Floral arrangements rely on design elements to stand out.
Floral arrangements not only add elegant statements to a room's decor, they also express the giver's sentiments, such as congratulations, sympathy, love and friendship. Paying attention to design elements when arranging the flowers and choosing containers lets you add a personal touch, making even the most modest arrangement stand out.
Space and Size
The container that will hold the flowers determines the height and size of the arrangement, and the flowers' size and the space that they take up dictate the arrangement's placement. The location of the arrangement in the room also becomes an essential part of the space and size design element. Shorter arrangements, for example, prove most appropriate for dining tables, while taller, more robust arrangements work best for corners and entry tables.
Color
Color -- a key design element of floral arrangements -- can be used to set the tone, create a theme or express emotion. Using flowers of contrasting colors draws interest to the design and helps create balance, reports the Better Homes and Gardens website.
Shapes and Lines
The arrangements' shape and line -- such as oval, horizontal, vertical, triangle or crescent -- refers to its visual direction. The placement of the arrangement in the room often influences its line, BHG.com explains, with arrangements featuring tall, dramatic lines used to add interest in a room with high ceilings or tall windows. Letting the arrangement's shape and line follow the container's form creates harmony and balance.
Proportion
A floral design may be either symmetrical or asymmetrical. In a symmetrical design, both sides of the arrangement have an equal or near-equal size and shape for a more balanced look. Asymmetrical designs have a longer line on one side of the arrangement. The ratio of flowers to vase proves an essential element of the design's balance, according to BHG.com.
Theme
A floral design that creates harmony with size, color, shape and proportion, and ties in the room's colors, adds to the decor. The flowers' texture -- whether waxy, soft or bold -- creates the mood of the space. Soft colors and textures prove best for an informal space, BHG.com says, while a simple, monochromatic arrangement and container works in a room with a more modern theme. An arrangement with a romantic theme of bold reds, pinks and purples, for example, can create a feeling of sensuality.
