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Discover the Best Floral Design Classes Near Me
Floral design is the art of using flowers and plant materials to create appealing arrangements. Individuals have been using flowers to celebrate special occasions, express love or appreciation, and provide support during difficult times for centuries. In fact, gifting flowers can be traced back to ancient civilizations. If you’ve always dreamed of cutting and arranging flowers like a pro, consider taking an in-person or live online course to meet your goal. Whether you hope to launch a career as a professional Floral Designer, start your own business, or brighten your home or someone’s day, several courses are available to help you master these creative skills.
Professional Floral Designers work with customers to create appropriate designs for weddings, funerals, corporate events, birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays. Floral Designers need a creative flair and expert knowledge of flowers and greenery to make recommendations and effectively work within a customer’s budget. If you choose to start your own floral business, you’ll also need to know the ins and outs of purchasing flowers and other products from wholesalers and suppliers to ensure you have the supplies to meet your customers’ needs.
Why You Should Learn Floral Design
In today’s busy world, we are often reminded to “stop and smell the roses.” Flowers appeal to all the senses: the aromatic smells, the vibrant colors, the pleasing sounds of nature in a garden, and the soft and silky feeling of petals. Floral design can be a fun and relaxing hobby, a satisfying career path, or a lucrative side hustle. So it’s up to you to decide where to use your floral design skills, but there are several reasons why you should learn.
If you hope to open a business or work in a floral shop, nearly 45,000 Floral Designers in the U.S. earn around $30,000 annually. Of course, if you open a business, your salary could be higher since designing for weddings, funerals, and events can be quite lucrative. If you want to launch a floral design career in the U.S., California, Texas, and Florida employ the most flower professionals. You can also create a side hustle with your skill by selling your creations online or picking up a part-time job at a local shop arranging bouquets and performing deliveries.
If you’re serious about launching a floral design career, you may consider earning a Certified Floral Designer (CFD) certification from the American Institute of Floral Designs (AIFD). The AIFD is a non-profit organization that promotes the art of floral design as a profession. Earning this certification is an excellent way to stand out from other floral professionals and demonstrate your commitment to the industry. In addition, the accreditation illustrates design competency for wedding, funeral, table, and wearable arrangements. Those who earn a CFD may be able to join the AIFD after meeting specific qualifications. These are prestigious certifications in the floral design industry and worth pursuing.
If you’re just looking to learn a new hobby, enrolling in a floral design class is a fun activity to do with friends and an excellent way to meet new people in your area. You can also use your skills to become part of a larger community by joining local groups or finding a garden club in your area. Organizations like the American Horticultural Society feature a list of flower shows and events in the U.S. on its website, where you can search by region. Botanical gardens are also good places to explore and gather ideas for floral designs.
Another reason to learn floral design is to make use of your surroundings. You may have a fantastic garden and could use your skills to make colorful arrangements to display in your home or gift to loved ones. Floral design is a relatively inexpensive hobby since you can grow flowers in your living space or backyard. You can enjoy floral design at any age, and these relaxing and fun skills will last a lifetime.
5 Ways to Learn Floral Design
Learning flower design as a hobby can be a simple and fun journey. But if you’re serious about launching a career as a Floral Designer, learning from an experienced professional is your best bet. Here are some practical ways to learn this enjoyable skill:
- Enroll in an in-person course with an experienced instructor where you can network with individuals with similar interests. Instructors usually provide all the materials you’ll need, and classes typically take place at floral design studios, local universities, or botanical gardens. In addition, in-person training allows instructors to give face-to-face feedback and catch any mistakes on the spot.
- Take a live online class where you can interact with instructors and classmates in real-time. You can learn skills from anywhere that’s convenient for you and has a reliable internet connection. Course materials are shipped to you directly, but you may need to buy your materials in some cases. In that instance, instructors provide a supply list you can purchase from local or online suppliers. Live online courses provide flexibility and eliminate the hassle of a long commute to class.
- Self-paced, on-demand classes featuring videos and tutorials are widely available for you to follow along and learn independently. For example, websites like Create Academy and others offer self-paced online floral design courses. YouTube also features thousands of video tutorials with lessons and tips and tricks from top floral designers to help you learn new skills. However, remember that instructors are not available in real-time to answer questions or provide feedback when you are learning independently. You also need a lot of self-discipline to follow along with a course with no set deadlines or instructors keeping you accountable.
- Explore your local library or bookstores for books on flower design. You can also research online for Floral Designers you admire and study their work. In addition, many designers have websites and YouTube channels filled with a wealth of information.
- Approach a local florist or garden center and ask if you can volunteer as an apprentice. Special occasions such as Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, and other holidays are hectic for these establishments, and many may welcome the help. Learning skills on the job is an excellent way to learn the ins and outs of floral design. In addition, this is an effective way to network with others in your field and could lead to exciting career opportunities.
