HOW TO CREATE A ROMANTIC FRENCH ROSE ARRANGEMENT

Beautifully arranged, lush floral arrangements bring romance and life to every decor, don’t you think so too?

Flowers, especially roses, have been associated with beauty and perfection for centuries.

Their velvety soft petals unfurling just make me happy. When I look at them, I can’t help but think what beauty God created for us to enjoy.

And be grateful.

I’ve been going to our local flower market each week to gather armfuls of flowers.  Mostly for FrenchGardenHouse photo shoots. At least that’s what I’m telling myself.

Because if I’m honest, the more our outside world gets chaotic, the more I want to be sure to surround my little family with as much beauty and softness as I can.

For this arrangement, I chose these elegant French apricot roses, some richly toned marsala spray roses, and purple hued Queen Anne’s Lace.

And cut great branches of seeded eucalyptus from the huge tree that grows in front of our house.  Cutting branches, and flowers from your own garden to add to a flower arrangement is really a wonderful way to save some money. But also to make the flowers personal, and more your own.

When I lived in Europe, flowers were not just a luxury. Every single household, every single one, had at least one fresh flower arrangement in the living room. It seemed that every woman in France, and all of Europe, knew how to achieve beauty with a simple bouquet of flowers.

I learned how to create a beautiful flower arrangement using a few handy tricks. {and yes! I’m sharing them with you today. of course!}

It’s not difficult, at all, trust me.

 

 

First chose flowers that compliment each other.  French floral bouquets get their elegant savoir-faire from how colors compliment each other, and an overall simplicity. Choose flowers in two, or three colors, at most, and one filler or greenery. *To make sure you are buying the freshest roses, feel the buds by squeezing gently, they should feel firm.

 

Use the right tools. Oh, this makes all the difference! For years I worked Valentine’s Day for a good friend who owned a floral shop to help her out because her business was a crazy-thing for a few days per year. We must have created over 400 rose arrangements each time. Phew! Luckily, I met this little gem.

Meant to easily strip rose stems of thorns and leaves, it’s a life {and hand} saver.  You can buy it at a floral supply store. Or on Amazon.

So easy to use, if you didn’t know about this little gem before, you will be excited!  There are plenty of new models, I just use an old-fashioned inexpensive one, this one has worked for me for over 20 years.

Prepare your roses to fully open in your arrangement.  This is something I learned from my slave labor Valentine helping days.  Roses have several outer protection or cover leaves, they are generally less pretty and shorter, simply pull those off when you are working with the flowers.

Begin with greens. Arrange a “collar” of greens in an “x” formation, making sure that the stems criss cross and going towards an imaginary central point.

Start adding in the flowers one by one, still making those “x”‘s.

 

Now you are ready to add your other colored flowers, this is really where you can have fun with your creativity.

Just keep adding flowers, pop in a few more greens, and you end up with a gorgeous flower arrangement any French woman would be thrilled to display in her home!

Isn’t this so pretty? It’s the perfect color for this time of year, when the calendar still says “summer” but my heart says A U T U M N!

If you have never created your own arrangement of flowers, these small tips help get you on your way. I hope to get you arranging beautiful floral arrangements in no time!

Looking for the perfect antique or vintage vase? I love flowers so much that at FrenchGardenHouse we always have different, unusual antique vases for you to create your beautiful flower designs with.

 

{Put “vase” in the search box at FrenchGardenHouse.com} .

 

ARE YOU READY TO CREATE YOUR OWN LUXURIOUS ROSE ARRANGEMENT? LET ME KNOW HOW IT GOES!


Shop for the best in French Antiques, furniture with the patina of age, vintage accessories to delight you and your family & friends, and French Country utilitarian pieces. Treasures that make your home fresh, beautiful, inspirational and uniquely yours. Visit our shop FrenchGardenHouse.com.

18 thoughts on “HOW TO CREATE A ROMANTIC FRENCH ROSE ARRANGEMENT”

  1. Lidy, what beautiful flowers and a lovely arrangement. Very helpful information – I’m going out today and get a leaf/thorn stripper …who knew!! Thanks!

  2. Great tips Lidy. I wasn’t sure there was really anything special to know about flower arranging….
    The thorn stripper tool sounds essential..

  3. You are a woman of so many talents! I must order a thorn/leaf stripper as i lost mine or maybe lent it out and it never got back to me! Had one in my floral classes days. I love that you are able to visit the flower mart each week…what a treat it must be. When in California, I noticed the many beautiful flower stands with flowers so reasonably priced. Thanks for another beautiful and informative post. The arrangement is exquisite! Have a great day Lidy!!!

  4. Those are such gorgeous colours for almost-autumn, but still summer. Thanks for the tips on arranging.

  5. Hi Lorrie! Thank you for your visit, and you are so welcome. It’s nothing new {unless you didn’t know about the rose strippers} but a reminder to bring some gorgeous flowers into your home is always welcome, isn’t it?

  6. Ginger Valdes

    Oh Lidy! What a gem of a tool I learned about today! Can’t wait to get one and try my hand. Your arrangement is perfection, as always. Merci !
    Ginger

    1. Ginger, you will love the tool! So easy. And thank you for loving the arrangement.

  7. Thanks for the tips Lidy. Roses are beautiful but just don’t last very long. I usually go for something in the daisy family. They last forever and look fresh. Hugs, Pat

  8. Pat, I agree, our roses last about one week. The trick is to feel their buds when you buy them and make sure they are FIRM. This means they are fairly fresh!

  9. Arrangements of fresh blooms, be they weeds or from the garden, add so much to their environment. I am so grateful to spend half my time in Maine where gathering is so easy.

  10. What a beautiful arrangement! You have such a knack for this. Thanks for all of the tips, they are always useful. I can hardly wait to find me a “stripper” and save my fingers. Keep up the beautiful work. Your post is always welcome in my house! Regina xo

    1. Thank you so much, Regina. You will love using the stripper!

    2. Regina, so happy you will get a stripper! It makes all the difference!

  11. Jean Van

    Hi, Lidy,
    Love all the photo’s and I get rose’s all the time and some good ideas, I to mix and try new thing’s with them, been so hot here this summer I also put a few ice cubes in the vase, helps to make them last longer, good tips from you~Have a good week! Thanks for always sharing so much knowledge and history, I so enjoy that!

    1. Thank you Jean, I’ve never tried the ice cube trick! I hope you have a great week, too.

  12. Julie Watson

    Wow Lidy, the colors of those roses are so delicious! Agreed that fresh flowers add a touch of beauty and elegance to feed the soul. Even a single garden rose with a few sprigs of asparagus fern makes a room more welcoming. Its great that you have a flower market nearby. When we visit family in Seattle, I love to stroll the flower stalls at the Public Market. Cannot leave empty handed.
    Thanks for sharing your tips.

  13. Lidy dear, I loved everything about this post! I loved every beautiful photo and also learning that you helped out a florist friend for Valentine’s Day. I worked at a florist in Sun Valley, Idaho for a few years (long time ago :)and Valentine’s and Mother’s Day were totally crazy!We striped our roses with a knife, but I want that tool!!! So much easier :)))
    sending love….

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