How to Decorate With Blooming Orchids

Orchids have long been considered a highly desirable decorative flower, whether cultivated in gardens or potted indoors. Take advantage of your orchids by putting them in a setting that will vividly highlight their delicacy, color and the natural arrangement of the stems and flowers. By applying a few basic design principles regarding form, color, contrast and balance, you can draw attention to your orchids by creating a visual composition that incorporates room, pot, stems and blossoms.

Decorative pot
Ribbon (optional)

Instructions

- 1
  Choose a backdrop that allows the color and shape of your orchids to stand out. A patterned or textured backdrop will make it hard to see the details of the orchid clearly, so choose a backdrop decorated with a solid color. A white or pale background will flatter brightly colored orchids, while a colored curtain or accent wall will help white flowers stand out.
- 2
  
  A color wheel or paint swatches can help you visualize the effect of different color combinations.
  
  Select a pot with a color that ties together the color of the orchids with the color of the room. For a harmonious effect, choose colors that are near each other on the color wheel, such as a purple pot to tie together violet-colored blossoms with a scarlet accent wall. For a bold effect, use contrasting colors that are nearly opposite each other on the color wheel, such as red orchids in a blue pot that matches the blue curtains.
- 3
  
  A pot that is too large for your orchids can "bury" them, making them look like an afterthought.
  
  Select a pot whose size is equal to or slightly smaller than the orchid plant to create a balanced effect that emphasizes the blossoms. Arrange the flowers so that the shape of the pot, stems and blossoms creates a coherent whole, with no unnecessary protrusions or abrupt shifts in size or shape.
- 4
  Tie a soft satin ribbon around the pot to add a complementary highlight, if desired. The ribbon can be an intermediate color between the colors of the pot and the blossoms or, if you chose a high-contrast look, may complement the color of the backdrop while contrasting with the pot.

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