When designing with flowers, deciding if a floral arrangement is truly complete is more of an art than a science.

I often find that just when I think I'm finished with a design, there's something extra needed to make it feel 100% complete.

After working with different varieties of flowers and greenery through the seasons, I have seen that pieces can be subtly transformed by adding unexpected elements that provide extra texture and movement.

Accessing different materials in various thicknesses, heights, and shapes is important to adding dimension to your work. These final touches create a sense of refinement, making pieces look distinct—and highlighting your unique design style that clients will remember.

Here are five tips for adding finishing touches to transform your design.

Go Outside

When you are on the final stretch of designing a piece, pause and step back from working on it to help give yourself a fresh perspective.

While you step away, consider taking a wander outside to see if there are any forage-able blooms, greens, berries, or grasses to add an unexpected local twist to your design. This winter, clematis and heptacodium are two foraged finds that have added extra lushness to my designs.

Take the time to be inspired by your surroundings, and your designs will undoubtedly radiate a sense of seasonality and whimsy.

Consider Your Sourcing

For many designers who want to work with locally-grown or seasonal flowers, winter is notorious for being a difficult time of year for sourcing fresh local blooms.

However, some local and often family-owned farms produce a variety of attractive flowers, including tulips, anemones, and ranunculus indoors, using greenhouses or other cultivation methods.

Incorporating these vibrant blooms with seasonal winter greenery can provide an interesting contrast in designs between traditionally warm-weather flowers and cold-weather greens. This is also a great way to continue supporting small farms during the off-season.

Use Dried Florals

Dried florals can add loads of texture to a fresh flower arrangement.

Having a collection of dried materials in varying shapes, colors, and textures on hand can help you easily add a wow-factor to your designs.

Taking the time to dry florals and greenery, such as extra stems from events, will eventually provide great material for the extra pop that distinguishes your design.

If additional length is needed, consider using clear floral tape to attach the dried elements to a skewer or chopstick.

Visit Hardware or Grocery Stores

While local farms and wholesalers provide the majority design material for many designers, hardware and grocery stores can offer welcome surprises.

Orchids, ferns, air plants, succulents, tall branches, and various types of greenery are often available at these establishments, which can come in handy when you’re in a pinch.

When using these items, consider testing the plant's longevity by placing it in a vase of water before use. If you’re in the produce aisle, consider whether some fruits or vegetables can add an unexpected twist to your arrangement.

Gooseberries, tomatillos, figs, herbs, mini peppers, and kumquats come to mind as grocery store items that can add shape and color to your designs.

Consider Scents

Do you have a specific aromatic herb or flower that you want clients to associate with your work? Perhaps it's lavender, rosemary, or a fragrant rose.

Add these elements to provide a signature scent for your clients to remember your work by.

These are just a few ideas you could implement into your designs. Challenge yourself to get creative!

Find inspiration for that one particular element to set your designs apart.