Why arranging flowers the ‘right’ way is not as elusive as you think
January 5, 2024
I have no idea how to make flowers look ‘right’ in a vase, but they look cute.
I received this message from my friend along with a picture of a vase full of gerbera daisies. She herself is an amazing artist – a photographer, painter, and fellow writer. No matter where we begin, there’s a bit of a dance when exploring a new medium. It’s honest and humbling. It takes time to find that sweet spot or still point; that beloved space which lies between the push, pull, texture, and tone of creativity. It may exist for the briefest movement, but in that moment there’s harmony.
Her sentiment is shared as my friend is not the only person I’ve heard say this about flowers. It may stem from a lack of comfort, consistency, exposure, or having the supplies on hand. It may be something else altogether. But one thing is for certain, there’s no right or wrong way to build an arrangement.
There are however some helpful principles which I’m happy to share. Tips that once applied to your process have the potential to make an arrangement feel more balanced, natural, and interesting. Before diving in, I’d like to introduce the concept of elements in nature. These form reference points. As guiding principles they most often translate into an aesthetic. It begins by paying attention to your surroundings as clues are easy to miss.
You experience color, temperature, texture, tension, and a sense of spaciousness, first and foremost from nature. You may experience compression or contraction through the feeling of heaviness, tightness, or congestion from relentless traffic, oppressive weather, even a challenging conversation. On the flip side you may experience expansion, ease, and a sense of relaxation by a walk in the park or a long bath.
Nature is the original mother. Providing you and I with an innate sense of connection and comfort, nature is a force we inherently know and remember. It may be hard to articulate in words yet it resonates with our entire being. The reality it presents is multidimensional and feeds a sense of curiosity and wonder.
So whether something feels mobile, playful or whimsical, heavy, light, delicate, substantial, bold, effortless, voluminous, minimal, sharp, soft, asymmetrical, or symmetrical, distills from a conscious and unconscious observation of the stylistic elements present in the natural world. I think of it as sensory memory. Rick Rubin in The Creative Act: A Way of Being, eloquently describes it as a present subtle transmission.
Now, to actualize these concepts, play with the following style practices. Once you get savvy with them you may begin to notice crossover in architecture, interior design, garden design, personal style, etc. It’s all connected.
First, give each blossom and stem space to move and breathe. Even if it’s just a little. When they have space the blossoms can open. The arrangement as a result is interactive, effortlessly moving and expressing itself with age. With space the different plants can relate to one another. In essence, you’re allowing space for life to fully express itself.
Second, ensure that the blossoms are on different visual planes rather than one horizontal line. When you buy a bunch of flowers it’s likely that the stems are cut to the same length. The blossoms are all on the same linear plane. When the blossoms are placed on different planes the eyes are drawn to a dominant color or focal flower but will inevitably meander about, doing what they love, move.
Biomimicry and our inexplicable comfort with it is on display in this scenario. Flowers, as they express themselves naturally in the wild or garden, will grow not in one straight plane but rather undulate, have a mix of heights, and bend, even if it’s subtle. They move in concert with what’s around them.
Take your time with this process. Look for what you notice but no one else sees.*
The style and mood of an arrangement reflects a collection of personal and unique variables – At the center of which is you and the flowers. Plants, especially flowers, have a tactile and inviting way to inspire a creative act, settle the mind, soothe the senses, and ease the heart. What may have seemed elusive is likely quite obvious.
Tell me how it goes.
Yours, Erin
* Rick Rubin, The Creative Act: A Way of Being (New York: Penguin Press, 2023) 41
Interested in flowers as an artistic medium and want some simple methods to apply?
Intuitive Arrangements is a self-paced digital series for flower lovers covering basic mechanics and botanical design. Expand your senses, hone your style, and connect to the elements behind the blossoms. Immediate access upon purchase.