If you’re like me, you LOVE having fresh flowers in the house, but you don’t want to spend the money on a professionally arranged bouquet every week. However, you also don’t feel competent arranging your own grocery-store-bought flowers. Well, if you’re willing to try, I’ve got 10 tried-and-true tips and ticks to help you arrange flowers like a pro! Keep reading for a big boost of confidence!
1. The flowers aren’t the only important part of your arrangement–the vase can also play a starring role. Make sure it makes a good statement. Think outside the vase a little and choose things such as mason jars, wine bottles, tin cans, goblets and even mugs to showcase a beautiful bouquet of flowers.
2. For any container, especially one that is oddly shaped and not see-through, you should use floral foam to help you arrange and hold your flowers. It really makes such a difference! Pro tip: soak the foam in water for 15-20 minutes before you put it in your container. As you insert your blooms, they’ll get an instant drink.
3. Take a cue from professional florists and store your blooms in the fridge before arranging them. This is probably the best way to ensure that they will last longer. Other tricks include cutting the stems at an angle, removing any leaves that will fall below the waterline in the container, and changing the water often.
4. When you go and buy some flowers from the local grocer, just make sure they have this basic make-up: 2-3 different flowers, one filler, and some greenery. With this you can turn it into an amazing arrangement at home. Step one: divide your chosen container into sections using scotch tape. Basically, you should form a grid aross the opening of your vase.
5. Now that you have a grid, build the base of your arrangement by sticking the greenery in the outer openings. The outer corners are an excellent starting point. Leave out just a couple of small pieces of greenery to use at the end.
5. Now of the 2-3 types of blooms present in your market bouquet, choose one to be the main flower of your arrangement. Choosing the largest is a good rule of thumb. Place the first of that type in the center of your grid so that it will stand up straight and tall. Place the others of that type in the vase, all equally distant from the center. This gives you the basic outline of your arrangement.
6. The other flowers in the bouquet are the secondary blooms. Stick those in the grid around the outside. Make sure they all stick out of the vase approximately the same amount, and it is great to have some extending over the sides.
7. After you have placed all of the secondary flowers in the vase, take a look at the arrangement {pro tip: eye level is best} and note any spaces or holes. You will now take the filler and use it to “fill in” the holes you just took note of.
8. Remember those small pieces of greenery you saved for the end? Stick them in the top of the arrangement to finish it off. Beautiful! {Thank you, Erin, of Earnest Home Co., for the awesome tutorial on arranging a “blah” market bouquet into something truly professional looking!}
9. For a unique idea, think inside the vase. No, really! Showcase a single bloom inside of a cylindrical vase for a simple but show-stopping arrangement.
10. Floating arrangements are beautiful, but how to keep the blooms from drowning and slowly sinking into the water? Here’s one way: bubble wrap!
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