Displaying dried flowers in vessels - Part 2: Creating a colourful display

Displaying Dried Flowers in Vessels - Part 2: Creating a Colourful Display

When I create a new display, I make sure the vase I am using compliments the dried flowers I will be working with. By ensuring the two work in harmony (or clash, if that's your aesthetic) your display is guaranteed to be more impactful.

For every display I make, I choose a mixture of flowers, fluff and fillers, with each one bringing something to the table.

For this display, I chose:

• Oregano 'Kent Beauty' (Origanum 'Kent Beauty')
• Lady's mantle (Alchemilla mollis)
• Paper daisy (Acroclinium roseum)
• Canary grass (Phalaris canariensis)

All of these plants bring something different to the mix, but in general, all of my larger displays have a combination of colour, texture and height.

Less is More

My biggest piece of advice, though, is 'less is more'.

If you overfill your display, it may end up looking quite old fashioned and rigid, instead of the contemporary style that you might be aiming for. So in this case, remember, "less is more".

Top Tips

• When cutting stems for a vase, measure them against the height of the vase first, so that you know what height to cut them to.
• Think about how you want colour to work in your display – Are you aiming for pops of colour or colour blocks?
• As long as your stems are supported, it doesn't matter whether they reach the bottom of the vase or not.
• I try to make my displays look great from all sides, but generally there will be one side that looks the best when positioning the display in a room.
• Aim for asymmetry in your design, so that your display will appear more modern, natural and interesting to the eye.
• Think about how you can utilise negative space in your design – giving everything space to breathe will create movement and life in your display.