In-Person Floral Design Classes
If you’d like to gain floral design skills in-person, several schools in the U.S. offer a variety of courses. Whether you hope to launch a professional career in floral design or simply want to “wow” your friends with beautiful bouquets, an in-person class is an excellent way to gain skills. In-person courses provide hands-on learning with immediate access to instructors who can answer questions and provide face-to-face feedback.
There are three schools in NYC featuring in-person floral design classes, the American School of Flower Design, RESOBOX, and FlowerSchool New York.
Founded by world-renowned designer Michael Gaffney, the American School of Flower Design has 16 U.S. locations and schools in London, Paris, and Rome. The schools feature courses for all levels in European, contemporary, bridal, landscape, and Asian floral design. Located in Chelsea, NYC, the school offers an Introduction to Flower Design course taught by Gaffney. In this beginner-level class, you’ll create several flower designs to take home. In addition, you’ll discover the ins and outs of marketing, buying, and selling flowers wholesale. The course fee includes all flowers and containers.
If you’d prefer a shorter course, check out the Floral Design Sampler class, where you’ll spend the day designing with Gaffney and leave with three gorgeous arrangements. This compact class for all experience levels provides an excellent introduction to the world of floral design—you’ll even learn tips on how to keep your flowers alive for weeks, not days.
Are you interested in learning a unique and sophisticated way to arrange flowers? Then, explore the one-of-a-kind floral design courses at RESOBOX in the East Village of NYC. RESOBOX is a Japanese cultural center founded by Takashi Ikezawa, a native Japanese who has dedicated his life to spreading arts and culture worldwide. Japanese Flower Arrangement: Ohara Ikebana by HANADOJO is an all-level course to help you master the basic Ohara Ikebana techniques and incorporate nature into your everyday life. You’ll work with bamboo skewers, cloth, kenzan, plates, and more to create gorgeous floral creations. The class fee includes all necessary materials.
FlowerSchool New York is located in the heart of NYC and attracts famous designers from all over the globe to teach courses. Founded by artistic director Eileen Johnson, the school offers beginner to professional-level classes in small group settings. And if you’re interested in launching a floral design career, the FlowerSchool is the only one of its kind in the state licensed by the New York State Education Department (NYSED).
At the FlowerSchool, you can earn an NYSED Certificate in Floral Design by completing its comprehensive Floral Design Program, which features access to job placement and alumni assistance after graduation. In addition, you’ll gain critical work experience and resume-building opportunities while working with the best designers in the field. For a less intensive experience, check out FlowerSchool’s popular Beginners Floral Design (Open Studio). This 90-minute class provides all the materials you need to create a colorful masterpiece that will brighten your home.
You can find in-person floral design courses in the Boston area at the Rittners School of Floral Design and the American School of Flower Design. Located in Back Bay, Boston, the Rittners School is one of the longest-running programs of its kind in North America. This family-owned educational center features courses based on live demonstrations followed by hands-on workshop designing. Explore Rittners’ Fun With Flowers class if you’re looking for a low-pressure day-long learning session. You’ll create an impressive floral design with seasonal materials to show off to your family and friends. No prior design experience is necessary, and the course fee includes all flowers and supplies.
The American School of Flower Design features an in-depth Flower Design Star: 1 Week Comprehensive course. Located in Chelsea, MA, the school is one of nearly 20 American School of Flower Design locations in the U.S. and Europe. The intensive Design Star program covers 24 floral design styles, taking you from beginner to Floral Designer in a week. You’ll learn the skills many celebrities and professional designers have gained from these same courses. You’ll spend five days designing with world-renowned school Founder Michael Gaffney and receive an autographed copy of his best-selling “Design Star” book. On the last day of class, you’ll participate in the exciting design of a mock wedding. Be prepared to have your living space filled with flowers by the end of the course.
Chicago-area residents can explore floral design courses at the Chicago Botanic Garden, the Mila School of Floral Design, and the American School of Flower Design. The Chicago Botanic Garden is one of the world's unique living museums and conservation science centers. With over one million visitors annually, the area comprises 28 gardens and four natural areas on 385 acres. The Garden stretches around nine islands with six miles of lake shoreline and a renowned Bonsai Collection. The organization has over 50,000 members—one of the highest memberships of any U.S. botanic garden—and offers classes on various topics to the public year-round.
You can gain the skills to create stunning floral designs at the Flower Arranging for Beginners course. This class covers the basic techniques of floral care, wiring, and assembling vase arrangements. Next, you’ll create a unique floral design to enjoy at home. The course fee includes some materials, but students receive a supply list to purchase additional items before class.
The Mila School of Floral Design in West Town, Chicago, offers courses in “unique universal techniques with new European trends.” Established by award-winning designer and Ukrainian native Tatiana Chelekhova, the school features specialized courses in selecting and arranging flowers and event design. Also featured are more advanced classes on how to start your own business and large-scale room decor.
