In floral design we are lucky to have a pretty big playground. There are so many different shapes, colours, sizes, textures, feelings of flowers there’s really no limit to what we can create. Whether you’re designing something cheerful and bright, somber and elegant, quirky and modern; it all starts and ends with the flowers you choose.
When it comes to floral design there are certain rules we should follow that help to build a pleasing arrangement. They are the same rules of design you find in all different branches of art: shape, texture, line, size, movement and balance. The goal is to address each of these elements within the arrangement. Different flowers address different aspects of design and by choosing the right combination you make a gorgeous, natural, complimentary artwork.
Main flower shapes:
Line flowers dendrobium, delphinium and bells of Ireland.
Line flowers
Line flowers are used to create height and movement. They can be tall spears of delphinium or bells of Ireland, or smaller spikes of dendrobium orchid or veronica. We put line flowers around the centre of an arrangement to create dramatic height or angle them out the side to counter-balance a visual weight on the other.
Focal flowers gerbera daisy, rose and dahlia.
Focal flowers
Focal flowers are the stars of the show. They are full, usually round and give a focal point to an arrangement. An arrangement without focal flowers can be very pretty and whimsical, but if you’re not careful will look confused and messy. focal flowers can be rosettes such as roses and lisianthus, round like gerbera daisies or sunflowers, or globes like alliums and dahlias.
Filler flowers lady’s mantle, wax flower and sweet william.
Filler flowers
If focal flowers are the stars, filler flowers are the supporting cast. Fillers are usually a tiny flower that grows in a fluffy cluster to create a textured mass. They are perfect for creating volume and depth and help give structure and support to the focals. Popular fillers include waxflower, lady’s mantle, matricaria, astrantia and hypericum berries.
Accent flowers ranunculus, celosia and craspedia
Accent flowers
Technically you can make a perfectly acceptable arrangement without an accent, but they are just so neat! An accent flower is anything too small to be a focal that just brings something special to the table. A weird texture, a beautiful scent, a unique shape; they just show up as that special something extra. Our favourite accents are craspedia, brain celosia, freesia, and ornithogallum among others.
Of course as with any set of rules, these can be bent or broken, but when you get your Flowers Talk Tivoli arrangement it’s made with these elements in mind and that helps make our creations the best in Ottawa!