Arrange 5 Flowers 3 Ways

Photo: Leah Klein

When it comes to flowers, choosing what you like isn't hard. Deciding how to arrange them can get a little overwhelming. Here's a simple guide to arranging five flowers three different ways to suit any occasion.

Choose a mix of easy-to-find, inexpensive flowers from the grocery store. I chose mini roses, tulips in two spring shades, and the dreaded baby's breath. (I promise if you use it in these unique ways, it will not make your arrangement look like it came from the 80s.) Then, from my florist's, I chose this gorgeous hydrangea and picked up some lemon leaf for extra greenery to add to the arrangements.

Grab some scissors and a few different vessels (vases, pitchers, glasses, cups, anything that will hold water in various heights and shapes.

Photo: Leah Klein

1. Deconstructed

This first arrangement is very simple, in a you-can't-do-this-wrong way. The vessels play an important role in this deconstructed look. For a more modern display, try a square or rectangular vase, and then an assortment of clear or silver cups of varying heights. I used one old rectangular vase, one vintage tall glass, one regular water glass, and one mercury glass tea light cup. All of these are clear, so they all work together.

Arrange the flowers by putting each type of flower in their own vase. Tulips work well in shorter vases, while the fullness of the hydrangeas balances out the height of a taller vessel. Then group everything together on a tray or a square of fabric (a napkin, a placemat, or a vintage pocket square).

The beauty of this arrangement is that it doesn't require too much actual arranging. The look is modern, and refreshing. It's a perfect arrangement for a kitchen table or dining room buffet. Place it on a counter for an Easter buffet or put it on a desk in a guest room to welcome guests.

2. Tall Pitcher

This tall green pitcher works well for a large arrangement. To start, trim the flowers a few at a time. When you're ready to place the flowers in the vase, put the largest flower in first. (In this case, it's the hydrangea.) Then work your way around it. When arranging the flowers you want there to be different levels so no single flower gets swallowed into the arrangement. Here the tulips almost cascade out around the pitcher with the roses and hydrangea standing tall in the centre.

For a more romantic arrangement, use baby's breath sparingly instead of more greens. Let it peek out between the flowers to let each bloom pop. For a cleaner look, use greens to fill in between the flowers. Place this arrangement in the centre of a table or on a side table or coffee table and it will brighten the room.

Photo: Leah Klein

In contrast to this tall single arrangement, the tea cup flowers that follow are a perfect arrangement for a table when you don't want a tall arrangement blocking diners who sit across from one another.

Photo: Leah Klein

3. Low Tea Cup Arrangement

This arrangement is perfect for tea, brunch, a luncheon, or dinner party. Pick up mixed and matched tea cups and saucers to use as the vessels. If you get them cheap enough at a thrift store, guests can take home an arrangement as a party favour.

This simple and low arrangement won't infringe upon guests' views of each other if you're hosting a meal. ​(I used one cup and saucer per guests and placed them together on the table.) You also don't need to purchase a large amount of flowers to make these little tea cups feel as if they're overflowing with blooms. Here, the hydrangea is broken down into parts, each tulip head fills a large space around the tea cup so there is room for just a few in each cup. The baby's breath is rested on the saucer to add to the fullness of the arrangement.

Photo: Leah Klein

Ariana and Sarah from Moonstone & Moss in Boston helped me create these beautiful arrangements and wanted to make their own! Their arrangement includes peonies, fringed tulips, sweet peas, waxflowers, rosemary, and scattered greens. They also have professional tips and tricks of the trade to help you prep your flowers before arranging them:​

• Cut flowers at an angle so they can receive more water
• Use floral tape, chicken wire, or greenery as a foundation to hold your blooms in place
• Remove any greens that fall below the water line, as this creates bacteria in the water, shortening the life of your arrangement
• Prolong the arrangement by changing the water daily.