Styles of Floral Arrangements

As with other art forms, there are distinct styles of floral design, each of which pulls from different points in history. The popularity of specific techniques can ebb and flow with time, but a well-trained florist can pull from many design elements to get the right aesthetic.

This list of floral-arrangement styles is far from comprehensive, but it will give you an idea of the different styles that exist today.

Linear or Ikebana

As mentioned before, ikebana originated in Japan centuries ago as a minimalist approach to flower design. The term, which translates to “making flowers come alive,” refers to the practice of carefully selecting each element in an arrangement to convey a specific feeling for the viewer.

Ikebana has Buddhist roots in Japan, as it originated with the practice of offering floral arrangements at temples. By the 19(th) century, making floral arrangements went from a religious activity to one enjoyed by the upper class for artistic expression.

Most ikebana compositions today form a rough triangle with three main elements that represent heaven (high), earth (low), and human (middle). Ideally, the arrangements should acknowledge the season you’re in to act as a reflection of this specific moment in time. Bare stems are the material of choice in winter months when greenery is rare.

To make an ikebana arrangement, start by taking a walk through your garden or neighborhood to see what plant materials inspire you. Nothing is off-limits, so be willing to get creative. From this collection, you can use between five and 13 items for each arrangement. Resist the temptation to go overboard — less is usually more.

Traditionally, ikebana containers are shallow and rely on a kenzan (flower frog) to keep the base of each stem in place. There’s typically minimal room for water, so expect the arrangement to last about 24 hours before wilting.

Mass Arrangement

Mass arrangement is a classic European floral design style that adds as many flowers and foliage as possible to each vase. Rather than drawing attention to individual blossoms, the focus is on all of the flowers together, creating a thick, full-bodied shape. Mass arrangements tend to create a closed form with minimal open space.

Color tends to be the primary way you create dramatic impact with mass arrangements. Most will feature three or more flower varieties and colors combined with several types of foliage, with one color dominating the others.

Most mass arrangements are rounded to form circles, domes, or crescents. While they are typically designed for viewing from all sides, some people prefer to save flowers by focusing the blooms all in one direction.

It’s the classic flower design for special events, such as weddings and church services. The best flower varieties for mass floral bouquets will have a single stem with a large, rounded flower head. Top choices include carnations, roses, daisies, and chrysanthemums.

When designing a mass arrangement, keep the flowers packed together, so the eye is drawn to the entire bouquet rather than the individual elements.

Line-Mass (Contemporary American)

This relatively new floral design style came to be in America in the 1930s. It’s a blend of European and Asian décor elements where both the arrangement’s shape and scale matter. Most are based on geometric forms (often triangles) and have one clear focal point. And while balance is important, symmetry is frowned upon, meaning most arrangements will feature odd numbers of each flower variety.

Many line-mass arrangements will have two distinct elements: a higher part consisting of lines and a well-integrated lower portion that forms the mass. This creates a sense of weight to the arrangement that makes it seem well placed while still leaving space for lines to add definition.

A line-mass arrangement’s overall look should be clean and simple, with definite visual lines and a distinct shape. The arrangement’s dominant line should be blended with most of the plant material to add bulk while enhancing and distinguishing it. Its overall width shouldn’t be equal to the height, and most of these arrangements are meant to be viewed from just one angle.

High Style (Formal Linear)

This dramatic form of floral design is the right choice when you want to impress. It draws inspiration from traditional Japanese techniques and elevates the overall effect to ensure the arrangement is a showstopper no matter where it’s displayed.

More than most forms of floral design, high style or formal linear focuses on negative space as much as the elements in the arrangement itself. You’ll want to choose from just a few bold materials to make a big statement.

Formal linear arrangements tend to be tall and asymmetric, with an emphasis on stems and greenery to create clean lines and complement the relatively large flower blooms.

Pavé

Though the term is most often used with jewelry, pavé offers plenty of value for floral design as well. French for paved, pavé jewelry is made from a series of gems set so close together that minimal metal shows up. Picture a cobblestone road, and you’ll understand the look.

In the same way, pavé floral arrangements are built with flower heads set as close together as possible. The designer will trim off all leaves and cut each stem short so that there’s maximum space available for adding flowers.

The final result will be a relatively flat flower display that gives off a lush, luxurious look, almost like a cushion of flowers. Pavé arrangements have a clean, rich aesthetic that makes them the perfect fit for elegant occasions. They are well suited to tabletop displays and even bridal bouquets.

Traditional pavé arrangements tend to feature just one flower variety presented in various colors. Flowers with dense heads seem to work best, including roses, hydrangeas, carnations, and peonies. Avoid varieties that grow on tall stalks like snapdragons and gladiolus, as they will give the final arrangement a spiky appearance instead of the smooth, even surface you’re looking for.

