Flower arrangements are a classic and versatile decoration tool - they can be simple, extravagant, small or large, and can brighten up an otherwise ordinary room with their beauty and scent. Flowers have long since been used for table decoration centerpieces, headdresses, wreaths, and bouquets, and they remain to this day, timeless décor options, with undimmed appeal. Learning how to arrange flowers is something that is very easy. Let us look at some information on how you can do some floral arrangement by yourself. Basics Like any other element of décor, flower arrangements traditionally will incorporate the basic design principles of balance, proportion, contrast, and harmony. Arrangements that are pleasing to the eye, may not seem balanced or proportionate in terms of symmetry, especially the more contemporary pieces that are now popular. When starting out with your arrangement, visualize what you want as the end result. You can even start out with a picture as a guide if you're not quite sure. Very often, the occasion will dictate the décor - for instance, when you're making flower arrangements for weddings, the factors that dictate your choices will be completely different from those for funerals, where wreaths may replace centerpieces. The floral arrangements here must be somber and reflective of the mood. Arrangements of artificial and dried flowers offer the advantage of longevity and low maintenance, great options for pieces that you don't want to have to keep changing. The following are some pointers that will help you make flower arrangements for all occasions: Selecting a Receptacle Vases and containers come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Pick a vase or a container that you're comfortable working with. Go for smaller bowls and simple vases that don't pose too much of a task - very large vases are sometimes difficult to handle. Depending on where you'd like to place your arrangement, select a vase in different styles - glass bowls, fish bowls, cookie jars, small planters, large planters, brass planters. Next, is the floral foam. These foam blocks, often called 'oasis' will be available at your local florist, can be cut to the size of your container and provide support for stems that can be pushed into the block. Soak the foam block in water, so that your flowers stay fresh, pick out your favorite blooms, a sharp pair of scissors and get started. Flower Selection You can either let the flowers dictate the arrangement or pick an arrangement and then select the flowers. For example, if you're making a triangular arrangement - heavy at the base and light at the top, it will mean shorter flowers in more profusion at the bottom and long stemmed flowers at the top, so the lengths of the stalks need to let you work with them in this manner. Similarly, round shaped arrangements in a shallow bowl will need small stems and can use soft stemmed flowers that don't hold up very well in tall arrangements. Foliage and Fillers Adding a touch of foliage can not only add an element of contrast in terms of color, it can also help to fill the gaps. Fillers can be used to spruce up the arrangement and add volume and width; baby's breath centerpieces is one such example.