Fake flowers have made their comeback, and I am very happy about it! Don’t worry though, if what comes to mind when you think of fake flowers is Emily Gilmore, I’m here to teach you how to decorate with fake flowers in a chic and beautiful way that doesn’t feel overdone or stuffy.
This post is all about how to decorate with fake flowers!
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Decorating with Faux Flowers
Artificial flowers are an amazing way to brighten and bring life into a space, and if you are picturing the dusty faux flowers in your grandma’s house, think again! Next time you’re in a luxury hotel or restaurant notice if there are faux flower arrangements. There are likely faux flowers in every room, showing that fake flowers can be an amazing tasteful touch that makes a space feel more luxurious!
Depending on what kind of flowers or greenery you choose, fake flowers can help set the tone for your decor and add much-needed texture and dimension! I personally love white and soft pink faux flowers that add a bright and feminine touch, particularly tulips, peonies, orchids, hydrangeas, and cherry blossoms! I also love greenery and berries for the winter.
In addition, faux flowers can actually save you lots of money in the long run. Buying real flowers over and over again can really add up, and fake flowers are a great solution for this! If you take good care of your artificial flowers and keep them out of direct sunlight, they can last for years and years (care tips later in this post).
How to Make Faux Flowers Look Real
Fake flowers done right can be tasteful and chic, and when you know what to look for they can look very realistic! So how do you ensure that you are finding the most realistic artificial flowers?
- Compare the faux flowers you’re interested in to a photo of the real flower. Study the colors, what the stems and the leaves look like, the texture and shape of the petals, etc. Plus, keep in mind that real flowers are not absolutely perfect, and sometimes when your faux flowers are “too perfect” that is what can make them look fake or tacky. Especially avoid faux flowers in unnatural colors like turquoise, neon colors, and black. This will instantly make them look fake.
- Fluff the petals and bend the stems of your faux flowers. Usually real flower stems are not completely straight, so putting a small bend in the stem can add a realistic touch! Just like you would fluff the branches of a faux Christmas tree, use the same technique for your artificial flowers, especially varieties like cherry blossoms.
- Put your faux flowers in water! Yes, real water! If you have your fake flowers in a glass vase, it is a dead giveaway that they are fake if there is no water in the vase. However, adding water to the vase tricks your brain and they will instantly look more lifelike! Make sure that you do change the water every once in a while though!
How to Clean Faux Flowers
A super important part of keeping your faux flowers looking lifelike and real is to keep them clean and free of dust. Here are a few different methods for cleaning faux flowers:
- Dust your faux flowers weekly with a damp microfiber cloth. Get a microfiber cloth wet and wring it out so it is barely damp, then gently wipe down the petals, leaves, and stems. This method works well for fake flowers like roses and tulips that don’t have petals that can easily fall off!
- Use compressed air. Compressed air is often used for cleaning keyboards and keeping dust out of small nooks and crannies. To use it to clean your blooms, hold the can of air about 6″ to a foot away from the flower and gently spritz the air to blow off any dust. This method works best on faux flowers like cherry blossom stems that have many petals that you don’t want to accidentally pull off by dusting with a rag.
- Shake the head of the flowers in a plastic bag with salt or cornmeal. Add a few tablespoons of salt or cornmeal to a sandwich size plastic bag, place the flower end of the stem in the bag, twist the bag around the stem, and then gently shake the bag with the flower and the salt/cornmeal. The salt/cornmeal acts as a gentle yet effective abrasive to loosen and remove dust and any grime from your flowers! Aside from your usual dusting, this is a great way to “deep clean” your faux flowers every year.
- Be careful with faux flowers in your kitchen. I absolutely love using fake flowers to brighten up kitchen spaces, but don’t place flowers too close to your stovetop. Grease and oil could buildup on the petals and be difficult to remove.
How to Store Fake Flowers
The key to storing your fake flowers is to keep them out of sunlight and prevent them from being smashed. A large airtight plastic container works great for helping your flowers keep their shape and color year after year!
Best Place to Buy Fake Flowers
Now that you know how to decorate with fake flowers and how to care for them, where do you buy them? The best two places to buy fake flowers are Amazon and AFloral! You can find artificial flowers at great prices on Amazon, and my absolute favorite tulips and cherry blossoms are from Amazon! AFloral is also a great online store that has a huge variety of flowers and stems for a very reasonable price, plus they often are running sales so you can snag what you’re looking for at an even better price point.
Other places to buy artificial flowers are Homegoods, Hobby Lobby, and Michaels. Faux flowers at these stores are generally a good price point, but I find that they are not as lifelike as options I’ve found on Amazon or Afloral!
Here are a few of the best faux flowers from Amazon and Afloral:
1 – Tulips | 2 – Peony | 3 – Cherry Blossoms | 4 – Dill Wildflowers | 5 – Orchid | 6 – Hydrangea | 7 – Spray Rose
Overall, faux flowers have made their comeback, and they are an affordable, low-maintenance way to bring life and color into your home! I hope you enjoyed this guide on how to decorate with fake flowers!
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