Who doesn’t love the color that flowers bring to a room? Flowers can improve your mood while offering a sense of relaxation. Putting together a nice floral arrangement allows you to develop your talent and express your artistic sensibilities.
Some may balk at the extra work involved, but the best floral arrangements are made with care and attention. Using ribbon quickly elevates a floral arrangement’s appeal. Here’s how to add ribbon to a floral arrangement to improve its look and feel.
Consider the Recipient
Before you add a ribbon to your arrangement, you must take some time to consider the recipient. A floral arrangement should fit the individual and the occasion, so you must know who you’re giving it to and why before you start.
Floral arrangements suit special occasions such as holidays, birthdays, and anniversaries, but people also offer them for condolences and funerals. Everything about the bouquet should reflect the mood of the event, from the type of flowers to the ribbon used to tie it together.
Choose the Flowers
Your ribbon should also complement the bouquet you’ve put together. While there are many different colors, patterns, and bow types to choose from, it’s essential to match your ribbon’s design with the vase or wrapper that the flowers come in.
Selecting the flowers before you decide on a ribbon will allow you to create a bouquet that looks great. Ensure the flowers you choose are healthy and well-taken care of so that they don’t wilt before you can give them away.
Decide on a Theme
Another thing you can consider before adding a ribbon to your floral arrangement is the theme you want to go with. Ribbons come in all shapes and sizes, so having an idea of what you want the finished product to look like will help you decide which is best.
The ribbon’s size, shape, and color are essential here. You should also ensure the pattern matches the rest of the bouquet. Candy canes, pine trees, and snowflakes might, for example, signify winter, while a summer ribbon would have imagery such as birds, fruits, and flowers.
Find the Right Colors
Once you know your theme, you’ll want to ensure the colors on the ribbon match it. Ribbons come in a broad spectrum, so you have a lot to work with to ensure they don’t clash with the rest of the package. However, finding something that matches the flowers and theme can take some time.
Knowing the colors you want to use beforehand will make finding the ones that best reflect your intended message easier. While brighter colors often signify happy occasions and warm weather, darker colors are for winter and generally appear more somber.
Gather Supplies
Your ribbon won’t do much good if the floral arrangement doesn’t look its best. With the right tools, you’ll be able to create something that the recipient deeply appreciates. By gathering supplies before you start, everything will go much smoother.
To begin with, you’ll want to ensure you have a pair of sheers, water, and something to put the flowers in. Once you select the flowers you want, you can keep them in the water to ensure they don’t wilt. Other supplies, such as scissors, tape, and pins, will be necessary to wrap the flowers and add your ribbon.
Select a Bow Type
Before cutting your chosen ribbon, you’ll want to know the type of bow you’re going for. The knot you use will play an essential role in keeping the bouquet together, but it can also influence the overall aesthetics of the arrangement.
Classic, layered, and bi-colored bows are just a few examples you have to choose from. The material you use can also make a difference. Satin bows, for example, are a common choice for many florists because they’re lightweight and easy to work with.
Cut the Ribbon
Once you decide what type of bow you want, you can start cutting the ribbon. The required length will vary depending on the occasion and floral arrangement you’ve selected. If you make more than one, you may need up to 5 yards of ribbon to ensure you don’t run out.
You’ll usually want around 2 feet per ribbon, so measure carefully to get the right amount. You can always double this number to make the ribbon bigger if necessary.
Tie the Knot
The next step in adding a ribbon to your floral arrangement is to tie it into your chosen knot. Once you measure and cut the desired length and put the ribbon into place, you can begin wrapping it around the bouquet. Hold the ribbon down in the center and tie the knot as instructed.
Depending on the design you’re going for, you may need extra supplies such as tape or glue to hold it in place as you make the final touches. Make sure you hold the fabric tight while tying it together. It won’t hold together well if you make the knot too loose.
Add Accessories
While a simple ribbon can be great, you may want to add flair to the floral arrangement to help it stand out. Accessorizing it can make a massive difference in the intended effect. A card, sticker, balloon, or other small gift is perfect for adding to your bouquet after you tie everything in place.
Vases often come with pebbles in the bottom to add texture and weight. A small plaque can commemorate the occasion while offering an opportunity for personalization. You can pair your floral arrangement with nearly anything to make the flowers, packaging, and ribbon pop.
Create a Floral Arrangement You Can Be Proud Of
While you may want to go to the store and buy the first bouquet you see, putting one together yourself allows you to create something you can be proud of.
Learning to add ribbon to a floral arrangement will ensure your bouquet reflects the occasion and the recipient’s personality. By carefully planning your arrangement, you’ll learn a new skill and have the perfect gift for the important people in your life.
