How To Arrange Artificial Flowers And Plants

Introduction to Faux Flowers

Faux flowers, also known as artificial flowers, have revolutionised the way we decorate our homes and create stunning flower arrangements. Unlike real flowers, faux flowers offer a long-lasting and low-maintenance solution for anyone who wants to enjoy the beauty of blooms all year round. 

Thanks to advancements in materials and design, today’s artificial flowers are incredibly realistic, often making it hard to tell them apart from the real thing. Whether you’re looking to brighten up a dull corner, add a splash of colour to your living room, or create a show-stopping centrepiece, faux flowers provide endless possibilities for floral arrangements. 

In this section, we’ll share tips and ideas for decorating with artificial flowers, helping you create arrangements that add beauty and elegance to any space. With faux flowers, you can easily add a touch of nature’s charm to your home, no matter the season.

Flowers and foliage are a marvellous way to bring nature’s beauty into your home, but not everyone has the resources to create a fresh arrangement every few days. For this reason, people are increasingly turning towards artificial flowers and plants as a cost-effective and very realistic alternative. 

Choosing faux stems allows you to enjoy the same beauty without the hassle of replacing them or dealing with allergies. Fake flowers and foliage are long-lasting and durable, they look good in any part of the home, and TreeLocate has an extensive range of options for both indoor and outdoor use. Better still, if you can’t find exactly what you need, we’ll design it to order.

You’ll probably find that arranging artificial flowers and plants is far easier than dealing with the live versions, as they are more resistant to breakage and responsive to manipulation into a desired shape. They’re also safe to use and last longer through modern advances in technology, such as Fire Retardant options and UV Resistant designs. This means that you don’t have to worry about putting an arrangement in a sunny window or near a fireplace.

Before you begin, prepare a clear space to make arranging your flowers and plants easier and more efficient.

Your first decision concerns location and materials. Is this to be an interior arrangement or something you’d like outside on a patio or business frontage? Take time to decide on the placement and style of your arrangement before starting, as this will help ensure the best results. For exteriors, we recommend planters, hanging baskets or replica plants, or you may want to go really big with fake trees or a green wall. 

For indoors, the style choices include silk or artificial flowers, faux flower stems, artificial flower stems, seasonal or exotic plants or even natural foliage. You can vary the height and size of your arrangements to enhance particular features, and choose colours to match or contrast with your interior decor. Whether indoors or outdoors, choose the best spot to display your arrangement, allowing it to be appreciated and enhance your space.

When preparing your materials, use wire cutters to trim stems to the desired length for a neat arrangement. You may also need to cut any excess foliage or stems for a tidy look. Use wire to secure or shape stems as needed, and consider bending wired stems to achieve a more natural appearance.

Have fun and experiment with different arrangements to find what works best for your space. Tip: When starting your arrangement, begin with the first stem to establish the structure and create a balanced design.

Choosing the Right Artificial Flowers

Selecting the perfect artificial flowers for your flower arrangement is key to achieving a natural and stylish look. Start by considering the colour palette and overall style of your space. For a modern, minimalist arrangement, opt for sleek and simple blooms like roses or calla lilies in neutral or statement colours. If you prefer a more rustic or vintage vibe, choose flowers with a softer, more natural appearance, such as peonies or hydrangeas, which bring a touch of timeless charm. 

Pay attention to the shape and texture of each flower, as mixing different forms and finishes can add depth and interest to your arrangement. High-quality faux flowers are worth the investment, as they look more realistic and will maintain their beauty for years to come. The general rule is to select stems in quantities of threes or fives for a balanced look. When creating your arrangement, think about how the flowers will complement your existing decor and don’t be afraid to mix and match different types of blooms to achieve the perfect style.

Size matters in floral arrangements.

Your faux flowers need to complement their environment rather than detract from it, so you don’t want to overwhelm a small room with a huge floral bouquet. If you have high ceilings and big picture windows, then you can make a big splash with a large, tall vase or table centrepieces. Large arrangements, such as bouquets or an artificial bouquet, work well in these spaces. 

When placing arrangements in containers, ensure the flowers sit at the right height for the best effect. In a smaller space, choose brighter and more compact arrangements such as small posies or a single stem vase with a rose or orchid to make a subtle statement.

When building your arrangement, try arranging flowers in one layer at a time and use odd numbers of stems for a balanced look. Arranging flowers in clusters of odd numbers keeps the bouquet symmetrical. Use extra stems or foliage to fill any gaps and create a full appearance. 

Combining a mixture of different flowers, foliage, and textures results in a mixed arrangement that looks more natural and visually appealing. At TreeLocate, we have an impressive range of sizes, so you can assess your space and then choose a fake plant or flower to fit. In any arrangement, varying heights and outlines are always going to be more interesting than a uniform size and shape.

Texture

An additional factor to consider is texture. Combining different textures, such as the softness of a rose petal, the roughness of tree bark, or the spiky feel of succulents, adds visual interest and depth to your arrangement. With today’s technology, using the highest grade silks and plastics, TreeLocate can create realistic faux flowers that closely imitate natural materials. 

Choose delicate petals for a living space, exotically plump orchids for an office or study, or interesting ferns and grasses for bathrooms. Ferns can add a great degree of fascination in the way they curl and droop their fronds, so they make for a very relaxing ambience. Equally, you could choose some replica desert cacti or succulents to provide interest in both shape and texture, or add a forest atmosphere with some trailing ivy and branches.

When selecting colours, consider incorporating a statement colour such as yellow or pink to make your arrangement stand out. For a polished look, focus on styling your display by arranging elements to highlight a focal point. This could be a bold flower or unique stem that takes centre stage in your design. 

