Flower arrangements vary from simple to complex.
Flower arrangements have several professionally acknowledged types. The seven most commonly described arrangements include horizontal, vertical, triangular, crescent, oval, minimal, and S-curve arrangements. Focal flowers, also called mass flowers, generally sit at the center of the arrangement, while line flowers form the designated shape and filler flowers fill in the empty spaces.
Horizontal Arrangements
Horizontal arrangements sit in a shallow vase and do not stand very tall, but the length typically extends twice as far as the height. The focal (mass) flower, typically a rose, sits at the center while smaller line and filler flowers flow out toward the base of the container. These low arrangements make excellent table decorations.
Vertical Arrangements
Vertical arrangements stand tall and have a small width. The tallest flowers and leaves reach up to four times the height of the vase, and the focal flowers sit directly at the mouth of the vase. Naturally tall flowers, like tulips, roses and carnations, commonly appear, with the occasional smaller filler flower.
Triangular Arrangements
Triangular arrangements fan out in a triangular shape, with the peak of the triangle stretching taller than the width spans out. The focal flowers sit at the heart of the arrangement, and the tallest stemmed line flowers stretch up the middle while the smaller filler flowers flow out down the sides. This arrangement commonly appears in wedding ceremonies.
Crescent Arrangements
Crescent arrangements have a moon shape. The focal flowers sit at the base while line flowers with curved stems or flexible stems, like gladiolas and carnations, form the asymmetrical curve. Crescent arrangements work well as coffee table decorations.
Oval Arrangements
Oval arrangements appear taller than they do wide, and the tallest line flowers also tend to be the brightest, sitting at the center of the arrangement. The color and size both reduce along the sides of the oval shape. Oval arrangements typically appear at funerals and other formal events.
Minimal Arrangements
Minimal arrangements have very few flowers. A small amount of focal flowers appear to stand alone, and filler flowers, when used, only decorate the opening of the container without distracting from the focal flowers. Minimal arrangements make suitable indoor decorations.
Hogarth's Curve
Hogarth's Curve, also called the Lazy "S," forms a curvy "S" shape of flowers. Curved stemmed flowers become the line flowers responsible for creating the basic curves. Focal flowers follow the line flowers, and filler flowers surround the focal flowers. Due to the complexity of this arrangement, few floral arrangers outside of the professional field use it.
