Making faux flowers look real is easier than you think! Wouldn’t you love to have your favorite flowers blooming in your home this spring? Me too! Today I’m sharing easy to do tips to make your pretty faux boom look real!
Let’s talk about faux flowers! I am on a quest to make sure all home decorators know how absolutely fabulous faux flowers can look! And how to get the most out of each pretty bloom!
STUDY THE REAL THING
If you can, study real flowers.
Or at least find real flower images of the faux flowers you are thinking of buying online and give them a good look!
Since I was looking to buy poppies I wanted to study how the real ones look!
I found tons of poppy images. Here are just a couple…
For this flower, finding faux poppies with realistic stamens and pistils was important! And the crape paper look of the petals was high on my list too as was finding buds along with open poppies!
Also, I wanted to find poppies with fuzzy leaves and stems for a real look!
I was lucky enough to find everything on my poppy wishlist!
All of these things work together to help the faux poppies more believable.
Each flower is different.
When I graduated from college I was a bank teller for 5 months and went to bank teller school. One of my favorite things we studied was how to spot a counterfeit bill. And how did we do that? By knowing what the real thing looked like! I’ve never forgotten that important lesson!
Know what the real flower looks like so you can find one that will or almost will fool the eye!
BUY QUALITY BLOOMS
I think faux flowers have gotten a very bad rap in recent years. It’s because there are some very bad imitations of their real counterpart on the market!
I agree some faux flowers can look pretty bad so overlook those. And opt for gorgeous and realistic faux flowers! There’s more than you think!
My first choice for faux flowers is always a local source! If I’m trying to make faux flowers look real, then I want to see them up close and touch them! And I think local decor shops carry better quality blooms for the most part!
Here are a few things to look for in faux flowers…
- blooms that look real
- stems that look real and bend easily
- realistic leaves that are wired and bend
- centers that look like the real thing
FLUFF, IRON, AND BEND
One tip that will go very far in making faux flowers look real is to handle every single bloom. Fluff it. Make sure every petal is where it belongs. Gently shape each bloom with your hand. This will make a huge difference in the way your flowers look!
One of the biggest tale-tell signs a flower is fake is the way the leaves look! Crumpled up and folded leaves have no place in a pretty arrangement.
The poppies I found had beautifully realistic leaves. But the leaves were a bit too bent and folded.
You can coax the leaves to relax and you might even be able to get the fold lines out of leaves by gently pressing them with an iron.
Be super careful if you try ironing a leaf. Here’s the best way to iron leaves…
- test one leaf
- put a cloth down on an ironing board (I used a dishtowel)
- choose a leaf and smooth it out with your hands
- cover the leaf with a cloth
- on a low setting, gently iron the leaf
What I have found is most misshapen leaves respond very well to the ironing method. Just be very very careful!!!
I also like to give the leaf a little burst of steam. Sometimes it works but I have had a few leaves lose their stiffness or texture using steam.
And don’t forget to bend the stems of the faux flowers you choose. In real life, most stems have a gentle bend to them. So, gently bend each stem to mimic their real counterparts.
PUT FAUX BLOOMS IN A BEAUTIFUL CONTAINER
The right vase for your faux flowers is so important! Use the same vessel you would choose for the real deal! Think about using something as simple as a clear glass cylinder, like the one I’m using today, or something as iconic as a ginger jar or silver ice bucket!
Arrange and rearrange them until your arrangement is so pleasing to your eye!
CUT THE STEMS TO FIT THE CONTAINER
Don’t be afraid to cut the stems of faux booms. Remember our goal is to make faux flower look real! We want to make the flowers look pretty in the container we choose!
Wouldn’t you cut real ones to arrange in a container? Then do the same for their faux friends!
Look at the images below. Which one is more pleasing?
The flowers on the right have been cut to fit the vase. The flowers on the left have been put in the vase without being cut.
A big, big difference, right?
Cut each stem individually and add it to the container you are going to use. And use heavy-duty cutters for the best result.
DON’T BE AFRAID OF WATER
THE biggest way to tell if florals are real or faux when they are in a clear vase is the lack of water!
Yes, you can put faux flowers in water. But do this first!
Paint clear fingernail polish on the bottom of each stem. This works!
And use common sense! A week or two in water is probably about enough!
TREAT FAUX FLOWERS KINDLY
Faux flowers are hardy but don’t abuse them.
Keep your blooms away from direct sunlight as they can fade.
I like to put my faux blooms in a trash can (with other faux blooms) and then cover them with a plastic bag to store them. Standing them up and not crowding them keeps them looking nice so you can use them again!
With just a few easy tips you can have your favorite blooms gracing your home all spring long! And not only this spring but year after year!
Here are other posts you might enjoy…
CREATIVE WAYS TO USE FAUX FLOWERS
SUPER EASY FAUX SPRING CENTERPIECE WITH A CHEATSHEET
SPRING FLOWER BASKET FOR YOUR FRONT DOOR
Yvonne, thank you for the tip on ironing the leaves! I’ve never done that before but I do cut stems all the time, and fluff a lot! 🙂 Great post and I cannot believe how real your poppies look… Amazing! Thanks for being on the Spring tour today. <3
Hugs,
Barb 🙂
Barb, thanks so much for inviting me! You are so sweet! I hope we do this again!
Good Morning Yvonne: I love flowers, we have fresh flowers in our home as much as possible. There is a saving perhaps you have heard it before “Behind every flower hides a smile” by Anne Geddes. I think of that each time I pick flowers or purchase them. Flowers really do make you smile. Have a great day and stay safe.
Marilyn
I do lover fresh flowers, but finding ones like poppies is difficult or impossible here. Love the quote! Thanks!
