The perfect finishing touch for any room in the house, from the kitchen table to the bedroom window, a vase of flowers or lush houseplant provides an instant lift. Today’s authentic-looking faux flowers and plants are the smart and increasingly popular option for stylish homes - a clever tool for the interior designer, and having shed their fake flower tacky image completely, an obvious option as we head into the kind of weather delicate fresh stems don’t like.
“Add a light feminine touch with a single delicate stem or channel country living style with big garden blooms. A large potted fern can define a living area in an open-plan space.”
What are the benefits of faux flowers
Offering year-round colour and beauty and minimal maintenance, even the least green-fingered among us can excel when decorating our homes with faux flowers and plants. The joy of faux includes no more sticky residue and pollen stains on mirrors or watermarks on table tops from topping up vases. With artificial flowers, there is nothing to aggravate your hay fever and you won’t need to worry about faux plants being toxic for your pets, unlike some houseplants. It’s true that today’s authentic-looking faux flowers can come with a premium price tag, but compared to a weekly fix of fresh flowers which will be on the compost heap come Friday, it’s an investment worth making – especially as these faux flower arrangements will last for years.
How to arrange faux flowers in a vase
First, choose your vase – aim for a ratio of 40 per cent vase to 60 per cent artificial flowers. A solid opaque vase will conceal less convincing stems more effectively. To support taller and heavier stems opt for a vessel with height, a broad base and a narrow opening. For a full beautiful bouquet, don’t forget to fill gaps in your blooms with greenery just as you would flowers cut from your own garden. Faux eucalyptus sprays and olive branch sprays are perfect for adding depth and texture.
Can I make artificial flowers look even more real?
Finding a glass vase that is the perfect height for the length of your stems is key to making them look as genuine and natural as possible - you don’t want to have to cut or bend the stalks. Keep things seasonal for true authenticity – peonies and roses in June will give the impression you picked them up at the farmers market that morning. Fresh foliage gathered on your dog walk will plump out your display and enable you to spread blooms in different vases around the room for a more opulent and just cut from the garden feel.
How should I clean my faux flowers?
Are your peony faux flowers starting to look a little tired? A gentle blow on a cold setting with a hairdryer is the most effective way to disperse any dust that gathers. Paler blooms should be cleaned more regularly as dust might leave a mark if it smudges. A light dab with a wet wipe also works wonders on artificial flowers and plants. Keep your vase sparkling clean too, as this will instantly make a faux flower arrangement look fresher.
How to make faux flowers seasonal
Although the great joy of faux flowers is the potential for year-round roses or blossom, it can be nice to give a seasonal twist to your display. Add in dried grasses or pampas grass stems to faux peonies and hydrangeas for a high summer theme. Mix rhododendron and blossom sprays for an uplifting spring bouquet. Bring luxurious depth to a festive wreath by adding faux white or cream roses for a luxurious winter table centre. With faux comes the satisfaction of knowing your flowers can be rearranged time and time again to transform your look.
To share our passion for faux, explore our full collection
of faux flowers and plants.