Making Use of Floral Arrangements

Written by Lizzie Learn On 14th Mar 2022

lowers are well-loved by clients and interior designers alike.

In this article, you will learn how and why a floral arrangement can add an extra dimension to an interior and how to maximise the effects of both living and artificial displays. You will also learn about potential alternatives to conventional floral displays.

How to Use Floral Arrangements

Flowers are a quick, simple and relatively cheap way of bringing warmth to a room. They are associated with friendship, love and special occasions. Research has proven that spending time in natural settings is psychologically soothing, so it is unsurprising that people find floral arrangements pleasing.

Depending on the colour, size and variety of flowers used in the arrangement, they can be used as a design accent, a dramatic centrepiece and everything else in between.

Florists earn their living constructing attractive floral displays, but you do not need any special training to make good use of flowers in interior spaces. Putting together a simple yet striking display is not complicated. Choose an eye-catching variety of flowers and place several specimens in a suitably-sized clear glass vase. You can then position a “collar” of foliage around the flowers to give a professional finish.

Experiment with ribbons and other accessories, such as ornamental sticks, to give an original result that fits with the room's overall appearance. Remove any leaves that fall below your intended waterline, otherwise they may fall into the water and cause unattractive discolouration.

It is usually best to place flowers in odd numbers – three, five, or seven are common quantities. To keep the arrangement looking neat, use a clear band or clear tape to secure stems together in a bundle. Floral foam is also a useful tool, provided it can be hidden in the bottom of an opaque vase.

Large flowers should be placed in the middle of an arrangement, with smaller heads positioned at the edges. Asymmetrical arrangements can work well in the hands of an experienced individual, but it is best to start with simple, symmetrical displays.

Using Artificial Arrangements

Most people regard live flowers as a tasteful addition to a room and are wary of using alternatives. Until relatively recently, artificial arrangements were considered an inferior alternative to “real” flowers. It was usually easy to tell that they were made of plastic or other similar materials and so they were not favoured by designers or clients. However, artificial plants are now much more lifelike and warrant consideration when putting together a room. They can be used alone or mixed with live flowers and foliage.

To create a realistic-looking display, you can add water or even soil to vases, tubs and pots. Craft stores usually stock fake “water” that can be placed in vases. The main advantage of artificial flowers is that they last all year round, so are perfect for clients who cannot or will not take the time to maintain a live arrangement. They are also good for those with hayfever or other allergies that would make live plants an impractical addition to their homes.

The most realistic brands can be expensive, but over the long term, clients may save a great deal of money on live arrangements. Before you purchase artificial flowers, check the quality of the stems, as well as the petals. The downside is that they lack the same natural scent possessed by living flowers.

How to Display Your Arrangements

Whether you are working with live or artificial plants, the same design principles apply. The arrangement needs to fit with the overall style, colour and texture of the room. The container used to hold the arrangement should not detract from the beauty of the flowers. When in doubt, err on the side of caution. If the display is extravagant, you will be able to use a larger vase, as long as a sense of overall balance is maintained.

As a general rule, a smaller arrangement or even a single stem looks best in a small, simple container. A vase is the traditional vessel for flowers, but you can experiment with other options, such as jam jars or jugs. Transparent vases are popular, as they do not distract the eye from their contents. Make sure that the colour of the container does not clash with that of the flowers.

When using floral arrangements, it doesn't require much time or effort to experiment with various combinations. The variety of flowers seen in the natural world vary according to the season. Try matching flowers with the time of year for an up-to-date appearance.

Floral arrangements can also be used to mark special occasions. Christmas wreaths made from holly, poinsettia and other traditional plants give a classic finish. They can be mixed with seasonal ornaments to provide an eye-catching centrepiece for a table or fireplace.

Live flowers will benefit from plant food, which can be purchased from florists. If floral arrangements do not suit the style of the room, consider using live or artificial succulents or cacti instead. Cacti are extremely versatile and are well-suited to contemporary rooms that feature clean lines and minimalist décor.

To make an artificial succulent or cactus appear more realistic, surround it with suitable visual cues that further the illusion.

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