Are you looking to create a suspended floral arrangement to beautify your home? Would you like to design a magical decor for an event such as a wedding?
I’m here to help you.
As an event florist, creating large decorations is my specialty. Today, I’ll show you how to make different types of floral hangings to add a bohemian touch to your decor.
Whether they are made with fresh, dried, or artificial flowers, hanging floral arrangements can have a stunning effect. If you have some time and a few helpers, you can create a beautiful flower cloud using animal wire as a base, which you can then hang up. If not, a simpler option is to decorate a chandelier with greenery and flowers! Finally, if you want to create a very unique and easy-to-make hanging floral decoration for an event (wedding, birthday, party, etc.), consider a flower curtain, similar to a mobile. Just hang flowers using nylon thread from a branch to achieve a very bohemian, almost magical look!
Want to learn more? Keep reading to find out:
- How to choose flowers for a hanging arrangement
- The benefits of artificial flowers and dried flowers for this type of project
- How to create a suspended flower cloud
- A pro technique for decorating a chandelier with flowers
- How to make a hanging flower curtain
Which Flowers Should You Choose for a Hanging Arrangement?
Before you start creating your hanging arrangement, I recommend exploring the different types of flowers suited for this purpose. You’ll find that some are better suited than others depending on where you want to place your arrangement, its temporary nature, and the desired appearance.
Fresh Flowers
Fresh flowers are the first thing that comes to mind when considering a floral arrangement, and this makes perfect sense. Beautiful and fragrant, they give your creations a charming and very natural look. However, for a hanging arrangement, they are not always the easiest to work with.
In fact, to use fresh flowers, you will need to secure elements of hydrophilic moss in your arrangement, which you should have previously wrapped in fine mesh netting. This will allow you to insert your flowers into it, ensuring they stay hydrated and do not wilt immediately.
To create your foam supports, you can follow these steps:
- Slice a standard-sized rectangular sponge cake into three lengths.
- Then, surround each of these three items with a layer of wire mesh, such as “animal fencing,” ensuring everything is securely held together with wire.
- Finally, attach them to your suspension using wire.
👉 If you prefer not to use wire to support your floral foam, the brand Oasis offers very handy floral foam garlands that you can easily find online!
Dry Flowers
In this context, dried flowers are very appealing. Unlike fresh flowers, they don’t require hydration, making them much easier to arrange in a hanging decor.
They are also long-lasting, allowing you to create a work of art that you can enjoy for several months, or even a few years.
Finally, their very trendy natural look fits perfectly into the bohemian decor trend, which is characterized by its rustic and wild appearance.
🛑 Please note, dried flowers are sensitive to humidity and direct sunlight, which can cause them to fade. Therefore, they are best suited for arrangements displayed indoors, away from the elements.
Artificial Flowers
Today, there are beautiful artificial flowers that are fantastic imitations of natural blooms. So, when you look at a hanging arrangement made of artificial flowers from a distance, it’s not always easy to tell that they are synthetic.
Additionally, most florists use these flowers for arrangements that are either:
- Mounted very high, on structural beams for example,
- Hanging outside,
- Designed to withstand the elements and last over time (for example, Christmas displays in store windows).
👉 To create a hanging arrangement, you need to get artificial flowers with flexible stems (usually made of wire, often coated with plastic or resin for cosmetic reasons). I recommend investing in flower branches, such as cherry blossoms or vines, to give your creation a natural look.
Create a Flower Cloud
Very trendy, this stunning floral decoration requires some time and attention to detail, but it is sure to impress your guests.
Before you start creating, make sure you have:
✔️ A secure mounting for attaching the floral arrangement, which can weigh anywhere from a few pounds to several dozen, depending on its size!
👉 Beams, sturdy arches, and tree branches are generally well-suited for this purpose.
✔️ The supplies: several meters of animal fencing, rope, sturdy wire, pliers (flat and cutting), a stable ladder…
Next, you can proceed as follows:
➡️ Create a cloud using your wire by wrapping it around itself. The resulting shape should be a large, three-dimensional oval, like an egg. You can give it a more dynamic shape—like a wave—if you don’t want the final result to be too symmetrical.
➡️ Make sure to secure the entire assembly for a sturdy structure that retains its shape well.
➡️ Install the foliage branches first, tucking them into the mesh and securing them tightly with wire.
➡️ Next, insert the hydrophilic foam blocks if needed, and stick in the flowers. If you’re using artificial or dried flowers, you can push them directly into the mesh and secure them with twigs. If necessary, you can use wire to hold them in place.
➡️ Remember that the most visible part of your flower arrangement is the top, so make sure to decorate it especially well and with care.
➡️ Once you’re happy with the result, you can create hooks using sturdy wire around your cloud decoration. You can make two or three hooks depending on its size. Leave enough wire hanging (at least a meter, or more depending on the height of the ceiling) to be able to secure everything in place.
➡️ Finally, lift it up, with the help of several people, and secure it tightly. Make sure it’s well attached and that it won’t fall!
➡️ Finally, you can finish up once the hanging is in place, making sure that the cloud looks beautiful and balanced from all angles.
Decorating a Candelabrum with Flowers
This technique is much simpler than the previous one, as you won’t have to create your own support. It will also already be attached.
However, make sure to check beforehand that:
⚠️ If the candlestick is connected to electricity, I absolutely advise against placing damp foam blocks on it for safety reasons. Additionally, this would significantly weigh it down and could cause it to collapse.
To decorate a candlestick, all you need to do is secure it with thin wire:
- First, use the branches and foliage, leaving some of their ends free to create a sense of movement,
- Next, add the flowers by grouping them in clusters or spreading them throughout the arrangement, depending on your preferences!
Creating a Hanging Flower Curtain
This last decorating tip is very simple to execute and results in a look that is very natural and unique. It’s a DIY project that you can even try with kids!
Here’s a short list of the supplies you’ll need:
- clear fishing line,
- artificial flowers, dried or fresh,
- a support branch, relatively straight, which will determine the width of your curtain.
👉 If you’re making your flower curtain with fresh flowers, create it right before displaying it and choose flowers that won’t wilt too quickly without water, such as:
- carnations
- statice
- lisianthus
- baby’s breath
- … or even some foliage elements!
All you need to do is attach the flower garlands to lengths of nylon thread—either varying lengths or the same, depending on the desired effect—and secure these garlands to the support branch.
Once that’s done, secure the branch and enjoy a light and very natural floral curtain!
To create stunning floral decorations easily, I also invite you to check out our flower walls. These floral panels are easy to set up and allow you to decorate an event or space in just a few minutes!
Now you’re ready to create a rustic floral arrangement that will add a natural and wild touch to your decor!
Are you looking for more ideas for floral decoration? Feel free to check out the other articles on our blog for inspiration!