Interior Decoration – Arrangement of Flowers (2024)

In all God’s creation, there is nothing so beautiful, attractive and colourful as flowers. Flower arrangement is an art which expresses one’s personality. Flowers, foliage and plants are arranged in flower vases in such a way that they produce harmonious appearance with good texture and colour combination. By proper arrangement of flowers, the home can be made cheerful, lively and beautiful. It expresses one’s love of beauty. Japanese have developed this art of flower arrangement by starting schools for the teaching of this art. Plants, flowers and fruits can give natural charm and dignity to a home.

These are inexpensive decorative materials which make us always refreshing and provide the necessary variety of forms and colours. They purify the air in the day time. Interior decoration cannot be completed without the presence of few flowers in the room. Now-a-days flower arrangement has become a fascinating hobby. Flower arrangements are made at various locations such as on tables, window sills, walls and comers to suit the occasions and space. If fragrant flowers are used in flower arrangement, their sweet smell is an added attraction.

Materials and Equipment used in Flower Arrangement:

There are some basic materials and equipment needed for beautiful flower arrangement:

1. Flowers, Foliage, Fruits, berries:

All types of flowers, foliage, fresh, dry or artificial can be used for the arrangement. Seasonal fresh flowers can look very beautiful in any style. Where flowers are not easily available, dry flowers and foliage, berries, fruits can also be arranged. Artificial flowers made up of paper, organdie, satin, velvet fabrics and plastic which are available in the market may also be arranged.

2. Containers or Flower Vase:

Various types, shape, sizes and coloured flower vase and containers are available in the market. Selection of suitable container is important. Elaborate decorative containers are not suitable enough for flower arrangement. The round, oval or rectangular low vases, bottles, glasses, earthen pots are also available for flower arrangement. Low containers are best for dinning table whereas high and tall arrangements are attractive for tall wall area or comer of the room. For a circular table a round bowl may be used for flower arrangement. Porcelain or metal containers may also be used for this arrangement.

3. Flower holders:

There are many types of flower holders available in the market. Needle point holders are made up of cast iron. It may be round, rectangular, square, semi-circular etc. Modelling clay may also be used for holding of flowers.

4. Equipment or other accessories:

The equipment necessary for flower arrangement are long scissors, sponge, paper napkin, pipe cleaners, florist’s wire, green tap, rubber band, adhesive, transparent taps, wire etc. The accessories required for flower arrangement should be artistic and beautiful. They are sea-shells, coral rocks, small sculptures of animals, birds etc.

Selection and Care of the Flowers during Arrangement:

Successful flower arrangement requires a proper selection of flowers.

The following points are to be considered in this regard:

1. The best time for cutting flowers and foliage is either in the morning or evening. The stems should be as long as possible.

2. After cutting, keep them in a bucket of water or basket in the shade. A pair of sharp scissors may be used for cutting flowers.

3. If the flowers are not arranged immediately, then they should be carried in wet newspaper or banana leaf and then put into polythene bags. Before arrangement, they are recut and immersed in deep water. The leaves close to the base of the stem should be removed.

4. Warm water should be placed in the container before the arrangement.

5. A piece of charcoal will keep the water pure. Sugar in water (2 teaspoon to a pint of water) will keep most flowers to last. Ammonia salt or camphor may be added in small amounts in water in order to kill the bacteria’s and to increase the life periods of flowers.

6. Do not mix delicate and fine textured flowers with rough and heavy ones.

7. Delicate flowers should be arranged in delicate containers and rough flowers in a heavy pottery containers.

8. The tallest flowers are arranged first. Plant materials should cover the rim of the flower vase. All fully blossomed and large flowers should be placed low, and the small flowers in groups or bunches.

Types of Flower Arrangement:

There are various types of arranging flowers. The arrangements should be in conformity with nature as far as possible.

Some of the common types of flower arrangement are:

(1) Line Arrangement

(2) Mass Arrangement

(3) Combination of Line and Mass Arrangement

(4) Miniature Arrangement

(5) Floating Arrangement

(6) Dry Flower Arrangement

(7) Japanese Flower Arrangement.

1. Line arrangement:

In this arrangement, the element line is most important and emphasized more. In this type of arrangement only small amount of plant materials are used.

The followings are some of the line arrangements:

(a) In vertical line arrangement the flowers are arranged in a vertical line in a flat vase.

(b) In horizontal line arrangement flowers are arranged in a tall flower vase. The flowers can be placed in the centre and sprays on the sides.

(c) The pyramid is another type of line arrangement. In this case flowers are arranged in a symmetric triangle with its diminishing line from base.

(d) The triangular arrangement is also a type of line arrangement. This is an asymmetrical arrangement. It represents three forms like Heaven, Man and Earth. This arrangement produces rhythmic effect.

(e) In the oval arrangement, the flowers are arranged in a tall vase, so that the whole composition forms an oval shape.

(f) Crescent is another form of line arrangement in which a flat, a square or a tall vase can be easily used. It is a very beautiful flower arrangement.

(g) The Hogarth Curve is a line arrangement of flowers which has extraordinary grace and movement. It is also called as ‘S’ form of arrangement.

Line Arrangement is very popular among the Japanese.

2. Mass arrangement:

Large amount of plant materials, flowers, foliage, leaves are required for this arrangement. In this type of arrangement, grouping of flowers and their colours play an important role. The mass arrangement may be compact or semi pact. A large flower is arranged in the middle point to have a focus on it. This type of arrangement is used in large rooms, corners and big formal parties.

3. Combination of Line and Mass arrangement:

In this arrangement both line and mass arrangements are combined together. The best parts of these two arrangements are taken. It is very charming, beautiful, interesting and attractive. Design is emphasized in this arrangement. Some examples of this type of flower arrangement are triangular, pyramid, circle, semi-circle, crescent and basket.

