How To Create A Baby’s Breath Flower Arrangement

11 Mar How To Create A Baby’s Breath Flower Arrangement

When I was in Atlanta a couple of weeks ago, I got to tour a modern loft outfitted with furniture solely covered in Sunbrella fabrics.   The loft was beautiful, but I was especially taken by the baby’s breath flower arrangement.  The lighting is not the best in this cell phone pic, but the arrangement was really interesting in such a modern space.  And it looked good, folks.  Real good.

I know, I know, baby’s breath has gotten a bad rap.  But it can really be beautiful.

the knot

Baby’s breath, also known as gypsophila, was introduced in the US in 1828 when gardeners from Britain introduced several of their favorite garden flowers.

first come flowers 

An instant hit in the States, baby’s breath became a symbol of everlasting love, innocence, and purity.  Opinion differs on how gypsophila became “baby’s breath”.  Some say it was  given the moniker because of the sweet smell, and others say the name was prescribed because of its delicate appearance.

martha stewart

The arrangement in Atlanta stuck with me, so the week I returned home, I bought three bunches of baby’s breath and got to work.

These three big bunches were six dollars.

Baby’s breath is a very budget friendly option for fresh flowers because although it looks bunchy, you can spread it apart easily to make it look more full.  Even one bunch can fill a small vase easily.

When you first take a bunch of baby’s breath out of the package, it looks pretty packed.

Pulling it apart with your fingers loosens the clumpiness.

After the clusters are separated, it falls organically and makes a pretty shape.

After pulling the bunches apart, I removed a few stems, gathered the remaining stems tightly in one hand, and looked at the perimeter of the large bunch to make sure it looked pretty all the way around.  I  then set the bouquet in a vase.

You can cut the offshoots off the two or three stems you did not place in the vase and use them to fill in as needed.  This helps the arrangement look more wild and less manicured.  (which I think looks better)

Baby’s breath is very malleable so you can easily shape the bouquet to your predilection.  It also lasts a long time (and even longer if you replace the water every couple of days), and blends easily with all types of looks and decor.

I’m loving it on my acrylic coffee table!

If you missed the DIY tutorial for the iron shelves you see in the background in the above photo, you can find it here.

So what do you think?  Can you get over what you previously thought of as “cheap bouquet filler” and look at baby’s breath as a flower that makes a pretty bouquet?

P.S.  I just wanted to let you know I will be having surgery this afternoon.  I would so appreciate your thoughts and prayers, especially for my sweet family as they deal with me recovering for a bit.  I already have posts planned, but in case you send me an email or a message, and I don’t respond right away, that is why.  Thank you so much for your support!  xo