By Sally Sola, Founder, Cheltenham Flower School
When you walk into a room and spot a beautiful floral design, your eyes are probably first drawn to the colours, or maybe the scent hits you. But behind that beautiful arrangement is a quiet little secret and that is that the shape of each flower is doing a lot of the work.
In floral design, shape is just as important as shade. Whether a flower is spiky, blousy, delicate or structural, every stem plays a part in creating the overall mood and movement of a piece.
Let’s have a little wander through the world of flower shapes, and how I use them to bring a design to life…
Wild, Wispy & Wonderfully Natural
A popular trend is a looser, more organic arrangement that look like they’ve just been gathered from a garden or meadow (even if they haven’t). Think flowing foliage, asymmetrical shapes, and movement, like the flowers are mid-dance. Over my years as a florist this has always been a popular choice, but in recent years it has evolved into much bigger designs that are more “undone” in style. This is also a trend that has developed further with the growth of the British grown flower market. Why is this look so popular? It’s romantic, relaxed, and celebrates nature’s natural charm, imperfections and all.
The Focal Flowers - The Stars of the Show
These are your big, bold blooms. Think Roses, Dahlias, Peonies or Hydrangeas. Round and full of character, they draw the eye and anchor the whole design. Quite often, people look for these flowers first, as they are thought to be among the most beautiful.
But what they do? They add weight and structure, create instant impact and help the eye know where to “land” in a design. I tend to use these as the main focal points, arranging these flowers first (after the foliage) to set the tone and give balance. They’re like the lead actors in your favourite film - everything else is built around them.
Sustainability Matters - More Than Ever
These are your tall, narrow blooms like Delphinium, Snapdragon, Foxglove or Larkspur. With their vertical shape, they help lead the eye up or out across the arrangement. These are the stems that add drama and movement, give height and structure and will guide the overall direction of the design. I use these to create a sense of rhythm, to draw the eye upward or outward, especially in hand-tied bouquets or larger installations. They are the backbone of an arrangement and are key to many styles of designs. When creating a bigger design or something more structured, these are the flowers I add after my main focal flowers.
The Delicate Fillers - Soft and Wispy
These are your lighter, more delicate stems like Waxflower, Astilbe, or Nigella. They often have small heads and airy, branched stems that help soften the overall look. You can rely on them to fill gaps with texture and movement, add that lovely “wildflower” feel and help your focal blooms blend together naturally. They’re like the soft music playing in the background, you may not notice them straight away, but they’re doing important work to settle and fill out the mood. I think the use of these types of flowers are the key to creating a beautiful, balanced design. Without them it just doesn’t work as well. Professionally and personally, I would be lost without them and they are key to creating a beautiful design.
The Quirky Ones - Unexpected Shapes & Textures
Not everything fits into a neat little box. Think of Scabiosa pods, Thistles, Poppy heads or ornamental grasses. These types of stems bring contrast, texture and a bit of a talking point to any arrangement. These are the little extra touches that add contrast and interest. They bring in unexpected shapes or colours and make your design more memorable and playful. These are the stems that make people lean in for a closer look and make your designs different to any others that might be seen. Every florist will have their go to favourites up their sleeve to use when they are needed.
The Greenery - Foundation and Framing
For me the core to any floral arrangement is a good foundation created by foliage. It creates a base to build a beautiful piece, adding interest in texture, movement and shape before you even add the flowers. It comes in so many shapes from trailing Ivy to round Eucalyptus (a personal favourite of mine) and ferny Asparagus. It helps seat and frame the flowers. It grounds the whole design and brings that fresh, natural feel. Greenery is the first and last thing I place in a design. From creating the very foundation of my arrangement to tidying up any gaps once all the flowers are in place. A good combination of foliage will be the difference between a design that works beautifully and one that doesn’t.
So Why Does It Matter?
Trends come and go, but one thing remains: flowers will always have the power to lift a room, transform a space and create a mood. Whether you’re drawn to dried grasses, bold colour explosions, or just a quiet posy in a jar, the best trend is the one that speaks to you. Flowers are a personal thing and maybe you are creating your own memories and key moments with them too.
So next time you’re choosing flowers, take a moment to think about how they make you feel. What speaks to you? If you have a favourite way of doing something which brings you joy, don’t worry if it is on trend or not. Do what makes you happy! And, if you want to immerse yourself in the world of flowers and learn new ways to bring the joy of flowers into your life then please do feel free to come along to one of my workshops or even organise a private workshop for you and some family and friends and create some of those key memories.
Share this post: