6 Ways to Make Faux Stems Look Real

This post is sponsored by Hobby Lobby. All ideas are my own.

6 Ways to Make Faux Stems and Flowers Look Real. Six creative ways to make faux stems and flowers look remarkably real with DIY examples I created in our home.

6 Ways to Make Faux Stems and Flowers Look Real

It’s still pretty snowy here in Utah, so finding fresh flowers is hard at this time of the year. That’s why I’m excited to team up with Hobby Lobby to share some easy ways to make faux flowers look more realistic! I also recently found out that most flowers and a lot of greenery is either toxic or even fatal for cats; and if you follow along with me on it social media you know that I have two amazing cats with really special stories. Plus, I love the look of fresh flowers but the cost of buying fresh flowers each week really adds up! Hobby Lobby is my favorite go-to source for flowers, garlands and stems. Today I am sharing SIX different ways to make faux flowers and Stems look very realistic!

1. Study real flowers: Bend Faux Stems and Flowers to Mimic Nature

Start off by observing real flowers. You will notice that in nature nothing is perfect or symmetrical. You will also notice that flowers in nature have colors and sizes that vary. The first thing I do with faux stems or flowers is bend the stems so they look more natural.

How I used this idea in our home:

I used this idea in the footed pedestal Bowl Arrangement that I created for our formal dining room. This is how I created this arrangement: Use a variety of different sizes of stems, branches and faux flowers. Start by packing the vessel with floral foam. Take the largest branch and place it off center. You will notice that in nature not everything is symmetrical. Put the branch into the floral foam then bent it to the side and then upwards so it looks like the branch was growing towards the light. I found some beautiful white faux flowers and put those in the center of the arrangement. Make sure to bend the branches of the flowers so that they looked organic. Then I filled in the rest of the arrangement with two branches of green leaves. These gorgeous pink flowers kind of trail down and look very realistic. Add moss to cover the floral foam and the last thing is add trailing vines that spill over the footed bowl and onto the surface.

I put this arrangement in front of our gold scrolled mirror which I also found at Hobby Lobby. I love the way that this grand arrangement looks in our dining room!

2. Cut Stems and Flowers to Fit in the Container You are Using

Trim faux stems and flowers to match the size of your chosen container. I always trim faux branches and stems. When you are creating an arrangement, decide what size you want the project to be. Then choose a vessel that is the size you are envisioning and add stems or flowers that complement the vessel.

How I used this idea in our home:

I used this technique when I created the vase of stems for our spiral staircase. A large glass container from Hobby Lobby was selected, filled with soil and rocks, and the careful arrangement of faux stems within the container resulted in a visually striking display that beautifully showcases our 1891 curved staircase.

3. Add Water to Clear Vases for a More Realistic Look

If you were using fresh flowers you would put them in water, right? So adding water to a clear vase adds a realistic touch. I love having fresh flowers in our home, but I recently found out that many fresh flowers and greens are toxic or even lethal to cats! The beauty of flowers into our home with faux flowers. Plus full flowers and stems last for years and will save us money! I found a beautiful bunch of tulips and my favorite shade of pink at Hobby Lobby and I brought them home to create a beautiful arrangement for our breakfast eating Nook.

How I used this idea in our home:

I applied this concept in the kitchen nook, where a beautiful wicker vase filled with faux stems and flowers was placed. Adding water to the vase not only provided a realistic touch but also served as a protective measure against rusting. The clear nail polish applied to the cut ends seals the ends and keeps them from rusting in the water.

4. Use Real Greens with Faux Flowers

Combine faux flowers with real greens to elevate the overall realism of your arrangement. In the kitchen nook’s tulip arrangement, I added real greens to fill out the display, enhancing the lifelike quality of the arrangement. The living greens complement the faux tulips, creating a harmonious and convincing composition.

How I used this idea in our home:

When I created the Tulip arrangement on our table in our kitchen nook, the container that I used had a pretty wide mouth and the Tulips looks great but they needed a little extra volume. I added some fresh eucalyptus branches and I love the way that the fresh greens really make the Tulips pop and it makes the arrangement look so much more realistic!

5. Look for Flowers and Stems that Vary in Sizes and Colors

Select faux flowers that offer variety in color and size. When you’re looking for faux flowers or stems, look for flowers that have a clean edge which looks more realistic. Also flowers on stems that have different sizes of the same flower. If you look in nature you will see that flowers grow at different rates, so if you use flowers that have different sizes and that are in different cycles of bloom, faux flowers can look just like the real thing!

How I used this idea in our home:

I created a sweet spring topiary. The branches that I used for the topiary were very interesting and had a lot of texture and I love how it had an ombre effect with a dark green color that goes to a light green and really gives the tips a lot of depth.

6 Ways to Make Faux Stems and Flowers Look Real. Six creative ways to make faux stems and flowers look remarkably real with DIY examples I created in our home.

This is how I made the topiary: I found a branch in our yard that was about the right size. I found a terracotta pot and Hobby Lobby’s container section. I whitewashed the pot to give it an old world look. Then I packed the pot with floral foam and put the branch in the center. To create the top of the topiary I used around Styrofoam ball also from Hobby Lobby and use hot glue to add Moss to the ball in small sections until the whole ball was covered in Moss. Then I attached the stems to the topiary ball also using hot glue. The last thing I did was use the same Moss to cover the floral foam and I placed it on the coffee table in our family room. I think it’s the perfect project to make for spring! This is an example of how you can use faux stems to make other types of projects.

6. Use Dirt and Rocks at the Bottom of Clear Vases for a Planted Look

Create the illusion of a planted arrangement by placing dirt and rocks at the bottom of clear vases. The soil makes the viewer assume that the plant is growing and the rocks are a nice organic touch. Hobby Lobby has a great selection of decorative rocks which is near the floral department.

How I used this idea in our home:

I used this idea in the arrangement that I created at the base of our curve to stairs. I think it’s looks very real and I love the way fresh greens bring a sense of spring into our home!

Hobby Lobby is The Best Source for Beautiful Faux Florals and Stems!

All the supplies for these Spring floral projects were sourced from the extensive floral selection at Hobby Lobby. Hobby Lobby is a treasure trove of stems and flowers in every color imaginable. The floral department featured aisles dedicated to flowering bushes, lush greenery garlands, and vines, providing a diverse range to cater to various creative visions. A stroll through their container section reveals a variety of pots, bowls, and vases, including the gorgeous blue footed pedestal container for the formal dining room arrangement. The aisles were thoughtfully organized, making it a breeze to find the perfect elements to bring these imaginative projects to life. Currently on sale, Hobby Lobby is the ultimate destination for high-quality faux florals and stems, ensuring endless possibilities for crafting timeless arrangements.