10 Tips and Tricks for Pretty DIY Arrangements

Pretty DIY arrangements . . . 

Spring is here, and it’s time to brush up on those floral arranging skills. I consulted my local florist, and I learned exactly what it takes to help up my game. Here are TEN tips and tricks for making really pretty DIY arrangements.

Look to purchase or pick fresh flowers with good coloring–brown leaves with wilting or discolored petals are never a good sign.

Searching for an assortment? Stick to the number three when it comes to choosing colors. A bouquet with three prominent colors (or less) arranges the prettiest.

Plan to get your flowers into water quickly. Think of your bouquet like a pint of ice cream–the longer it sits in the car . . . you know how that goes.

Think of in terms of height. Eyeball the height of your vase, and plan to cut the stems about one and a half times that size. This gives you room to work when it comes to arranging.

At a sharp angle, cut about 1″ off the stems of your flowers, especially if they have been sitting for a while without water. By getting rid of the dried tips, the fresh stem can better absorb water.

Strip off any leaves on the stems that fall below the water line. This will help keep your flowers smelling fresh. Changing the water often also keeps the earthy oder at bay.

Water temperature matters. Warm water helps to open tightly closed buds like tulips, daffodils ranunculus or roses.

When arranging, be sure to mix in bits of green. Large leaves are the perfect fill-in.

Keep your flowers away from heating/cooling vents and out of direct sunlight. The best location for your bouquet is a space that receives lots of second hand natural light. This means natural light that hits your coffee table 5-7 feet away from a window.

Make sure to water often and re-cut stems if flowers begin to get droopy. A quick snip leaves a fresh stem to soak up water and revive your bouquet.

Are your ready to DIY your own bouquet?