I attended a Pottery Barn class today on this subject. This is one of my favorite Sunday activities, and if you don't already know, you should call your local store- the majority of them host these decorating classes for free (Well, better than that, they give you a 10% off coupon for coming!). Topics range throughout the year and they aren't offered every week, but they are worth becoming a regular at. I am on first name basis with the decorators at my store and they always go out of their way for me. For instance, my sister and law were picking up some Easter decorations that were on mega sale, and the instructor, Doug, notice and let us in on a little secret- they had a cookie jar that was on sale for $10 in the back room and brought them out to show us. Naturally we bought up two practically before he got the bottom part of the jar out of the box. It's worth the effort to get to know them.
But enough about my adventure today, here is what I learned:
* A woman in the crowd had this suggestion: If you are using water in a display (for faux flowers only!), put a few drops of bleach in the water and it will keep it from getting slimy.
* Nature is the master of organized chaos- imitate that look and it will make your arrangement look stunning and natural every time. How to do this? Use the rule of 3- odd numbers create a feeling of chaos. A triangle display will move people's eye around a grouping and make them feel more organic.
* Use vase fillers in clear glass vases. You don't have to spring for the $15 bag-of-rocks if you don't want to- moss, pebbles (rinsed off if from your yard), dry beans, nuts, fruit, buttons, and whatever else that fits in there and won't break down in water, if you're using real flowers, will do the trick.
* Choose your vase carefully. This is where a linen closet with a good selection of vases comes in handy so you don't have to buy a new one every time. Here are some guidelines:
~ A fluted vase- one with a smaller base than top- is best for larger bloom flowers.
~ A straight sided, cylinder is good for long stemmed flowers & better for dramatic, single stems.
~ Bud vases or narrow opening vases are also great for more dramatic, single stems.
~ If you have a large bunch of flowers, the trumpet vases are best.
~ Large bowls & fish bowls create a dramatic display for floating flowers.
~ Rectangular vases are modern & can be used for floating blooms, single stems, or small bunches.
* Choose your presentation according to your space. Are you in a modern home? Choose a rectangular vase with drama. Do you want to create a since of movement and draw the eye to the flowers? Use a triangular shaped display with different blooms. Use the largest vase for a focal point and then arrange the others around it. If you need to create height in a long, flat space, choose a larger vase for higher stems or bunches. Combine candle holders and vases to add drama. Vases all the same size create a contemporary feel in a space.
* Faux flowers are a great choice but you need to care for them properly. When storing, wrap them lightly in tissue paper and place in a paper bag in a closet with plenty of room on the shelf. Do not crowd the bag so you don't bend the stems. To dust them, use Duster like you use for cleaning your computes keyboard. Apparently, it works wonders!
* If you are using a vase filler, place your flowers in there first then put in the filler. To keep the flowers together, use a rubber band, twine, decorative ribbon, or twist ties to hold them together. If you want to keep them tied together you can or you can choose a method that is easy to remove, like the twine or twist tie, after you put enough filler in to hold the blooms in place.
* You don't have to use flowers in your vases!!! Think out side the box. Seashells, sand, buttons, fruit, beans, stones, and marbles are a great, normal decoration. Try black and white photos, vintage postcards, antique buttons, or wooden thread spools to do something different and create a dramatic display.
* If you do use flowers, and you choose to use real ones, buy as fresh as possible. Avoid flowers with discoloration on either the leaves or petals since they most likely past their prime.
I hope this helps when you are planning on decorating with flowers and vases. It is fun and easy- just use what you have around your home- and bring in some flowers- and you won't fail! Let me know how your attempts come out!
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