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March 20, 2007
Posted by: Cathy at 12:23 pm
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There are some people who would’nt have a “fake” flower or plant in their homes. Then there are others, who, on every surface and wall, have an explosion of silk and plastic blooms. I think there’s a happy medium. Fresh flowers always bring life to a room. But unless I’m entertaining or have some flowers in the garden I can cut, I will stick to a few realistic “Fakes”. I love the way they fill in the dark corners of a room and bring a little color and life to drab spaces. Most of us don’t have the time or money to purchase fresh flowers every few days. As much as we all love “fresh” it may not always be practical. (Allergies, kids, pets etc). So my view on “Fake” is… Less is More, Keep them real looking, Get rid of old dusty ones, and use real when you can. Love to hear your views!!!
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1. Cathy, I agree completely. I love fresh flowers and have them around as often as possible. However, I also have several silk arrangements which brighten the house even when I don’t have time to cut and arrange the real ones.
by deb — 3/21/07 at 4:24 pm #
2. Right on. I am a home design editor and see lots of million-dollar houses every day, and you very rarely will find a fake ficus tree in high-end houses!
While I prefer real, it is not always practical in the average home, so I use a few good quality fakes in my house in the high spots and then mix in fresh at eye level.
by Lindsey — 5/14/07 at 8:37 am #
3. CATHEY -I agree 100%–i have silk flowers everywhere—and for special occasions i use Fresh Flowers–like for Sunday-Mothers Day
i had everyone over so i bought a dozen gorgeous roses for only $14!
Of cause they were in a beautiful vase i bought at HOME GOODS!!
SUZANNE
by SUZANNE — 5/17/07 at 9:24 am #
4. Suzanne,
I’ve been reading your many great comments. What a great deal on your roses. HomeGoods does have really beautiful vases and art glass for super prices.
Thanks for all your great thoughts,
by Cathy — 5/17/07 at 11:42 am #
5. I agree with Cathy. I use silk flowers and silk foliage arrangements, but I make sure they are high quality and keep them dust free and change them out frequently with the seasons. However, I love fresh flowers and keep a vase of fresh cut flowers on a table that everyone sees as they walk into my living room. I think that silk flowers should be in the background filling in empty spaces while only fresh flowers should be placed where people will be able to tell the difference between silk and fresh. My husband says if you can tell it’s silk, it should not be there. I think he’s right.
by Diane — 5/30/07 at 12:23 pm #
6. You’ve got the right idea Lindsey. Sometimes I even add fake flowers to my real greenery and it really looks real.
Hi Suzanne, You got a good deal on those roses. Some fake flowers look so real its easy to pass them off as the real ones.
Hi Diane, I agree, Its amazing what a small vase of real flowers can do for a room. Your eye goes straight to them. Thanks for writing in.
by Cathy — 6/10/07 at 2:26 am #
7. Fake flowers/greens are the first sign of old age! If they’re not real I’d rather see an colorful vase – EMPTY.
by Jill [...] — 7/6/07 at 12:33 am #
8. Hi Jill,
I guess theres a lot of old people out there… Thanks for your opinion and for writing in. Take Care.
by Cathy — 7/6/07 at 12:09 pm #
9. I don’t think you all are giving Silk Flowers their do. Please visit Star Decorator or Van’s Wholesaler in your area and check our their stock.
by Dianne — 10/8/07 at 7:56 pm #
10. Hi Diane,
Yes, they’re some fantastic looking FAUX flowers and plants. There use is as stated above in my blog. I use both real and faux all of the time.
Its what you like and can afford and keep up.
Also thanks for the silk flower info. I’ll check it out.
by Cathy — 10/9/07 at 2:56 pm #
11. I normally do not participate in online debates, but while strolling along the internet today–well here is one debate I would love to take a small part in. I am an interior designer/florist (yes the combination is an unusual profession)–I am not even going to mention my shop or the online site that is mine… I will however say this Cathy is right… A happy medium should be reached. I own a high end home that has both real and artifical flowers in it… Most high end homes I decorate have a combination–people just do not realize they are looking at a fake…I think the new trend is the smart trend–if you buy fake buy the ones that appear real… You get what you pay for–silk arrangements that look real will be pricey–but if you are smart you will learn a little silk plant cleaner taken to your dusty arrangement can extend it’s life by many seasons.. Make the arrangement match your home–if you decorate in a hippie style by all means chose something that will match, same goes for any decor… Save the fake looking fake flowers for the people who like that style–yes there are people who will buy some arrangement that is obviously fake and enjoy it more than something that looks real…..To each their own…. As for the art of using artifical flowers being a old person’s way—I am in my 30’s and I can tell you more home owners want those artifical plants–the only thing that is viewed as truly outdated in the design world is the people who chose to limit their thinking too some little box. We all love real plants, but not everyone has a green thumb or the time to care for them…
Thanks for the article Cathy.