4. Miniature arrangement:

This type of flower arrangement is known as Diminutive arrangement. As the name suggests everything is used in a miniature form in this arrangement. Small flowers are arranged in small containers, bottles, shells, ashtrays, small bowls or glasses. This arrangement is used on food trays, dinning table, side table of the bed room, on wash basin or children’s rooms. The size of miniature arrangement should not be more than five inches.

5. Floating arrangement:

Flowers can also be arranged in floating style. Lotus, water lily and hyacinth can be arranged in such a way that they seem to be floating in a pond. Shallow bowls or trays are taken as a container for floating arrangement. For this arrangement, the stems of the flowers should be cut short.

The flowers should be completely cover up the water. The largest and most attractive flower should be allowed to float in the centre with the others grouped around. Different coloured flowers or petals of rose and other flowers may be used in this type of flower arrangement.

6. Dry Flowers arrangement:

When fresh flowers are not available in plenty, dried flowers, leaves and foliage may be arranged. Wood roses, wood berries, cones poppy heads, beech, eucalyptus, ferns, seed, pods, cotton, wheat com etc., may be used in dry arrangement.

Tall grasses, brooms may also be arranged. Dry materials can be painted in white, silver or gold before the arrangement. In some dry arrangement feathers of the birds, paper flowers and glass bangles are also used. A good colour combination will give a pleasing effect in dry flower arrangement.

7. Japanese Flower Arrangement:

Japanese have developed the arrangement of flowers as an art. Flowers play an important role in their life. The Japanese art of flower arrangement is known as “Ikebana” which is a most popular style of Japan as well the whole world. This arrangement gives emphasis on line arrangement.

After the completion of the arrangement, it creates a natural effect and looks like a tree with flowers. In this arrangement emphasis is also given on the use of foliage. It is an oriental style of flower arrangement. Japanese have special flower arrangement for different occasions and ceremonies. Some of the Japanese flower arrangement are Moribana, Nageire, Shaka, Pikka, Ukibana etc.

Styles in Flower Arrangement:

There are three main styles in arranging flowers:

(1) Traditional style

(2) Oriental style

(3) Modern style

1. Traditional style:

This is a formal arrangement. In this style a number of flowers of various kinds, colours, textured and size are arranged together with leaves and foliage in the decorative container. The arranged flowers present a multicolored mess effect. Generally, this style is adopted in most of the house which is a very easy process of arrangement.

2. Oriental style:

This is a Japanese mode of flower arrangement. This style gives the impression of a natural growing plant. The arrangement is very simple, symbolic, meaningful and informal. It is also a line arrangement. The stems are so arranged that their lines form an attractive pattern. There is a good balance and proportion of flowers, stems, colours, shape and flower vase. The flowers chosen in this style is always an odd number, for example, three, five, seven or eleven.

The whole arrangement is divided into three parts. It has three branches whatever the number of flowers used. The three branches are symbolic of Heaven, Man and Earth. The longest branch signifies Heaven, the middle one Man and the lowest one Earth. The length of the highest one or Heaven should be one and half or twice of that of the flower vase. Buds are arranged at this place.

The flowers at the medium height symbolize Man. Smaller flowers or half blossomed flowers are arranged at this place. The smallest branch pointing downwards symbolizes Earth. Largest or full blossomed flowers are arranged here. If more than three stems are used, they should be arranged in such a way to create the impression of three. One coloured flower of varying values and intensity, and a single textured flower is arranged in oriental style.

3. Modern Style:

This is a combination of traditional and oriental style of flower arrangement with a leaning towards the later. In this style, different coloured, textured and size of flowers arc taken, but the arrangement should be like oriental style which symbolizes Heaven, Man and Earth.

Principles of Flower Arrangement:

Flowers can be arranged by adopting the principles of element of design.

Balance:

There should be proper balance in flower arrangement, so that it can look stable. To have proper balance, the heaviest plant materials, longest stems and biggest flowers should be arranged in the centre close to the vase. The balance may be formal or informal. In formal balance both sides of the centre of the container are similar.

In informal balance, heavy flowers are arranged on one side of the centre and light flowers or leaves and foliage on the other side. There must be balance in texture, size, weight and colour of the flowers while arranging the flowers.

Proportion:

Proportion plays an important role in flower arrangement. Proportion of various components like flowers, stems, foliage and containers or flower vase should be maintained. The flower with the longest stem should be so placed that its head comes above the centre of the container. The stems of other flowers should be cut to proportionate height. Tall arrangement should be narrow in shape and thin at the top.

The tallest stem should be one and half times the height of the vase. In a horizontal arrangement, the width of the arrangement should be one and half time the width of the low vase used. The size of the entire arrangement should be proportionate.

Emphasis:

It is the focus or centre of interest. The emphasis in flower arrangement is usually in the centre of the arrangement. It is the point where the eye is attracted. Emphasis can be created by using dark coloured or large size flowers. Heavy and long stems may also be used.

Rhythm:

It is the visual movement on the arrangement. This can be achieved by blending of colours, balancing of curves and shapes in the arrangement.

Rhythm enables the eye to move easily from one part of the arrangement to the other. The arrangement can either be slanting or upright or it may form C or V curves. Flowers can be arranged from dark to light colours or big to small size and in any line.

Harmony:

It is an important principle in flower arrangement. All parts of the arrangement are exhibited. Harmony can be achieved in colour, shape and number of leaves or flowers used. The design of the flower arrangement may be in the shape of diamond, oval, the letter L or S, crescent, horizontal, triangular, vertical, diagonal or circular.