Faux florals: no longer a no-no

If you think decorating with fake flowers is tacky, think again.  Today's offerings have come a long way from the plastic, waxy-looking florals you might associate with waiting-room lobbies or outdoor cemetery arrangements.

Case in point:  a sunflower arrangement in my home tricked my late father-in-law one Thanksgiving.  Because he was a country boy familiar with this summer flower, he couldn't figure out where I found a fresh arrangement in November.  He asked, "Where did you get sunflowers this time of year?"  That particular arrangement happened to be from NDI, one of the vendors Decor & You uses to supply clients with realistic florals.  The faux water in the vase of sunflowers, complete with "hair" from the stems really helped pull off this con job.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge fan of using real flowers in the home.  But yesterday's official arrival of spring doesn't mean the tulips and daffodils are ready to be plucked for a centerpiece.  So going "faux" is a perfect way to get your floral fix in the interim.  Faux florals are also cost-effective since you can use them year after year!

Here are a few tips on how to use faux florals:

1.  Buy the most realistic-looking florals you can find and can afford.  While some of the best ones may be pricey, consider them as an investment piece.

2.  Display only in-season florals (OK, maybe I should have put away those sunflowers before November!).  For spring, this means tulips, daffodils, forsythia, or hyacinth, for example.  If you want a faux flower that you can keep out year-round, consider a faux orchid.  Because they are now widely available at florists year-round, an orchid won't scream "I'm fake!"  While many flowers are available all year at florists, your trick to pulling off faux florals is to keep this rule in mind:  you want your arrangement to look like you just picked the flowers from the garden.  So don't display something like a tulip--a signature spring flower--in say, October.

3.  Think beyond the dramatic dining-room table centerpiece.  Consider using faux arrangements in a powder room or on a kitchen window ledge or on a bedside table.  Smaller arrangements scattered throughout the home help bring the outdoors in, even when the flowers aren't real!






4.  Give them as gifts!  If you're looking for a unique gift, consider a two-part, "now and later" gift:  a bouquet of fresh flowers for the recipient to enjoy now and a beautiful faux arrangement for later.

Now that you know these tricks of the trade, do you think you can spot the posy poseurs, the impostor impatiens or crocus con artists?  Still baffled by how to make it work?  Don't hesitate to contact me at aboesen@decorandyou.com.  I can help you find the right flowers for your space, considering size and scale--and your budget.  And if you want a truly unique piece, I can help you pick your favorite flowers and order a personalized arrangement through a vendor that makes custom faux florals for Decor & You.

Happy Spring!