Are you looking to create a breathtaking bouquet that will leave a lasting impression?

Whether you’re arranging flowers for a special occasion or simply want to bring some beauty into your home, mastering the art of bouquet-making can boost your confidence in floral arranging skills.

In this blog, we’ll share 21 expert tips and techniques to help you craft the perfect bouquet every time. Julia Rush and INFIIORATA have chosen their top tips to create a bouquet. To learn more about the art of bouquet making, join them for the “Floristry basics for beginners” online course.

1. Consider the occasion: Tailor your bouquet to suit the event or recipient, whether it’s a romantic gesture, a celebration, or a sympathy arrangement. (Julia Rush)
2. Start with fresh flowers: Choose flowers that are in their prime to ensure longevity and vibrant colors in your bouquet. (Julia Rush)
3. Consider the space: Always consider where you are going to be placing you arrangement. If it will be going in the center of a dinner table, it will need to be viewed from angles. Whereas, if it’s going in an entranceway against a wall, it will only be viewed from the front. (Julia Rush)
4. Consider color harmony or contrast: Select flowers that complement or contrast each other in terms of color, creating a harmonious and visually appealing arrangement. (Julia Rush)
5. Limit the amount of foliage you use: INFIIORATA recommends using little to no greenery in an arrangement to make an impact with the flowers in the arrangement.
6. Consider scent: Choose flowers with pleasant fragrances to enhance the sensory experience of your bouquet. Similarly, avoid flowers that will have a bad smell. (Julia Rush)
7. Begin with the tallest flowers: Start with the 2 longest/tallest flowers and put a widely ramified flower between the two to create space. (INFIIORATA)
8. Vary the flower heights: Play with different stem lengths to add depth and dimension to your bouquet. (Julia Rush)
9. Experiment with different flower types: Incorporate a mix of popular blooms, unique varieties, and seasonal flowers for a truly captivating arrangement. Combine flowers with varying shapes and sizes to create an interesting and dynamic arrangement. (Julia Rush)
10. Choose a focal point: Select a standout flower to serve as the centerpiece of your bouquet. (Julia Rush).
11. Remove excess foliage on stems: Remove all excess greenery from the stems that are going to be submerged to prevent bacterial growth. This keeps the water fresh and clean. (INFIIORATA)
12. Support flowers with softer stems: Create a grid with your stems, one stem at a time to avoid breaking/damaging of the stem. In an early stage put the “soft” stems first and layer them up with the strong ones. (INFIIORATA)
13. Respect each flower: Respect the growth habit of every flower, because imperfections are interesting to look at. These can also accentuate a certain direction of the final result. (INFIIORATA)
14. Arrange in odd numbers: Group flowers in odd numbers (e.g., 3, 5, 7) for a more aesthetically pleasing and balanced composition. Some cultures also do this for superstitious reasons. (Julia Rush)
15. Keep a firm and low grip on your stems: When compiling your bouquet, hold the stems at 1/3 of their length in your hand. If you hold the stems much lower down on the arrangement the bouquet will feel a lot looser and relaxed. It’s the quickest way to get that romantic, just picked from the meadow feel. The higher you take your hand up the stems the more formal the bouquet will appear. (INFIIORATA)
16. Add unexpected elements: Integrate unconventional elements like berries, seedpods, or unique branches to add intrigue and personality to your bouquet. (Julia Rush)
17. Maintain balance: Look at the bouquet from above to see how it’s shaping up. You want to check the colour balance, as well as the positioning of all the flowers. (INFIIORATA)
18. Be mindful of flower compatibility: Take into account the compatibility of different flowers in terms of water requirements and lifespans. For example, if you are creating a bouquet for a warm location, you will want to use all tropical flowers that will last well together. (Julia Rush)
19. Create levels within your arrangement & use all your stems: Turn the bouquet clockwise after you have added each bloom, for an easy way to intersperse the flowers. Add another circle of flowers. Insert them at an angle again and lower down the bunch. Begin this next sequence slightly lower around the side. Finally use up the last ones, angling the stems so they sit even lower around the edges of the bunch. (INFIIORATA)
20. Trim the stems: During spiralling, the stems will have become higgledy-piggledy at the base of your bouquet. Trim them straight, so they are all the same length when you put them in a vase. (INFIIORATA)
21. Care for your bouquet: To prolong the life of your bouquet, change the water every two to three days and recut the stems. Keep your arrangement out of direct sunlight to protect from bacterial growth (Julia Rush)
22. By following these 21 expert tips, you’ll be well on your way to creating stunning bouquets that will captivate any audience. Whether you’re a budding florist or simply want to indulge in the joy of arranging flowers, the art of bouquet-making offers endless possibilities for creativity and self-expression. Enjoy the process, experiment and have fun.
23. To learn more about Bouquet Making – join us for the online course created by our expert hosts INFIIORATA and Julia Rush. Learn more