Home Flower Arrangement Design

Pink Is PerfectMake an impressive flower arrangement on your own. Just start with cohesive color scheme (we chose pinks in every shade).-- Start by arranging the flowers in your hand, placing the larger flowers near the base of the group.-- Pay attention to height and shape by arranging taller lilac stems near the top and back.-- Lightly bind the stems with twine and place in a vase.-- Fill in the gaps with sweet peas or other small blooms.-- Insert a few leaves of greenery near the bottom to form a casual "rim" for the arrangement.Around the RimLow enough to allow easy conversation, an arrangement in a silver bowl makes an ideal table centerpiece-- Use moist floral foam in shallow containers to give short stems more stability.-- Build from the outside in: dangle white strawberries over the bowl's edge, then intersperse large roses around the base of the arrangement.-- Place a rose or two in the center, then use hypericum, sweet peas, and pansies to fill in the gaps for a full arrangement.Compare and ContrastDark, vibrant colors in a bouquet add drama-- Choose dark flowers in the same hue, such as the ruby-red dahlias and maroon 'Black Prince' snapdragons shown here, so the color impact is more obvious.-- Arrange the base color in your hand (we used blue lisianthus, larkspur, blue veronica, and aster for a purple/white combo), then insert a few dark-hued blooms in between. Fewer dark flowers gives more contrast.-- Rim the arrangement with the wide greens of euphorbia, ivy, and hosta.Easy Three-Tiered ArrangingLong-stem flowers are great for large, full bouquets. To get this playful look...-- Choose a few shades of the same color to make it easier to arrange -- then you only have to balance light and dark rather than different hues. We chose China asters and zinnias in all shades of pink.-- Strip stems of any leaves that would otherwise be standing in water.-- Place the tallest flowers in the vase, then cut the stems of half of the remaining flowers so the heads fall an inch or two beneath the tallest flower. Place in vase and evenly arrange.-- Cut the remaining stems to gather just over the lip of the vase and place in bunches at the bottom.-- Fill in gaps with wild verbena.Blue BunchesBlue and violet are the flower arrangement harmonizers, able to mingle among clashing colors and generate tranquility.-- For an artistic twist, purchase (or cut from your garden) small bunches hyacinths, tulips, irises, and hydrangeas in any shade from the indigo family.-- Cluster the flowers in bunches in the vase, varying the shape, texture, and stem length. Place the brightest flower in the center to create a focal point.-- Place a few leaves of greenery on one side to offset the bright colors.Far-Reaching ArrangementGladiolas play well with others; they add instant height and drama and bright, even color tones.-- Use a large, sturdy container to hold the hearty glads. We used a clean, brightly colored bucket.-- Place the glads in the bucket first, spreading them to cover the back of the arrangement.-- Fill in with round clusters of sedum and ornithogalum to ground the arrangement.A Bouquet in the HandLush arrangements are easier if you choose flowers with large blooms, such as lilies, lisianthus, and roses.-- Start the arrangement by grouping two or three of the largest flowers in your hand.-- Add the other large flowers in bunches of two or three around the largest, making sure to vary height.-- When you're satisfied with your arrangement, cut all the stems across the bottom and place in a vase.-- Place several stems of longer snapdragons near the back of the arrangement, then fill in with tiny sprigs of greenery.