Elevate your dried floral arrangements using the five principles of floral design

We typically think of the five elements of floral design: color, form, space, line, and texture when working with fresh flowers. When working with dried flowers, some elements are more challenging to incorporate. After looking at hundreds of dried arrangements, I saw some common areas where dried arrangements fall short of fresh ones because of the inherent limitations of dried flowers.

Here's a look at each of these and how to address them to elevate your own arrangements at home.

Color: Many dried arrangements are neutral in color and lack the vibrance of fresh blooms. Our dried and preserved flowers are carefully selected for color and luminosity, giving you striking, natural looking arrangements for seasons to come. When selecting dried flowers, look for blooms that retain vibrant colors even with dried or select tinted varieties. Some of our favorites include bougainvillea, hydrangeas, and statice. 

Form: The form of your design can be circular, triangular, or rectangular. Most formal arrangements tend to be circular (a traditional bridal bouquet) while triangular designs tend to be more informal. Form is a style preference and most flowers, dried or fresh are pleasing in various shapes.

Space: Arrangements with negative space, or fewer blooms allow the eye to rest for a moment and appreciate the beauty of each flower. Ikebana-style arrangements, with few, well placed blooms are a good example of negative space. 

Line: An arrangement should have both vertical and horizontal lines. Vertical lines are easy using upright stems, but horizontal lines add movement and grace to your arrangement.

Because dried flower stems are straight, horizontal lines are one of the most difficult parts to incorporate in dried floral arrangements. To achieve the horizontal lines that are so pleasing to the eye and draw it through an arrangement, incorporate preserved ferns, curly vines and dried flowers with curved stems, such as bougainvillea. 

Texture: One reason why dried flowers have become so popular is that the texture of a flower is most easily appreciated when it is dried. Bouquets of a single color are an excellent way to highlight texture, as are arrangements with contrasting textures.

Using elements that incorporate vibrant color, movement, various textures and negative space, such as the one shown here, in your own dried arrangements will dramatically increase their visual appeal.

Five elements of floral design courtesy of the Floral Design Institute.