FRESH IDEAS: FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS

We all love sprucing up our space with the courtesy of some simple flora, either fresh or artificial. I'm no exception so my love of flowers has worked a it's way into my small shop. A touch of greenery brings a pop of color and 'life' to any room.    

Mix scale. 

If you select a larger single bloom like a rose, peony, or tulip, it’s nice to offset it with a flower that clusters together a bunch of smaller blooms, like a hydrangea, a lilac, or paper whites.

Use complementing colors.

 Pick flowers that make sense together, and stay within that color story: all cool tones, all warm tones, variations of pink, and so on.

Simple vase I found for less than $10.  My home.

My home - hides a electrical outlet and plug

Put like flowers together. 

The flowers in your arrangement should feel like they’ve been plucked from the same garden, or, at the very least, gardens that exist in the same state. If you’re featuring yellow cymbidium orchids, do not pair them with dusty miller. Bright tropical blooms just wouldn’t sit with soft, romantic greens.

My home

My home

Pick a green and stick with it. 

My biggest flower-arranging pet peeve is when the greens on the flower don’t match the greenery you’ve chosen for the arrangement (e.g., silver dollar eucalyptus or fern), so either choose elements that complement one another or strip the bloom from its stem.

at the shop

Get creative with your vessel. 

You don’t always need to stick with the standard glass vase. Feel free to experiment with distressed-wood boxes, old mason jars, or even a hollowed out pineapple (which you can see in one of the parties in the book!). Don’t be afraid to mismatch sizes, just as long as the containers are within the same category. If the occasion calls for it, forgo the vessel altogether. There’s something lovely about a living display artfully arranged on a textured tabletop.

My dining Room above the Breakfront. (which has to get painted someday.)

My Dining Room

At the shop

At the shop - love the look of old silver - you don't have to keep it polished. 

At the shop

At the shop

at the shop

Use a guide. 

Some containers are too wide or shallow to simply arrange and be done. Whether it’s florist foam or making a tape grid across the top of your vessel, it’s crucial to employ a system to keep your stems in place—especially if they are being transported.

Don’t be afraid to keep it simple. Sometimes a tall vase with tulips or roses stripped of their leaves can be just as chic (if not more) than a meticulously arranged display. If you’re party planning on a budget, try using all greens for your arrangement. Don’t be fooled by its simplicity. Rich, textured greens are beautiful.

Just add some fake fruit.