browse more videos

How to Make Beautiful Floral Arrangements

Flower Arrangements Checklist by author Meghan Carter

  • Materials you'll need.
  • How to pick flowers and greenery for your arrangement.
  • Step-by-step flower arranging instructions.
  • video
  • article
  • checklist
  • e-mail
  • print
  • share
Materials Needed
  • Vase or container
  • Flower food
  • Fresh cut flowers
  • Scissors or Sharp Knife
  • Mixing Spoon
  • Rubber band

Picking the Flowers for Your Flower Arrangements
  • Find greenery you like.
  • Pick one type of structural flower for your arrangement, which will be the tallest flower in the flower arrangement.
  • Pick two to three different types of filler flowers for your flower arrangement, which are the shorter flowers in the arrangement that form the bulk of the flower arrangement while filling the gaps.
  • Pick one type of spiller flower or greenery for your arrangement, which is a type of flower or greenery that droops down naturally.
  • Put the greenery, structural flower, filler flowers and spiller flower next to each other.
  • Check to make sure the combination is full of different shaped and textured flowers and leaves.
  • If there is not enough texture or variety, add another flower to the combination or switch out one flower for one of a different shape and size.
  • Check to make sure the colors of the leaves and flowers look harmonious together.
  • If the colors do not look right together, try different combinations until you find one you like.
  • Purchase enough of the greenery, structural flower, filler flowers and spiller flower to fill your vase.

Making the Flower Arrangement
  • Fill a vase with lukewarm water.
  • Do not add plant food.
  • Take your greenery and place it next to the vase.
  • Take the first piece of greenery in your hand.
  • Remove any leaves from the greenery that would sit under water.
  • Determine the height for the greenery so that it sits right above the edge of the vase.
  • Cut the greenery's stem at an angle.
  • Put the piece of greenery immediately into the vase.
  • Continue removing the bottom leaves, cutting and placing the greenery into the vase until you have filled the vase to your liking.
  • Put the tall structural flowers next to the vase.
  • Take the first structural flower in your hand.
  • Remove all leaves from the structural flower that would be under water.
  • Determine the height of the structural flower making it the tallest flower in the arrangement.

  • Cut the structural flower's stem at an angle.
  • Place the structural flower standing straight up in the center of the flower arrangement.
  • Take the second structural flower in your hand.
  • Remove all leaves from the structural flower that would be under water.
  • Determine the height of the second structural flower making it slightly shorter than the first structural flower.
  • Cut the structural flower's stem at an angle.
  • Place the structural flower to the side of the other structural flower.
  • Continue removing the bottom leaves, cutting and placing the structural flowers in the vase so that the structural flowers look as if they form a dome with the tallest structural flower in the middle.
  • Check to make sure there is an odd number of structural flowers in the flower arrangement.
  • Check to make sure the structural flowers are evenly dispersed throughout the arrangement.
  • Put the filler flowers next to the vase.
  • Take a filler flower in your hand.
  • Remove all of the leaves from the part of the stem that would be underwater.
  • Determine the height of the filler flower making it shorter than the tallest structural flower.
  • Cut the filler flower's stem at an angle.
  • Put the filler flower in the vase.
  • Continue removing the bottom leaves, cutting and placing the filler flowers in the vase until all of the holes and gaps in the flower arrangement have been filled.
  • Check to make sure the flower arrangement has a dome shape.
  • Check to make sure each type of flower is evenly dispersed in the flower arrangement.
  • Put the spilling flowers or greenery next to the vase.
  • Take a spilling flower or piece of greenery in your hand
  • Remove all of the leaves from the part of the stem that would be underwater.
  • Determine the height of the filler flower making it just tall enough to fit over the edge of the vase.
  • Cut the spilling flower's or piece of greenery's stem at an angle.
  • Put the spilling flower or piece of greenery in the vase so that it is at the bottom of the flower arrangement.
  • Continue removing the bottom leaves, cutting and placing the spilling flowers or pieces of greenery in the vase until you like the way it looks.
  • Grasp the stems of all of the flowers in the vase.
  • Take the flowers out of the vase.
  • Put a rubberband around the stems.
  • Set the flowers down to the side.
  • Empty the water from the vase.
  • Put fresh, lukewarm water in the vase.
  • Put flower food in the vase.
  • Stir the flower food until it is completely dissolved.
  • Grasp the stems of the flower arrangement.
  • Take the rubberband off of the stems.
  • Put the flowers back in the vase.
  • Adjust them if needed.




content reader

image
image

suggestions

e-mail alerts

questions

©2006-2008 AsktheDecorator.com
close

We're a slave for you - litterally. We work day and night trying to make this Web site the best it can be, and we could use your help. Tell us what you want, because we want to hear it.

Name:
Email Address:
Your Suggestions:
close

Love my videos but don't have the time to visit Ask the Decorator every day? I understand. That's why I offer e-mail alerts.

By signing up for the e-mail alerts, you'll receive an e-mail each time two new videos are published on Ask the Decorator. The e-mail will have the headline for each video along with a short summary.

If you're interested in the video, click on the headline and you'll be taken straight to that video. If none of the videos interest you, trash the e-mail and move on with your day without wasting the time of visiting my Web site. Brilliant, I know. Hey, I'll do anything to make your life easier. Just ask, or in this case, sign up.

Name:
E-mail:
close

I'm really, really, really, really sorry that I can't answer all your questions personally anymore. With all the big prjects in the works and the number of questions increasing daily, I've had to strategize a better way to provide answers to all your questions. The end result will arrive before you know it. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

close

Sharing articles is a great way to help others and keep track of your favorites, too. Click on a social bookmark service below to share and save this article. If you want to know more about social bookmarking, read this article.

close

Each topic I cover is divided into three segments: a video, article and checklist. That way you can dive right in with a video, skim the quick tips from a checklists or ensure you make the right decision for your home with an in-depth article. I want you to have the information you need in the way you need it.