by Marty — 1/23/08 at 8:18 pm #
12. Hello Marty,
Thank you so much for taking the time to add your professional and personal opinion to the subject. I agree with everything you’ve said.
. I will continue to display and design with a mix of both, real and faux. There’s a place for both in beautiful, well decorated interiors.
A mix is best. I think those that don’t like faux flowers haven’t seen high end, florist quality flowers. They are so real in look and feel they almost put the real thing to shame
Thanks for joining in, write back soon.
by Cathy — 1/24/08 at 1:13 pm #
13. I disagree with you, Cathy. I am “editing” my home by getting rid of the faux flower arrangements and faux ficus trees, which have become dust catchers. After a year, the silks start to fade and lose their shape.
After removing the ficus trees I have had in my home for almost twenty years, it is a breath of fresh air to see the space! This is my opinion
and my experience. I purchased some green plants at a local grocery store for less money than flowers. Definitely a nice change for my home.
If my green thumb indoors does not work, it still is less expensive than real flowers.
by Karen — 4/8/08 at 3:27 pm #
14. Hello Karen,
You are right. After a while all those silk plants become downright disgusting if they are kept too long. I think it’s great that you are using the green plants. My advice is, if you use faux florals, get rid of them when they start to look less than real.
Enjoy your plants and I’m sure your green thumb will develop.
Thanks so much for joining in.
by Cathy — 4/9/08 at 8:16 pm #
15. I have done home decorating for over 10 years, and I’m shocked at hearing the HGTV called the use of artificial flowers the number one interior desighn faux pas. There are “dead” spots in a home that just scream for a little “something.” As a young wife and homemaker years ago, I tried using all reall plants, and putting them where I wanted them instead of where they’d grow best was a bitter learning experience. I’m now known among my friends and colleagues as having quite a green thumb, i.e. they bring me their sick and dying plants. But I still use “greenery” on top of tall bookcases or tucked between items on top of those kitchen cabinets. When did we all get so rich that we can afford to have a fresh centerpiece on the dining table year round?
by Patty — 5/1/08 at 10:37 pm #
16. Hello Patty,
I’m with you friend. I think there are always some areas of a home that would really benefit from faux plants and flowers…no matter what HGTV says…ha! Just keep it tasteful and use restraint.
Thanks for your great comments. They ring true to many!
by Cathy — 5/5/08 at 12:58 pm #
17. Hi to Everyone,
I have some very expensive silk 7″ trees in my home and I take them outside once or twice a year to clean with a spray cleaner and then rinse then down with a hose and let them air dry in the shade. I cover the pot with a big black garbage bag and tie it real tight, so nothing gets down on the moss or into the pot. I would like to know, however if their is a better way to do this, as it takes 2 men to carry these heavy plants outside? I have silk arrangements made in a wonderful floral shop and they are expensive, they still look great, but they are not something I would clean the same way. Any suggestions? I also put some silk begonia’s on my patio table (quite expensive) and they were in the shade, spent $40 and they faded in two months. I’m enjoying these postings and am learning a lot. Keep them coming.
by Linda
by Linda — 8/7/08 at 12:36 am #
18. Hello Linda,
Good to hear from you. Yes, those silk trees and plants can be hard to keep clean. It sounds like what you’re doing is good. Lots of work though. I’m not sure how better to clean the silks. Does anyone have any better ideas? You might want to Google, “cleaning silk trees” and see what comes up.
Sometimes silk flowers don’t hold up well outside, even in shade. They can fade easily. Would it be too hard to put live ones on your table?
Hope we can get some answers for you.
