Fresh or Faux? The Best Artificial Flowers
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Get all the insider info you need to find the best artificial flowers for your home decor. In fact, fake flowers don’t have to look FAKE ever again! There are faux flowers for every season now, and many look incredibly natural.
Find all the tips and tricks you’ll need to get a beautiful result with adding just a few artificial flowers to your home for spring and beyond. You might just be surprised by what’s out there… read on to find out!
It’s no coincidence that to get to the fresh fruits, vegetables and everything a grocery store has to offer, you usually pass the floral section. How can you resist picking up a bunch of fresh flowers? (Psst… read all my best tips for grocery store flowers here!)
I dream of the ways I can use them in a big beautiful bouquet or in little bud vases throughout our home. I love nothing more than a home filled with fresh flowers, but all good things must come to an end.
Or not.
Luckily, the retail market for faux flowers has come a long way! There are so many options out there for artificial flowers that truly look real.
There are a few keys to doing this well, and getting a natural look you’re going to love… and today, I’m sharing all my favorites with you!
I love sharing ways that you can bring the outdoors into your cozy homes. Read all my favorite florist secrets, check out this round up of the prettiest spring wreaths, and read all about eucalyptus – one of my favorite types of fragrant fresh greenery to use all year!
Table of Contents
Artificial Flowers
It can be argued that for many of us, the 80’s ruined a few things (as much as we love the memories!). Dried and flowers might be the biggest offenders in my eyes… the colors, styles and the dust just remind me so much of grandma’s house. And not necessarily in a good way!
For many years, I rarely, if ever used fake flowers with those memories in mind. As much as I appreciated the convenience, I could just never find any that felt real enough to fool my eye!
Well… times have changed, friends. And now, I am happy to share that I think artificial flowers are having a moment. Some are so realistic that they can fool even my florist friends! That’s really saying something, isn’t it?
The quality has improved so much, and there are offerings that create the soft, romantic look that you know I just adore. I think there are a few important things to keep in mind when you’re choosing artificial flowers for your home, though.
Julie’s Tips for the Prettiest Faux Flowers
- Stick with soft, light colors. The stronger colors tend to look a little more artificial to my eyes!
- Use all one type of stem. This is important! Using two or more types of flowers can be distracting and become busy. Simplicity is elegance in this situation.
- Design them simply. I think a key to using artificial flowers successfully is to group them as though they’ve been gathered from your garden. Think tall stems that have lots of space in and around them for a loose and airy garden look, or a compact, tighter bundle can be effective as well. (Think compact hydrangeas or gathered magnolia stems like you see below.)
- Use the best you can afford. When it comes to faux flowers, the higher end stems do tend to capture more realism. If you’re planning to keep the stems as part of your decor for many seasons, they can be worth the investment.
- Hide the stems. While I’ll often design fresh flowers in my favorite clear glass vases (find my favorite vases here), artificial flowers tend to look more realistic when gathered into pottery-style vases. The stems often give them away as fake flowers, even when the blooms don’t!
- Bend, don’t cut. This is a tip from a florist friend, and I love it! Why cut the tall stems when you can simply bend them to hide them in your (pottery, not glass) vase? That way, you can get the height you want without sacrificing the length for future use.
- Less is more. One bouquet of artificial flowers in your entry (or bedroom, or bath, or living room) can go a long way. Use faux flowers sparingly in your home for maximum effect.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most realistic artificial flowers?
Real Touch blooms are often considered the most realistic, and they are made of a latex polymer vs traditional silk blooms. It truly comes down to personal preference and finding a natural look that works for your style.
Are fake flowers tacky?
For many years, fake flowers were considered a tacky home decorating decision of years gone by. However, the retail market has changed – and there are so many beautiful artificial blooms available now!
What is the best artificial flower material?
Flowers made of silk tend to be the most high-end and look the most realistic in your home decor.
Sources for the Best Faux Flowers
(As pictured in our living room) Unfortunately, these are already sold out but a few similar styles are available at the link.
ADD TO FAVORITES
White Real Touch Tulip Flower Bundle of 12 – 14.5″
Just $10.00!
Faux Flowering Branches
As pictured in this post!
Looking for more inspiration for decorating and design? Don’t miss my curated Amazon Storefront, where I comb through everything to bring you the very best of Amazon!
More Floral Inspiration
- Stock Flowers
- Carnations (Dianthus Caryophyllus)
- How To Create Hydrangea Centerpieces
- Year Round Front Door Wreaths
- The Ultimate Cut Peony Flower Guide
- How To Revive Wilted Hydrangea
Maryann says
Love fresh flowers! Can’t be the real thing, especially if they are fragrant. But, dried or preserved greenery I love too. I NEED green in my home year round 🙂 On another note, wondering where your sweet desk is from and your powder room sink? They are both just the right size.
Julie Blanner says
Fresh flowers bring me SO much joy! The desk is Restoration Hardware and the powder room sink is available here. Enjoy!
mary says
I love your website. I have a question about colors. I recently built a new house and we downsized from 3000 to 1625 sq feet. I have an open floor plan with kitchen leading into living area. Wall color is Beher Marquee Crisp Line — eggshell for walls and semi gloss for trim. I have black honed granite counter tops.
this color scheme is consistent throughout the house. I am at a lost for what color to paint my kitchen cabinets
Any thoughts would be most appreciated. Room is so much smaller than anticipated and don’t want to feel like I am sitting in my kitchen when sitting in the living room. Thank you so much.
Julie says
I’d stay in the same color family and just take it down several notches or have them dilute it so the cabinets are a soft cream or you could do them in the same Crisp Linen but semi gloss. Hope that helps!
Cindy Richter says
I love greenery; real and fake. I think it makes the room more cozy for some odd reason. Love that wreath of yours too!