Flower arranging may look simple, but the truth is that every great arrangement is the product of a variety of techniques, creative choices, and well-honed skills.
Edmonton’s best florists have dedicated years of their lives to mastering their craft, and the good news is that most of the tricks they’ve accumulated along the way can be adopted for personal use at home. Whether you’re creating an arrangement for a big day or just looking to add freshness to your interior space, there’s a lot you can do to take your flower arranging to the next level.
If you want to gather insight from professionals who really understand the art of flowers, Florans.ca is another store that dishes out thoughtful, balanced designs that exemplify the same principles the best florists in Edmonton use — and enjoy!
1. Build Around One Statement Bloom
Don’t try to space each flower out evenly. Instead, imagine one solid or big, bad bloom as the “king of the pack” and have it stake its claim. This flower can be a rose, hydrangea, lily, zinnia, or petunia. Plant it just left or right of the middle, but a little closer to the center, and have all your other flowers “back its play” by connecting their stems to its main stalk. It will literally draw the eye and the person you’re giving the bouquet to that section of flowers. From this point on, this won’t look like a model of total chaos.
2. Height Creates Drama
Oh, the #1 rookie mistake! Cutting all of your stems to the same length. Even in a flat as a pancake Edmonton, we try to make sure we have a bit of height variation to create drama and depth in our arrangements. Just think about it, when you grow, you go up to the sky, and when you’re short, you go down to the ground. Ah, what a lovely concept to explore in a vase! This also doesn’t let any flower play hide and seek with the others.
3. Greenery Is Not an Afterthought
Leaves and greenery are not an afterthought or filler for an arrangement; they actually frame your flowers! Using these items as a building point for your arrangement will train you to create a nice cohesion and balance for your arrangement. Have you ever watched a florist make an arrangement? They start with greenery more often than not. They will use that greenery to create a base for the flowers, giving you balance & structure in your design. Try utilizing the same concept!
4. Odd Numbers Feel More Natural
Arrangements made with an odd number of stems tend to give a more informal, relaxed feel. Stick to three or five of the same flower, using them at different angles. Odds feel less deliberate and set up than a straight line of flowers, which can feel too symmetrical.
5. Preparation Is Everything
Most floral designers condition their flowers. This involves cutting stems diagonally, stripping off lower foliage, and using clean water. It may sound trivial, but these simple steps will do a lot to keep your arrangement fresh. Flowers will be easier to wrangle if you can just pop a stem in wherever you want it!
With these tricks up your sleeve, you should start seeing flower arranging as less of a chore and more of a treat!