed and some plants (for example, daffodils and tulips) hardly absorb water from it.
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Adhesive tape available in both wide and narrow versions. Wide tape is mainly used to secure a floral sponge or wire mesh in a vessel. Narrow bands are sometimes strung across the top of a shallow, wide-mouthed vessel in a criss-cross pattern to form a net that holds the plants.
The retainer is the simplest type of sponge attachment. This is a small plastic disk with four vertical teeth - the base is attached to the container with plasticine, and a block or cylinder of a floral sponge is mounted on the teeth. If a large block of floral sponge is used, more than one retainer may be required. nine0018
Floral Clay is a non-hardening tape-like adhesive that holds dry surfaces together. It is widely used to fix a frog, tattoo or candle holder in a container and comes in brown and green. Ordinary plasticine can be used as a replacement.
Headband (also known as kenzan) is needed to support a DIY flower arrangement in the shape you need.
A plurality of sharp pins are firmly held in a solid base, which may be round or rectangular in shape. Its main advantage is that it will securely hold thick and heavy stems. Tattoos can be used on their own in a shallow bowl or together with other attachments for a large composition in a deep container. Choose a model with a heavy base and lots of sharp copper prongs. The disadvantage of this mount is that it is expensive. If you can only afford one, choose an 8 cm round one. Attach it to the base of the container with floral clay. The tattoo is built into the bottom of a metal bowl that holds water. In this case, there is no need for an additional vessel. nine0018
Flower tubes (also known as flower extensions) are miniature vases used in large flower arrangements where leaves and flowers must be placed higher than their stem height allows. Usually they are about 30 cm long and with a pointed end, as a rule, are attached to a stick, which is then stuck into a floral sponge or wire mesh.
