How to Display Flowers in a Vase Properly

The effect of cut flowers depends on how they are arranged. It's easier than you might think: with simple tricks, you can create an individual and striking floral decoration with little effort and a few easy steps.

The color and shape of their blossoms are what make cut flowers stand out first. Depending on our mood, we react differently: sometimes we are drawn to bold colors and large blooms, while other times we appreciate delicate flowers whose beauty we notice only on a second glance. Current color trends in fashion and interior design strongly influence our perception of color. Flower breeders also follow these trends, continually expanding the color palette of flowers to match the latest styles.

Just like the color of the flowers, the vessels and vases also follow current fashion trends. Even without contents, they now have a permanent place in home decor and certainly don’t live a dull life hidden away in a cupboard. When buying flowers, you should already think about which vessel will best highlight them. The more unusual the vase, the more the flower takes a backseat. The shape of the vessel – whether tall, narrow, square, small, conical, or round – also influences the effect of the arrangement. As a general rule: The taller and narrower a vase is, the fewer flowers are needed.

Each element of an arrangement has its own form, which should be skillfully combined. The synthesis of the vessel and the flower takes center stage. To highlight the simple elegance of a vessel, attractive "singles" are ideal: large flower heads in clear colors and shapes, such as Amaryllis. Single long-stemmed tulips also give the arrangement the right emphasis.

For decorations made from various flowers, different shapes create tension within the composition. Marigolds, gerbera, or zinnias are each lovely daisy-like flowers, but an arrangement made solely from them can quickly look boring. A few standout grasses or berry branches will liven up such a bouquet and make it more interesting.

If you ensure that the longest stems are no higher than 1.5 times the height of the vase, you can't really go wrong. A classic rule suggests that flowers should always be arranged in odd numbers in a bouquet, as even numbers will not give a rounded effect. However, for arrangements where the impact of individual flowers is the focus, you can disregard this rule. The paired arrangement of beautiful single flowers can create a very casual and relaxed effect.