Thanks for your great questions.
by Cathy — 8/7/08 at 5:48 pm #
19. I love this site!! Before, I always thought fake flowers were tacky or distasteful.And I always wanted to have flowers around, but couldnt afford to do so. But, while perusing my local hobby store, I found a section that had the most beautiful flowers that looked and felt real ! I immediately bought a few ( they were pricey), and now they are in my bathroom in a vase on the counter. All of my female guests love the flowers, and the male guests always assume they were real! I think if fake flowers are tasteful, and kept clean, no one will know the difference. And if they can tell, hopefully they have an appreciation for such decorations!!!
by Melissa — 12/24/08 at 12:19 pm #
20. Right on Melissa,
Your flowers sound beautiful. Some faux/fake flowers do have a place in many interiors. Yours sound great in the bathroom. Flowers always give vitality and life to a room, yes, even fake ones, but only if they are real looking, clean, and tasteful. Enjoy, and sometimes it is OK to fool Mother Nature….Shhhh, we won’t tell.
Great to hear from you. write back soon.
by Cathy — 12/26/08 at 11:39 pm #
21. Hi to Everyone,
I love having fresh flowers in my home and do so for special occasions and when the budget allows. However, when that is not the case, I have purchased some beautiful flower arrangements from HomeGoods and the fact that they are faux is not apparent- they look nice and they get me through. I absolutely draw the line and thank goodness I haven’t seen it often… it is when people put faux flowers in their outside flower beds- needless to say, that idea should have been tossed out with the pink flamingos.
by Lisa — 1/25/09 at 10:55 pm #
22. Hi Lisa,
Listen, pink flamingos are sooo retro chic!
… but not outdoor faux flowers. I’m with you. Yes, HomeGoods does have some fantastic looking faux flowers. I’ve purchased quite a few there for people and they seem to love them.
So I guess Faux is Fauxever…and real when possible.
Thanks for your great comments!
by Cathy — 1/26/09 at 1:42 pm #
23. I’m just burning with jealousy. I WISH I HAD A HOMEGOODS STORE IN MY STATE TO SHOP IN. I HAVE TO TRAVEL AT LEAST FOUR HOURS TO SHOP A HOMEGOODS STORE.AND DRIVE THE SUV SO I CAN HAUL ANY PURCHASES I MAKE HOME.
by Yolanda — 3/24/09 at 10:38 pm #
24. Oh mannn Yolanda, you have a long way to go to get your Homegoods fix! It’s worth it. Make a day of it and have lots of fun. Fill that SUV up, then you don’t have to go back for a while (a week or two…LOL). We always find a way to get to HomeGoods…It’s a necessity of life!
Great to chat with you, See ya on the road with furniture tied on top of the car!
by Cathy — 3/25/09 at 2:33 pm #
25. I read in a magazine that you can clean small arrangements of silk flowers by putting them heads down in a paper bag with some uncooked rice. Swirl and shake around, then discard the rice. I haven’t tried this yet but thought it was worth mentioning. What a fun discussion!
by Nedra — 8/14/09 at 2:20 pm #
26. Hey Nedra,
Thanks for jumpin in! And, thanks for your great tips on cleaning silk flowers. It sounds like a great idea. Has anyone tried this or any other cleaning solution…we have to keep those silks looking lively.
by Cathy — 8/17/09 at 1:56 pm #
27. Greetings to All!
I have a very long high ledge in my BR and two in my bathroom. I placed fake greenery in between large pots and other large ceramics. Wow, I’ve just began, as I am a new retiree on somewhat of a budget. Any suggestions on what I should do so my new home doesn’t look like I’ve committed a decorator faux pas. I also placed a large family portrait on an easel up on one of the ledges. Should I take down the grennery, and what is suggested I use. I appreciate any help. I hear that dried flowers are definitely out, but I do use one on the outside of my front door. Is that not good?
Molly
by Molly — 8/19/09 at 3:22 pm #
28. Hello Molly,
It sounds like you’re doing just fine with your ledges. The only thing I could suggest when decorating them is, you don’t have to fill the whole length of the ledge with “stuff”. Arrange a display just on one side, keep it simple and use maybe 3-5 larger pieces. You could display a large vase or piece of pottery, then a lower real-looking silk plant and then a decorative box or plate/picture on a stand. Just don’t overdo the silks on the ledge. One or two may be enough. Keep lots of open space on the ledge. Then it doesn’t look too cluttered.
As for dried flowers, they’re fine as long as they don’t look like they’ve died a slow death over the years. If they look ratty, dusty, and faded, set them free to R.I.P.
Enjoy your beautiful home, just use restraint and taste when artificially adorning your abode.
by Cathy — 8/21/09 at 12:29 pm #