As a general rule, start with green foliage and then add contrasting flowers in odd numbers for a balanced, visually appealing arrangement. Layering thicker faux foliage first can create a solid foundation for your arrangement.

To secure your arrangement, use floral foam or floral tape to keep stems in place and maintain structure. For a clean finish, use opaque containers to hide stems, and add a ribbon as a decorative touch to tie the arrangement together. The wide variety of plants and flowers available, inspired by the changing seasons, allows you to create displays that suit any occasion or decor style.

Shaping artificial flower arrangements

Try to make the shape of your faux flower arrangement match the shape of its placement, so that in an arched embrasure, for example, you have flowers that are taller in the centre. 

To arrange faux flowers for the best effect, start by planning the overall design and considering the height and fullness needed for your space. It's beneficial to choose a vase that is at least half the height of the arrangement. Artificial flower arrangements allow you to experiment with different styles and placements, making it easy to achieve a polished look.

Shaping the fake flowers or plants is best done before they go into the vase, so you can get a general idea of how they’ll look and how to size them properly. Pay special attention to the flower stems, as bending and adjusting them helps create a naturalistic bouquet. 

Real flowers usually don’t stand up perfectly straight, so you’ll need to bend the stems into a gentle droop for a realistic touch. Place sturdier, straighter stems in the middle and droopier ones on the sides so they will frame their container.

Clear glass vases look good with two or three leafy plant stems arranged in a minimalist design, and you can put water in the vase for added realism. Alternatively, you can make a tiny landscape at the bottom with a few interesting pebbles and some soil. This type of arrangement makes a great impact against a plain wall or window, as it creates a striking silhouette.

Colours

Today’s technology allows for the perfect imitation of nature by artificial materials, from the boldest blue delphiniums to the gentle blush of a giant magnolia. Whether you love the bright fuchsias or pale yellows, faux flowers and faux florals are available in a huge range of colours, so you can match any tint or shade in your home. 

The replica plants are almost as adventurous, with a myriad shades to mix and match, representing the most exact duplication of natural plants you could hope to find. Foliage is very soothing, and these days it’s possible to find beautiful leaves in every shape and colour, with tree types from across the globe. 

Eucalyptus, oak, olive, maple and hornbeam all range alongside ficus and palm trees, not to mention the blossoming trees such as cherry, lilac and bougainvillea.

The effect of light in your space can dramatically change how arrangements and colours appear, with natural light enhancing the vibrancy and charm of your faux florals and foliage.

Containers

Be adventurous in your choice of container. Knowing how to arrange artificial flowers and plants includes knowing what to put them in, and these days, the choice is limitless. Painted watering cans used to be popular for gardens, but how about putting a small plain one on your desk? 

Metal containers in the shape of milk churns, urns, ice buckets and upturned bells are all available from TreeLocate, together with birch barrel stem pots, a wide range of brick and stone style pots, bowls and planters. 

For interiors, you can choose glass to highlight an unusual stem shape or glazed ceramics to set off the delicacy of tinted blooms, while for outdoors, there are all sorts of tubs, troughs and urns that give solidity to a larger space.

Using Artificial Flowers in Home Decor

Artificial flowers are a versatile and stylish way to add beauty to your home decor. One of the easiest ways to make an impact is by arranging a few stems of faux flowers in a glass vase to create a stunning centrepiece for your dining table. 

This simple touch can instantly elevate your dining area and make everyday meals feel special. In the living room or bedroom, a thoughtfully arranged floral arrangement can bring colour and life to shelves, side tables, or mantels. To add texture and depth, mix in some greenery like eucalyptus or ferns alongside your artificial flowers. 

Faux flowers are also perfect for crafting garlands or wreaths to decorate your front door or accent a blank wall. With so many styles and colours available, you can easily find the right arrangement to suit any room and season, ensuring your home always looks fresh and inviting.

Caring for Artificial Flowers

While faux flowers are wonderfully low-maintenance, a little care goes a long way in keeping them looking their best. To keep your artificial flowers dust-free and vibrant, gently brush the petals and leaves with a soft cloth or feather duster. 

Avoid using water or harsh cleaning products, as these can damage the delicate materials. When not in use, store your faux flowers in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to prevent fading. 

Using a fabric storage bag or a plastic container can help protect your flowers from dust and moisture. By following these simple tips, your artificial flowers will continue to add beauty to your home for years, always looking as fresh as the day you arranged them.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

When creating a floral arrangement with artificial flowers, it’s easy to get carried away with too many elements. One common mistake is over-accessorising, adding too many flowers, stems, or greenery, which can make your arrangement look cluttered rather than elegant. 

Instead, focus on a balanced design that allows each flower and stem to stand out. Another pitfall is ignoring the scale of your arrangement; make sure your flowers and vase are proportionate to each other and to the space where they’ll be displayed. Remember, less is often more when it comes to floral design. 

Don’t hesitate to experiment with different combinations and placements. One of the great advantages of faux flowers is that you can easily adjust and rearrange them until you achieve the perfect look. By keeping these tips in mind, you’ll create beautiful, eye-catching arrangements that add beauty and style to any space.

Safety first

Our impressive range of artificial flowers and plants includes UV-resistant materials for long-lasting colour retention, and the Firesilx FR range for ultimate protection against fire hazards. Firesilx products are very popular with commercial decorators and designers all over the world: they have been fully certified by multiple worldwide authorities and carry a lifetime guarantee. 

At TreeLocate, we can supply a wide variety of fire-retardant options, available in a full range of colours and styles. Visit our online store for more information and purchasing.