Faux Stems for Spring + My Styling Tips

Have you styled faux stems in your home? They’re more realistic than ever, and I’m sharing my styling tips with you, too!

Faux Stems Have Come a Long Way!

If you had told me 10 years ago that I’d be styling faux greenery in my home, I would have laughed out loud. Past-Kim thought of fake flowers as something only a grandmother could love, thrown together in a vase and popped into the corner, never to be touched again. Present-Kim loves a good faux stem (I can’t bring myself to say ‘fake flowers’ anymore), and the good news is that they have come a long way!

Not All Stems are Created Equal!

I’ve also learned that not all faux stems are created equal, and some retailers offer more realistic florals than others. This may seem obvious, but I enjoy spreading the word on where to look! To start, I always check out what Williams-Sonoma has to offer (this includes the retailers under their umbrella, such as Pottery Barn and West Elm), Crate & Barrel, and Afloral. By far, these brands have fooled friends and family who have come into our home for years!

And if you’re not a fan of faux greenery in your home, I’ve always admired longer lasting-alternatives such as dried hydrangea, eucalyptus, and baby’s breath!

A Few Tips from a Faux-Flower Enthusiast

There are some things to keep in mind when purchasing, styling and storing faux plants, and I’m happy to share what I’ve learned.

Budget | Sticker shock can feel very real when beginning your search, but always check to see how many florals are included (some prices might include a 3-pack or a bundle of a half dozen), and always, always, always double check the length! There are many flowers on the market that are extra long for floor and table displays – or a really massive centerpiece – and this exponentially increases cost. And, of course, the more realistic they’re made, the pricier the materials, and the higher cost overall.

Length | Speaking of, longer lengths can be bent or snipped to fit standard vases. Many arrangements you’ve seen in our home, including in the images above, have bent stems at varying heights. And because each stem will look nearly identical, I do recommend bending the stems at different heights for a more natural look.

Styling | When styling, give each individual stem a firm shake. Shake, shake, shake – and then shake some more! Vary the heights of each stem (see above), and take the time to bend and twist each individual branch, leaf or bud of the stem. I like to dramatically bend shorter pieces around the perimeter of the vase so they reach left or right, giving the illusion of a freshly picked branch. At the end, I may include one more that’s much higher than the others, reaching and stretching towards the sunlight.

Storage | You’ve invested in faux stems. Now where do you store them as you swap them out? I stuff them into these under bed storage boxes! I can see what I have all at once, and they’re long enough to store even my tallest stems.

Faux Stems to Try This Spring

1. tulip arrangement in glass | 2. dancing daisy | 3. bean leaf branch | 4. cherry blossom branch | 5. gypsophila leaf stem | 6. branch with green buds | 7. oversized green branch | 8. hydrangea stem | 9. poppy spray | 10. wildflower stems bundle | 11. lilacs flower | 12. oversized dogwood branch | 13. daisy bundle

Feeling spring-y? Here are 30 spring essentials, I answer the most common spring garden questions here, and this is how we made our own above ground planter boxes.