How to arrange artificial flowers

Before we get stuck into the flower arranging, we'll start with a subtle plug for our fab fauxs. We know that most loves the look and scent of a fresh bunch of flowers, but as each day passes their colours fade, flowers wilt and eventually you’re left with no choice but to put them to rest in the compost bin.

Choosing faux stems means you can enjoy the same colour, style and beauty, without the hassle of replacing them or any allergy issues. You can learn more about the choice between real and faux on our blog post here or learn about scenting faux flowers here.

Artificial flower arrangement tips

Right, let's get started. There is a lot more to flower arranging than just bunging a few stems into a vase. Our simple guide below will guide you through the steps from picking the right floral design, choosing a vase, figuring out which stems to start and technique. Our tips and simple steps will help you become a flower arranging pro in no time.

Decide on the right flower arrangement design 

Consider the impact you want your flowers to have – do you want a statement piece, or something more subtle?  

Bouquets are typically grand, spherical and quite ‘tidy looking’, and feature an array of similarly coloured stems with roughly equal numbers of each stem Bouquets tend to dominate the space and are the focal point of a room.

Taller sparse arrangements have become trendy in recent years. These focus on a handful of stem types which all tend to be tall and eye-catching. However, these arrangements don't dominate the space they sit in, but rather complement it.

Flower bunches and posies are similar to that of store-bought flowers and are typically much smaller in size and less imposing. They have the characteristics of both trendy arrangements and bouquets, but typically feature a wider array of colours, such as – pinks, yellows and oranges. 

Centrepieces are grand and eye-catching, however – unlike bouquets – they are typically shorter in height, and take up more counter space meaning they aren’t the easiest arrangement to style.  

Where to display your artificial flower arrangement? 

Unlike store-bought flowers, artificial flowers aren't limited to where they can be placed. Faux florals can be used to brighten darker spaces in your home or just to introduce a pop of colour!  

Here are our recommendations for where you could display your arrangement:

A bouquet will look great on a large dining table or sideboard due to its grand size and shape. If it's for commercial use, placing one in conference areas or receptions is a simple way to add some eye-catching colour.

Bunches, posies and other small flower arrangements are more delicate so work well for smaller spaces, such as bedside tables, coffee tables or windowsills.

From seasonal indoor events, to extravagant outdoor dinners, floral arrangements are a staple for tablescaping (the art of decorating a dining table for the uninitiated!). If you are going faux, our artificial stems can be used for temporary use outside, however we do not advise leaving them permanently outside as this could cause the colours to fade over time.

Planning your focal point 

Having one or two stems you want to focus on can help structure the rest of the arrangement. Maybe it’s a statement colour that you want as your focal point or a large, dramatic stem – such as our artificial delphinium stem, or a large foliage spray which will form the centre of your design.  

For larger bouquets, we recommend having three of your statement stem type to ensure your bouquet has an even distribution and shape.  

Single stem flowers 

Colour palettes, complimentary and contrasting colours and stem types are all important considerations when choosing your stems. We have some tips below, but ultimately choose what you'll love.

Choose the right colours 

You’ll probably have an idea of the colours you want to include and the way that you want your flowers to look before you begin. However, before you shop consider compatible colours but it’s important to consider the effect that you want your arrangement to have on your space.  

Introducing the colour wheel

The colour wheel is used across design for compatibility and contrasting colours. Typically compatible colours sit next to your main colour, while contrasting colours sit on the opposite side of the wheel. Both options can provide really effective, and professional, designs verses mish-mashes of colours.

How does colour affect mood?

For example, lots of greenery will have a calming effect on your space, yellow will add uplifting cheer, red will bring exciting energy and blue will add a sense of safety and reduce tension in your space.  

As well as choosing colours based on their psychological effects, you should consider your existing colour palette and which shades will complement it best. 

If your space is quite neutral, it might benefit from a bold pop of colour from vibrant sunflowers or brightly coloured tulips, whereas if it’s already quite a busy space you may want something a little more muted like white lilies, delicate blossom or dainty gypsophilia sprays.  

For more information on flower colours, check out our ‘the meaning and psychology of flower colours’ blog.  

Seasonal arrangement considerations 

Change up your arrangement to fit the season! Add some winter spice with a holly spray, or warm up your arrangement, ready for summer with a faux sunflower stem. If you create a basic, foliage/filler-heavy arrangement, you can easily add and remove stems to fit most appropriately to each time of year! 

Select your stems 

Once you’ve nailed your colour choices, it’s time to choose the types of stems that you’ll include in your faux floral arrangement. Of course, you can simply pair your favourite flowers together and call it a day, but chances are that it’ll look far better when mixed with some foliage and other textures.  

It’s always best to include some greenery like our silver dollar eucalyptus or clematis spray, as well as more interesting textures like our thistle stem, viburnum or China grass as a mixture of flowers and foliage will really help to bring your arrangement to life and make you look like a pro!  

Try to include a focal flower in your arrangement, something larger or more interesting than the other stems. Our larkspur spray and delphinium stem work great for this!  

You can also play around with height. Use a few taller stems in the middle, keep some short ones on the outsides and have fun with it until you’re happy.  

