Arranging Flowers to Add to the Decor of Homes

Well Assembled Flower Arrangements Enhance the Ambience of Rooms

Aug 20, 2009

Fresh Flowers add to the Decor of Homes, dee

The first step to putting together a professional looking floral arrangement is to follow the simple principles of designs and the basic shapes for flower arranging.

There is no doubt that fresh flowers create a special aura in a home. However, to make the most of what floral arrangements can offer, one has to know some very simple principles of putting flowers together. The flowers themselves, the vase or the container, the colours and the style have to compliment the room decor and furnishings.

Items to Consider Before Producing a Flower Arrangement for a Room

Is the room traditional or modern?
Which colours will complement the decor and furnishing?
What size should the arrangement be to give maximum effect?

Once the answers to the above are finalised, thought should be given to the other aspects of arranging flowers.

Principles of Design

The main principles of design are proportion, balance, texture, colour and harmony.

Proportion - A flower arrangement is in good proportion when it is the right size for the container. The general rule for the correct proportion is that the flowers and foliage that extend above the top of the container should be roughly double the height of the container.
Balance - Arrangements should give a sense of stability and should not appear lopsided. However, it can be either symmetrical, where both sides are identical or nearly identical, or asymmetrical where the proportion, though not identical, is in balance.
Texture - Flowers and foliage come in varying textures of smooth, rough, shiny, ruffled, glossy, etc. They can be put-together in any combination to make an interesting arrangement. However, care should be taken to see that the flowers and the foliage compliment each other.
Colour - The choice of colour depends mainly on the background to the arrangement and whether the desire is for a blending or contrasting effect.
Harmony - This is the ultimate goal of flower arranging. The flowers, foliage, container, accessories and design should all blend well and they should also appear as if they 'belong'.

Arrangements in Various Shapes

Fresh flowers can be arranged in many different shapes to suit the occasion, the position of the arrangement and the container. The basic shapes are:

the pyramid shape or the equilateral triangle shape,
the circle,
the crescent or the half moon shape,
the fan shape, and
the right-angled triangle shape (this can either face right or left depending on the location).

The chosen shape dictates the size and shape of the vase or container that has to be used.

Although there is no hard and fast 'rule' to arranging flowers, following the basic principles of design and shape will ensure that the flower arrangement is the best that it could be and is well suited to the room.

Reference

Flower Arranging & House Plants, Ruth Quartermaine, Edited by Leslie Johns, Collins London and Glasgow, Reprinted 1969, 1970 and 1971

The copyright of the article Arranging Flowers to Add to the Decor of Homes in Interior Decorating is owned by Pauline Mascarenhas. Permission to republish Arranging Flowers to Add to the Decor of Homes in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.