Principles & Rules of Flower Arrangement

Line Arrangements

• Line arrangements are often minimal and sparse looking, having only a few branches, leaves or flowers. When making line arrangements, the space between the pieces is as important as the pieces themselves. These arrangements are created to be viewed from one side only, meaning they are asymmetrical. For a flowing look in your arrangement, opt for pieces that have extra leaves and flowers removed, while choosing thicker, fuller pieces for a sturdy effect. For smaller arrangements, use three stems, but to make larger arrangements, use five or seven pieces, always working with an odd number of main stems. Choose low, flat bowls for the container or pedestal type containers for the best results.

Mass Arrangements

• Mass arrangements are composed of many types and colors of flowers. Typically, there are three or more varieties of flowers in several different color shades; these are grouped together in different areas of the arrangement. Arrangements can be shaped to suit your preferences, but make sure that you keep the size of the arrangement in proportion to the size of the container. Suitable containers for mass arrangements should be about 5 inches tall with a 5-inch opening. A larger or smaller container can be used, but the container should be no more than two-fifths of the total arrangement. Use spray-shaped flowers to fill in gaps in the arrangement. The focal flowers (the main type of flower) should be placed so that flowers near the top of the arrangement face up, ones near the bottom of the arrangement tilt downward, and others face to the right and left, adding variety to the arrangement. Although all of the stems will not be visible, it should be readily apparent that all of the flowers are coming from the same place---the center of the container.

Line-Mass Arrangements

• Line-mass arrangements combine the components of line arrangements and mass arrangements, as the name suggests. However, you will need to decide if you want to emphasize the line or the mass aspect of the arrangement. Select several types of flowers, both tall ones that fill the line requirements and spray flowers that fill the mass requirements, in different colors. Group like kinds of flowers together, merging them with the addition of foliage or background flowers (tiny, pale-colored flowers) to create a cohesive body. Line-mass arrangements look best if they are triangular in shape, and housed in a shallow bowl about 6 to 8 inches wide. Do not worry if the arrangement doesn't look good from all sides, as line-mass arrangements are generally asymmetrical.