The Complete Training in Floral Design course is a perfect choice if you’re hoping to launch a floral career. This 6-session intensive program will help you master all the critical fundamentals of floral design and prepare you to work as a certified professional. The course has three sections: First, you’ll learn the basics of selecting and arranging flowers, including a wholesale floral market tour. Next, you’ll learn all the fundamentals of event design, including planning, organizing, and designing corporate and social events. Finally, you’ll master advanced design techniques, including cascading and drop-shape wedding bouquets, floral walls, and hanging floral ceilings and chandeliers.
If you live in the Los Angeles area, there are several options for floral design instruction. Mt. San Antonio College features an Ohara School of Ikebana course for all levels. This class explores the Japanese art form and discipline of Ikebana—the centuries-old art of arranging flowers. You’ll learn the history of this tradition and create arrangements that illustrate the simplicity of lines and appreciation of nature. You’ll master the relaxing techniques of Ikebana and take home exquisite arrangements at the end of each class. Students can bring their own materials or purchase them from the instructor on the first day of class.
In the South Bay of Los Angeles, Flower Duet specializes in custom-designed weddings and corporate events and features courses for floral professionals and enthusiasts alike. Sisters Casey Schwartz and Kit Wertz opened the studio in 1999, and are known for traveling the world to gather unique ideas and share them with clients and students. For example, you can explore their British Garden Peonies course, where you’ll learn how to help peonies open safely and combine them with other flowers.
If you live in the Houston area, you can explore courses offered at Multiplicity Art Studio in Katy, TX. Multiplicity features unique and fun-filled classes in floral and greenery arranging, jewelry making, metalsmithing, and chalk paint. Each floral design class focuses on a specific design type such as traditional round centerpieces, unique contemporary designs, interesting pavés, or striking architectural designs. Class projects are often themed around the current season or an upcoming holiday.
Master the fundamentals of floral design in Multiplicity’s Floral Arranging course, where you’ll work with seasonal flowers, greenery, and wire embellishments. The class covers basic floral arranging techniques, elements of design, and special tips and tricks. And you’ll leave with a beautiful arrangement to revitalize your home or gift to someone special. The course fee includes all necessary materials.
Floral enthusiasts in the Denver area can find a variety of courses at Ladybird Poppy Floral Design. Founder Sarah Tedford is known for her thoughtful collaboration with clients resulting in stunning and eclectic designs. The studio specializes in weddings and events, and courses range from the fundamentals to specific classes on bridal parties and floral crown design. Stay tuned for upcoming in-person floral design courses in Denver.
Virtual Floral Design Classes
In-person floral design courses are an excellent excuse to venture out in your area, learn new skills, and meet some friends. But when in-person classes aren’t offered close by or don’t fit your schedule, you can always take a virtual course. CourseHorse has collected a variety of online floral design courses located all over the U.S.
Whether you want to learn Japanese floral design from a school in NYC or create floral crowns with folks from Denver, CourseHorse offers a class to fit your needs. Imagine making gorgeous flower arrangements in the comfort of your home, minus a long commute or hiring a babysitter. And don’t fret about what materials you’ll need. The schools send supply lists before the course that you can purchase online or at a craft store, and some schools ship items right to your door in advance.
RESOBOX, a Japanese cultural center based in NYC, offers a Virtual Flower Arrangement—Misho Ikebana course. Prepare to relax and explore your creativity in this interactive class featuring lessons in Ikebana—the Japanese art of flower arranging blossoms, leaves, branches, and stems. In contrast to casually arranging flowers in a vase, the purpose of Ikebana is to bring out the inner qualities of flowers and other live materials and express emotion. Individuals 18 years old and over at any skill level are welcome. All you need for supplies are scissors or clippers and a vase or any other choice of container. In addition, you’ll need to supply two to three varieties of flowers of your choice, which any local florist can deliver. So, after registering, gather your supplies and prepare to create a beautiful and unique creation to add warmth to your home.
Other schools offering online courses include the New York Botanical Garden, Floral Art, the Chicago Botanic Garden, FlowerSchool Los Angeles, and Fleur Elise Bkin. You can explore topics like color theory, flower arranging, working the vases, and holiday themes. Stay tuned for upcoming online floral design classes.
Private Group Floral Design Classes
Private group online courses and events became wildly popular during the COVID-19 pandemic, with companies hosting online holiday parties and team-building events for their employees stuck inside. As a result, coworkers could stay connected and engage in fun and interactive activities like watercolor painting, game show Bingo, and scavenger hunts—all from the comfort of their homes. This trend has continued, with many folks having get-togethers and celebrating special occasions by participating in online group activities. So why not gather some friends to learn some floral design skills?
