I thought I’d share my process for how I style, clip, and create dramatic sculptural arrangements. Of course, my tips are for you to interpret into your own visual language so use them to experiment and unfurl a creative approach that speaks to your style and your space. BRANCH OUT Always look for branches that have movement. Avoid structures that are very upright. Typically, I am searching for branch formations with a lot of curvature — slightly unruly and not so perpendicular. LOOK FOR MOVEMENT When you find a stem with beautiful movement or that splits into two, these are your golden branches. Set those aside, choose where to place them to be sure the beauty of that movement is visible. AVOID SYMMETRY I have always been an advocate for things that feel a little messier. I purposefully look for stems that curve outward. Maybe the majority are upright but there’s one that feels unruly and off to the side—I like that unexpected diversion from the pack. DON’T OVERSTUFF YOUR VASE One mistake I commonly see with branch styling is overfilling the vase. Too many branches in a vessel at once appears dense and compact. Less is always more. TAKE IT STEM BY STEM In order to achieve that dramatic, sculptural quality artfully place your branches one by one. Maybe you even clip some of the leaves to accentuate curvature. EXERCISE RESTRAINT In order to highlight an interesting shape, employ a little restraint as you fill the vase. You’ll miss the movement if it’s too packed. CLIP IN STAGES I recommend clipping at different heights. Once you’ve crafted the main arrangement, fill in with shorter branches to sit lower at the top of the vessel instead of being the same height. ADD FRESH WATER DAILY These larger vessels are too heavy to dump out and replace water, so add a little water each day because branches soak up a lot. LET THEM DRY OUT Truthfully, decorative branches only last three to five days so invest in them when you have a special occasion. But most branches look just as beautiful when they’re dried out. I say embrace the stages! Have fun — explore, get messy, and enjoy the process! Full story on eye-swoon.com ORIGINAL MUSIC by @vcalderone 🎼