I was organizing my faux flower stash just yesterday and found some pretty faux poppies I had forgotten I had and have never used. After I get my fridge cleaned( today’s task) I will find a vase and have some fun arranging these blooms and finding the right place for them. Thanks for suggesting this. Kinda of cool outside today so perfect activity to keep me in my faux garden?
I love the idea of a faux garden, Kathy!!! When you are done all that you will be tired!
Lovely post. I store mine in plastic grocery bags and hang them on nails in the attic. My wreaths go in grocery bags. Which local sources do yo use? I m thinking to try to use more locally owned places though we all know even regional or corporate ly owned businesses employ our children and friends.
Enjoy the sunshine, Linda
Hi Linda, thanks for the idea. I love the faux flowers at Cocalico Creek Home. Try there!
Clear nail polish~ who knew!!! What a completely brilliant tip. It is truly amazing how a few simple steps can transform a bouquet.
Hi Laura, So nice of you to stop by!Yes, nail polish keeps the wire inside from getting rusty!
Thanks for the tips..I do decorate with faux flowers as well.I have some friends touch the flowers to see if they real.LoL!!! I sometime steam mine with the kettle to get them looking nice. I will use your trick about the nail polish. But doesn’t the stems get wrecked if u put them in water? I love your vignettes ..they always look so pretty. Be safe. ❤
I love the idea of using steam from a kettle. We are not tea drinkers , but maybe I need a kettle for flowers! LOL! Thanks so much, Lorri!
I had no idea you could iron fake plant leaves. Nor had I heard about the nail polish trick! Thanks so much for sharing your great tips! Pinned.
Hi Cindy! Thank you for pinning!!! xo
Yvonne,
Your faux poppies do look REAL. Thanks for all your tips for fooling our eyes with fakes. I think your best tip is bending the flower stems. Your poppies are leaning very much like real poppies in a garden do.
Be safe, dear friend.
Happy Spring,
Judith
Hi Judith, thank you! Be safe too!
Your faux flowers look fabulous! Thanks for the wonderful tips!
I use faux flowers quite a bit when my garden is not supplying me with blooms. The quality of faux has improved so much but along with this the prices have gone up. My favorite place to buy faux flowers and greenery is thrift stores. If you know how to pick out the well made ones you can save a fortune. I got some beautiful poppies similar to the ones in your blog for a couple of dollars a stem. Another important tip I,got from you was to use only faux flowers which are in season. I have a silk amaryllis that fools friends every Christmas but I don’t use it in August.
Great tips, Kathy!
Excellent advice…as always!! Beautiful arrangement!
Great post, and really nice pointers! I agree, purchasing quality blooms is essential. I just love the peachy-coral colored florals you used!
I love your tips and tricks on using faux flowers, Yvonne. My faves are ironing the leaves and using clear nail polish on the stems! One smart lady!
Thank you dear friend!
Of course! Featuring you on TTA this week!
You are so dear!!! I hope we talk today!
Wow! This was so helpful! The only time I purchase faux flowers is for graves or outdoor wreaths. I have read your blog several times, but I saw this post from Inspire Me Mondays. Happy Easter and stay healthy!
Happy Easter Gena!
Fabulous tips! Real water…who knew, and ironing leaves? Thanks for sharing your knowledge!
Can you recommend a good heavy duty wire cutter? Cutting the stems has always been an issue.
I’ve had my wire cutters for decades. So I’m not sure about one specific brand. Look online at the reviews. They will tell you a lot!
I used to include faux flowers a lot around the home But living in PR doesn’t give me a good variety of craft/decorating stores. I began to use potpourri, spheres etc. Renovating our new downsized home I’ve discovered a new me evolved in the last 17 yrs!! I’m creating a totally different home than our previous custom home. I love reading your ideas, thoughts & your Sunday spiritual thoughts!! Thank u! What do u suggest as good online alternatives for buying faux flowers?
Tnks for your time! Good luck ? on your kitchen reno??
Thanks, Lillian.I’m so glad you are enjoying your new home too!
Love this post and your attention to detail. Thanks.:)
Thank you for these valuable tips! Awesome!
Love the idea of faux flowers. Is there a brand that you would recommend or a site i could use to get them? The real water trick is the best.
You can get some great faux blooms on Etsy and Pottery Barn! Great looking blooms can be a bit pricy but they last for years!
Great post and love the idea of using water! In faux mixed arrangements I like to use real greenery to trick the eye too.
Yvonne,
I just love everything you share. Your home is beautiful, your ideas so creative and I am a huge fan of all your decorating styles.
Where do you purchase your faux flowers?
Thanks and have a great day,
Elizabeth
Some excellent ideas. I have collected faux flowers at estate and yard sales over the years. I had purchased a bunch of wire gym baskets and they are up on shelves circling my tiny studio over my head and it’s like having an overhead garden….and everything is organized by color. So much fun, whether they are in “storage” or being used. Loved your hints.
Lovely! would you be willing to provide an online resource for your beautiful posies?
Hi Shawn, I found them locally.
Such great tips Yvonne! I have many fake flowers and I can’t wait to try the iron on them. Yours turned out so pretty! I’m also into peachy colors since last summer. I love your poppies! Where did you purchase them?
Hi Deb, I found the poppies locally
I forgot to mention that storing flowers in a trash can is brilliant!!
Hi Yvonne:
I will be spending an upcoming weekend in Lancaster with some friends to attend a show at Sight and Sound Theater, shop and enjoy the beautiful area. We would love it if you could share any of your favorite local shops, especially for faux flowers.
Thanks so much!
Go to THE TREASURED PLACE in Intercourse and Calico Home on rt 30. They are fabulous! Have fun! I’m hoping to see Queen Esther soon.