When making a pavé arrangement, focus on using short flower stems in a shallow container, and arrange the flowers from the outside in so you can pack them in a grid formation. For the most aesthetically pleasing design, create a gentle dome shape by making each layer stand out slightly higher from the ones next to it.

Bespoke Garden Style

A word that means “unique” or “one of a kind,” bespoke is a floral term for made-to-order arrangements. It refers to a casual, relaxed arrangement style that has an old-fashioned look to it. Any bespoke garden arrangement today should look like it came off the canvas of an old-world master’s painting. The focus on individuality means it’s almost impossible to create two identical bespoke arrangements.

Almost any variety of flowers will work for bespoke designs, though it’s best to stick with one color palette. Seek out a variety of shapes and textures, ideally from plants that would seem well suited to a grandma’s garden.

Traditionally, bespoke arrangements are made in shallow containers with wide openings. Floral foam isn’t typically used. Instead, designers use a chicken wire base tapped in place within the dish to add structure. Start with the most significant pieces in the arrangement, which should be a series of draping greenery around the outside. Work your way toward the center with stiffer, upright flowers to add structure.

Generally, beginner flower designers love this style, while experienced artists tend to struggle more with it. That’s partly because it relies on old-school techniques and an ability to let the flowers make the calls rather than wrangling them into your preferred shape.

Botanical Style

A style made popular in the late 20(th) century in America, botanical arrangements focus on showcasing more of each plant than just the flower portion. To technically qualify as a botanical arrangement, the display must feature at least three distinct types of plant material, which can include stems, leaves, seeds, bulbs, buds, blossoms, roots, and more.

Crescent Floral Arrangement

As the name implies, this style of arrangement always takes the shape of a half-moon “crescent” shape. The traditionally shallow vase itself may lend to this shape, but the primary structure will come from how you arrange the plant material.

Most crescent arrangements will be asymmetrical, meaning they are taller on one side than the other. They pull inspiration from Japanese ikebana arrangements in that every part of the design must be chosen intentionally.

Setting up a crescent arrangement requires careful precision for achieving a balanced look within a somewhat unstable structure. This makes it less than ideal for beginners, although it’s still achievable for those who love a challenge.

Look for plant material with sturdy stems or branches to achieve the necessary height. You can carefully bend elastic material to enhance the natural curve. Negative space plays an essential role in these arrangements because they encourage the eye to travel up the high point of the crescent and over the entire display. Either a flower frog or chicken-wire frame works well to add structure to the flowers at the base of the arrangement.

Pot et Fleur

Popular in the Victorian era, “ot et fleur” floral arrangement combines cut flowers with living plants for a versatile, long-lasting centerpiece. Today, this arrangement style is earning praise for its sustainability and long-lasting results, as the potted plant in the center eliminates the need for flower foam or other disposable materials.

Succulents make popular choices, but you can use any living plant that fits the scale of the arrangement. You can replace the cut flowers as often as necessary while leaving the center plant intact to add some permanence to the design.

For a long-lasting display, choose a large, shallow pot that many other containers can fit within. Arrange the living plant first, and place glass jars filled with water around it to add support. Some florists will remove the living plant from its pot and put the root ball in a plastic bag to conserve space. Place cut flowers within the jars, and refill or replace them as necessary.

Note that pot et fleur arrangements must be kept in a sunny, warm location to ensure the potted plant gets what it needs to thrive.

Mille de Fleur

French for “a thousand flowers,” mille de fleur floral arrangements are known for their rounded shape, tall green foliage, and tightly packed, tiny blooms. The overall effect is of a wildflower meadow or other natural space where flowers bloom throughout tall grasses. The style first gained prominence in the Middle Ages and went through a revival in 19(th) century England.

These bouquets tend to be symmetrical and can be viewed from multiple angles.

Biedermeier

Created in Germany in the early 1800s, the Biedermeier style of flower design can be compared to creating a floral bull’s eye. The bouquets are often compact with a rounded or conical form.

Traditional arrangements will feature concentric rings of flowers, foliage, and even fruit or nuts, with the same colors and textures within each ring. Each ring is set up to contrast with the ones next to it for a visually striking design. In fact, many of these arrangements more closely resemble cakes than traditional bouquets.

Kokedama

Though they’re technically made of living plants, kokedama floral arrangements make this list due to their fairly short lifespan (just one to two years). Also known as Japanese moss balls, these distinctive plant arrangements channel the look of a bonsai tree planted in a ball of moss.

They are essentially small plants encased in balls of soil that are swaddled in moss and either displayed on a shallow container or hung from the ceiling in a macrame sling.

Kokedama arrangements can be incredibly distinctive and are sure to create a talking point in your space. However, they can be tricky to manage, as the entire moss ball must be regularly submerged in water to keep it moist. Likewise, plants frequently outgrow the soil ball and either die or need to be repotted into a larger space.

You’ll have the best luck with slow-growing, shade-tolerant plants. Too much sun exposure will burn the moss ball and turn it brown.