It’s nature after all so it doesn’t matter if it’s not perfect! 

How many stems will you need? 

The amount of stems you will need varies depending on which arrangement style you have chosen and the size of your vase.  

For an average-sized bouquet of around 60cm tall, you’ll probably want somewhere around 25 stems in total, made up of around 5-10 different flowers and foliage. Smaller arrangements – such as bunches and small centrepieces – can be comprised of 10 stems. As these are smaller arrangements, you could choose to have all unique stems or have 10 of the same stem! It’s entirely up to you!  

There are no strict rules so you can play around with the size of your arrangement until you’re happy. 

How to arrange an artificial bouquet 

Anyone can just throw some flowers into a vase and call it a day, but that’s not for us. We think everyone is capable of creating their own show-stopping arrangement! Be sure to wow your guests, and learn how to create your very own everlasting arrangement in the video below.

What you’ll need 

• Some string or jute twine 

• Pliers or wire cutters  

• Tape  

• A vase or container  

10 simple steps for arranging flowers 

Now you're ready to get started arranging, here are our 10 simple steps to go from flower beginner to expert in a flash. Start with a clear space and your equipment to hand, and we'll jump right in... 

1. Organise stems into colour and flower type  

Start off by laying your stems out in groups of similar colours and flower types, then bend out the leaves and flowers so that the foliage is nicely spread out. For more information on ‘fluffing’ out your faux flowers, check out our ‘how to pull off fake plants’ blog.   

2. Choose a centrepiece or focal point  

If you have an odd stem that stands out from the rest, start your faux floral arrangement off with this and build the rest around it! 

3. Begin adding stems diagonally  

Holding the first stem in your hand, begin adding more stems in by laying them diagonally over the top of each other. 

It’s really important that you try to keep your hand relaxed while you’re doing this otherwise, your bunch or bouquet will end up looking very tightly formed, whereas it will look much better if its stems are allowed to spread out a little. 

4. Twist & repeat  

Once you’ve finished one layer of flowers including three or four stems, twist or spiral them in your hand, add another layer of flowers and keep repeating. 

Try to spread your stems out instead of clumping lots of the same type together so that the colours and flower types are evenly spread throughout your bouquet.  

If you have three of the same stem in your arrangement, try adding the stems in a triangular formation to ensure they are spread evenly throughout the bunch or bouquet.  

5. Use larger leaves or foliage to frame  

You should start to see your flowers taking form as you go along. When you’re nearly done, you can use any larger leaves to frame the outside of your arrangement. 

6. Balance your stems  

Take a look at your arrangement from the top down and check to see that it’s nicely balanced and that no colours or flowers are clumped together, you might find this step easier to do with a mirror. 

Sometimes the flowers in the middle can get a little lost, so you may need to pull them up so that you get a nice arch. 

7. Adjust until you're happy  

Keep adjusting your bouquet until you’re happy. If you want to add any stems to the middle, simply loosen your grip and push them in. 

8. Tie with string or ribbon  

Using a piece of tape to hold your stems secure, take some ribbon or string and tie a bow around the stems, removing the tape once you’ve finished. 

9. Trim your stems 

Next, sit your arrangement beside your vase and see whether you’ll need to trim the stems to fit your container. 

Just take your pliers or wire cutters and snip the ends of your stems until your bouquet fits. If you need any help with this, we have a quick how to cut stems guide here. 

10. Add your bouquet to your vase  

Then finally, pop your arrangement in your vase and admire your work!  

Don't fret about getting it perfect, especially on your first go, as you can always take your bouquet apart and start again.

Arranging artificial flowers in a window box  

Creating an artificial window box is just as easy as creating an arrangement! To learn more about creating an artificial window box, check out the how to make an artificial window box blog post! 

How to arrange a hanging basket  

Want to know how to create your own outdoor hanging basket? Our quick and easy guide on how to make artificial hanging baskets will teach you all the best tips and tricks on arranging your very own faux basket! 

Arranging artificial flowers for a centrepiece 

If you plan to create a centrepiece, you will need some floral oasis to use as a base – the floral foam will also help secure the stems into place.  

Simply use your floral foam as a guide for how you want the arrangement to look. For centrepieces, it is important to concentrate the flowers more into the centre of the arrangement, allowing the outer perimeter of the arrangement to be mainly foliage- If you want a cascading, bohemian look, use trailing stems on the shorter ends of the arrangement to create a waterfall-esc effect.  

Common flower arranging mistakes to avoid  

When creating any arrangement, it is important to vary the height of stems so that the arrangement can flourish – this step is particularly important for centrepieces, where the stems varied height is pivotal to the design.  

Tying the stems too tightly can create a cramped arrangement that also doesn’t let the flowers flourish, while tying the fauxs too loose will make the arrangement lose its structure and look sparse 

Hopefully by now, you're well on your way to creating the perfect arrangement like a pro! Check out our inspirations gallery for some further styling ideas or general inspirational content!  

Need some help? 

If you need any help at all, let us know and we'll be happy to walk you through the steps, and are happy to help with any general advice.