Colors play in important role in the works of an Ikebana artist. Typically, the colors respect the same minimalist rules that govern the art of Ikebana. The artist uses colors depending on the philosophy he resonates with. Sogetshu philosophy-inspired flower arrangements feature many colors, just as the Kozan arrangements. However, scholars of Saga Goryu use fewer colors and emphasize the sophisticated beauty of plants.
Ikebana can roughly be divided into two main styles, depending on whether the vase is shallow or tall. The shape of the vase may influence the artist's choice of shapes. The artist chooses the shapes according to the elements he includes in his composition and what he associates with a certain element. For instance, an artist may associate curved branches with water. The artist uses plants in an unaltered shape and trims them only if he needs to inscribe the composition in a diagram.
The artist chooses the number of main branches in the arrangement depending on the ikebana rules he adheres to. The oldest form of ikebana, known as ikenobo, developed the arrangement with standing flowers also known as rikka, which involves placing seven branches. A simplified arrangement type, known as shoko or seika, involves using three branches. Ikebana artists also create in the moribana style, or the style of piled-up plants. The moribana artists are more formal than the jiyuka artists, who adopt a free style when arranging flowers. The artist chooses the main branches, adds short supplementary stems and trims the main branches, if necessary. The artist aims at obtaining graceful lines which are inscribed in a diagram called kakeizu, visible from a frontal or overhead position.
The art of ikebana combines elements from nature and humanity, and the word "ikebana" means "flowers kept alive." The traditional style of ikenobo dictates that each of the seven branches stand for natural elements such as waterfalls, hills, valleys or mountains. If an artist adopts the seika style, the three branches represent the heaven (ten), the earth (chi) and the human element (jin). A moribana artist uses a branch for truth (shin), a branch that supports the composition (soe) and one that moderates it (hikae).