TEXTURE IN FLOWER ARRANGEMENTS

Texture is an important element in creating professional-looking do-it-yourself wedding flowers. The concept of texture is something that each of us learned about in elementary school when we looked at rough and smooth surfaces, and it can really be that simple while putting together flowers for your special event. Don't fret about getting too complex.

Texture can be described as the feel, appearance or characteristics of a surface. This is extremely important in floral design because the texture of a vase, flowers, foliage, fillers, bows and more need to be taken into account to ensure that the combined texture will have a desirable flow and consistency. When most amateur floral designers start out, they are most concerned about using complementary colors in their bouquets and centerpieces. What sets the professionals apart from the novices is an understanding of texture. To really make your DIY floral arrangements stand out, get comfortable with experimenting with both color and texture.

Interesting textures can convey elegance, rustic and classic styles.

Style and Texture

Texture enhances the desired style of an arrangement. If you want a sleek, modern look, opt for smoother flowers and greens: Tulips, roses, branches, and grasses create an “unfussy� feel, as does using a smaller mix of varieties. Looking for romance? Think soft, delicate, and flowing: Garden roses, peonies, and amaranthus. For a more rustic, relaxed feel, think about a field of flowers. Combine different sizes, shapes, and textures of your favorite blooms.

Vases and Texture

Often people tend to forget all about vases when they think about the texture of their arrangements; keep in mind that containers can add just as much to the texture of special event floral arrangements as the flowers themselves. A shiny silver or gold finish on a vase will result in a completely different look and texture than a white plastic vase would. In fact, highly reflective vases imply elegance and formality while a coarse-textured wood basket is more natural and informal. If you are having a rustic themed event, choose wooden vases, stressed finishes, moss accents and vintage accessories to make the most of the texture of the vase. If you are looking for a sleek, more modern design try using shiny and smooth, clean-lined vases. Should you want to go with a sophisticated theme, try choosing a vase with height and an intricate design.

Using the Texture of Flowers and Foliage

Texture needs to be considered when pairing together different types of flowers and foliage. Professionals use some of these guidelines to create well-balanced, pleasing arrangements:

• Coarse textures can be used to create a focal point — the eyes will be most attracted to that specific flower in the arrangement.
• Texture will have a greater impact in designs that use only one color, because texture will not have to compete with busy color schemes. If you are planning on only using one flower color, be sure you use varying textures to create a more interesting look. For example, the white flower arrangement above uses only one color but uses a lot of texture within the greens and fillers to deliver a more visually appealing result.
• Leaves of varying textures can also draw attention and improve focal points in an arrangement. The more patterns and shapes within the leaves, the more professional and polished an arrangement will look. If you’re incorporating greenery into your arrangement, you should try selecting more than one type of greenery to increase the texture and dimensionality.
• Be bold — don't be afraid to pair opposite textures together, but be sure to keep transition in mind. As a general rule, it is good to have some contrasting texture in arrangements; use a pattern of flower types to create the feeling of a smooth transition between different textures.
• Repetition of extreme contrasts adds visual interest to an arrangement. As seen above, keep in mind that if you create a pattern you can use multiple types of textures and ideas within one arrangement.