| On their own, flowers are beautiful and colorful | | | | flowers in different stages of development, from |
| enough to pick up the mood in any room, but just | | | | tiny buds to open blooms. Put the buds and the |
| think of how everything will look ten times more | | | | smallest flowers at the edges and the top of the |
| incredible if you arrange your flowers cleverly. | | | | arrangement, and the full blooms at the middle or |
| There are no hard and fast rules to flower | | | | in front of the arrangement. The full blooms are |
| arranging, but there are a couple of guidelines and | | | | the focal point of the design, whereas the buds |
| measures you might want to consider if you | | | | work as the accent. Flowers in half-bloom can be |
| want to create a striking flower arrangement | | | | placed anywhere between the two. |
| worth airtime on a Martha Steward episode. | | | | Don't be afraid to mix and match different colors, |
| Consider the size and space where you intend to | | | | shapes, and textures. Generally speaking, there |
| place your arrangement, as well as the shape of | | | | are three shapes of flowers. Line materials are |
| your container and the number of flowers you | | | | straight leaves like iris leaves and flowers like lilies, |
| intend to use. For instance, if your flower | | | | and are used to form the outline of your |
| arrangement will be placed on the dining table, | | | | arrangement. Round flowers like open roses, |
| your flower arrangement should be no more than | | | | carnations, and daisies usually make the focal |
| nine inches high; otherwise your guests will have | | | | point. Intermediate or filler flowers or small foliage |
| difficult making conversation across the table. | | | | are placed between the other flowers and fill in |
| If you want to put your arrangement on a living | | | | the design. |
| room side table, a large vase with a spray of | | | | Finally, forget the rules and let your instincts take |
| flowers will look overcrowded and out of place; | | | | over. The great thing about arranging flowers is |
| use a small vase and lesser flowers instead. You | | | | that it doesn't take years and years of training to |
| may also want to use green, water-retaining | | | | make them look stunning; after all, flowers are |
| foams for your fresh cut flowers as these | | | | already beautiful things on their own. Pay attention |
| absorb water better than the brown foam used | | | | and let your eyes be the judge - you don't need |
| for artificial flowers. | | | | to be an expert to know which flowers look best |
| To make a visually pleasing arrangement, use | | | | next to each other. |