3 tips for beginning flower arrangement-part 1

For flower enthusiasts starting to learn about flower arrangement, arranging flowers is a lot like painting; there are many details to consider. Choices like flower types, colors, and shapes all impact the final result. So for beginners, how to create beautiful flower arrangement ideas?

In two articles, I will explain the following:

• The 3 basic elements of flower arrangement.
• 8 principles to follow in floral design.
• How to create depth in your floral arrangements.

First, let’s discuss “The 3 Basic Elements of Flower Arrangement Art.“

The first element of arranging flowers is “Shape”, which refers to the overall appearance and form of the arrangement. Shapes consist of geometric forms like triangles, circles, and ovals, and you can simplify them into the relationships between points, lines, and planes. Let’s take a closer look at how to use “points, lines, and planes”:

1.Point has a sense of movement.

In terms of shape, a point is something we can see; it has an area. In flower arranging, you can use points in two ways: clustered or scattered.

Clustered points bring various small flowers together to create a focal point that draws attention. Flowers like baby’s breath, gypsophila, forget-me-nots, yellow bells, small chrysanthemums, dianthus, and geraniums work well for this style.

Scattered points give a more relaxed feel and appear like scattered pearls.

More lively flowers：plum blossoms, roses, and lisianthus are great for this approach.

2.Line creates rhythm.

A line represents the movement of points and has visual properties like length, width, direction, and spatial character. In floral art, lines can be straight or curved; they can be horizontal or vertical, radial or circular—each offering its own beauty.

Straight-line arrangements convey a sense of formality and designers often use them in modern designs. Straight lines determine height and direction and guide the viewer’s gaze for a feeling of visual extension—like a bold march that stands tall and full of energy.

Curved arrangements feel more lively; horizontal lines suggest stability while diagonal lines add movement and curves show elegance. You can use natural twigs or straight flowers for this effect.

Common line flowers: iris, snapdragons, violets, snapdragon flowers, willow leaves, red dogwood, eucalyptus leaves, and dancing orchids for decorative lines; daffodils, orchids, and calla lilies can serve as accent flowers.

3.Plane gives an expansive feel.

You can view a plane as a shape created by expanding a point; it has characteristics like position, shape, direction, and range. Properly using planes in floral art creates a strong three-dimensional effect and artists often use them in large or group designs.

Overlapping planes: Use clump-like or linear flowers arranged repeatedly to form planes. The relationship between planes—how they overlap—can create different visual effects. Think about how leaves overlap or how different colored blooms interlace.

Dividing planes: This is common in floral art for single-shaped flowers that are easy to manage; fewer flowers create a simple yet lively abstract design.

Supporting planes: Planes also serve as backgrounds that highlight the main flowers; choosing the right base materials enhances the overall visual impact of the arrangement.

Filling planes: You can create floral works that are one-sided or multidimensional; using large areas of color in multi-dimensional designs requires you to pay attention to how it appears from various angles to fill gaps perfectly.

Common plane flowers: roses, gerbera daisies, carnations, peonies, water lilies, lisianthus, sunflowers for clumping; while foliage like peace lilies or galaxy leaves can serve as plane materials.

⬇️You can add some packaging paper to the design. How to choose? ⬇️
8 Preferred Bouquet Wrapping Papers – A Must-Read for Beginners
Also choose from my store, and there is always one that you like！

Flower arranging is an art form that consists of three basic elements: points, lines, and planes.Stay tuned for the next article!