CourseHorse offers private group floral design classes delivered straight to you anywhere with an internet connection. For example, you can learn about feng shui and create a beautiful terrarium in the Virtual Terrarium Workshop. You’ll make your own miniature garden in this fun and relaxing class led by an experienced instructor. CourseHorse ships all materials to you and each group member, so you can register, sit back and relax. Participants will receive a glass terrarium, a succulent, reindeer moss, decorative rocks, organic succulent soil, and crystal. Up to 50 people can join this course.
Booking a private group class on CourseHorse is easy. You can change your final group count until a week before the event, and there are no booking fees. After booking, a personal event provider will reach out to introduce themselves, answer any questions, and provide additional helpful details about the course.
In addition, CourseHorse can customize your event for a $150 fee. For example, you can add a game featuring specific questions or themes or add a second event with all materials included. CourseHorse recommends using the Zoom platform for your class but can also accommodate Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, and Webex. Some CourseHorse classes can take place in-person at your home or office. Contact CourseHorse for more information about private group classes.
What Will I Need to Learn Floral Design?
So you’ve decided to learn floral design but are unsure what supplies you’ll need? Many in-person and online courses provide all of the materials onsite or will ship them directly to you. In contrast, some classes will give you a supply list of items you must purchase at a local merchant or online store. In addition, you’ll also need to gather some materials if you decide to learn floral design independently through a self-paced course, free online tutorials, or “how-to” books.
Here are some items commonly used items you’ll need for floral design:
- A clear work area. A kitchen table, counter, or desk will work just fine to lay out your materials and get to work.
- Flowers and greenery. Flower design doesn’t have to be super expensive. You can order loose flowers from your local florist, but local grocery stores, garden centers, and even your backyard are good options. Some courses will require you to purchase specific flowers depending on the subject matter, so be sure to check the supply list.
- Clean and sharp clippers. A superior pair of clippers can make a big difference in floral design. Sharp clippers make clean cuts to help flower stems drink water and flourish. Also, clean and disinfect your tools between uses to prevent the spreading disease between plants.
- Gardener’s gloves. You’ll want to protect your hands from cuts and scratches from thorns and sharp tools with a sturdy pair of gloves.
- Containers. When choosing floral containers, you don’t have to limit yourself to fancy glass vases. Items like tin buckets, mason jars, homemade clay pots, coffee mugs, and recycled candle jars can also make decorative flower holders. You can also explore local yard sales, thrift shops, and “dollar” stores to find affordable containers. Floral experts recommend arrangements be two and a half sizes larger than their containers. The flowers should also be one and a half to two times taller than the height of the container.
- Thorn stripper. If you’ve ever caught your finger on a thorn, you know why this tool is necessary. Thorn strippers are hand-held, helpful gadgets that remove sharp thorns without harming the flower stem.
- Floral foam. This foam is a lightweight, water-absorbent material placed in the bottom of vases and other vessels to create a foundation for floral designs.
- Floral frog (also called kenzan or pin frog). These spiky devices sit at the bottom of a flower container to anchor stems and give proper support. Floral frogs come in handy when a flower container is too shallow or wide to support an arrangement.
- Floral wire. Floral wire keeps the heads of flowers facing upwards or in a specific direction. This wire is also used for securing arrangements and creating bows. Higher gauges of wire will be thinner and more flexible, while lower gauges are thicker and more supportive with less flexibility.
- Floral tape. This stretchable tape is made in different types and colors and is used for wrapping stems and lining vases. Green floral tape is best for concealing wires and other hardware used for corsages and other decorations.
- Floral netting. Floral wire netting is flexible and easy to cut. It helps hold arrangements in place when using large or unusually shaped containers.
- Water and a spray bottle. Sounds obvious, but water is essential for a flower’s survival. A spray bottle will also come in handy for spritzing your blooms.
- Floral preservatives. Adding a preservative to the water in your floral container will help extend the life of your arrangement. Floral preservatives include sucrose, an acidifier, and an antibacterial agent like biocide. Sucrose helps flowers maintain their fragrance and color. Acidifiers make the water more acidic, allowing it to absorb and transport water more efficiently. Cut flowers are more susceptible to bacteria and fungi, so adding an antibacterial agent like chlorine or bromide helps kill off any microbes that can harm flowers. Mix the preservative with warm water (around 100 degrees F) for best results.
Is It Difficult to Learn Floral Design?
Learning flower design can be challenging, but with proper instruction and discipline, you can master these creative skills. Of course, the difficulty level will also depend on how you want to use your knowledge. For example, if your goal is to gain an enjoyable new hobby, the learning process will be far less challenging than mastering the skills to design for an elaborate wedding. In that case, learning from an experienced instructor is the best way to launch a successful floral design career. Regardless of your path, you can be confident that floral design is a skill you can use for a lifetime, brightening your home and surprising your loved ones with beautiful gifts or enjoying a satisfying career.
