Essential Silk Flowers Advice
Silk flowers have come a long way over the years. While you can most likely still find cheap and unrealistic varieties in discount or craft shops. When you shop for artificial flowers, it's best to consult a professional and reputable florist. Florists stock quality silk blooms that are designed to perfectly resemble the real thing. Below you will find tips on how to choose silk flowers and how to keep them beautiful.
Do your research
Like all things in life, research will really pay off at the end of the day. If you have a specific type or types of flowers in mind, you should research them to find out what they look like in their natural form. Look at the flowers as well as the leaves so that you know what the faux flowers need to live up to
Colour choices
With your research in mind, you should always choose realistic colours. Bright neon coloured flowers do not exist in nature which means that your silk bouquet will be easily identified as artificial. If you want them to look as realistic as possible, then you need natural colours. Some flowers are only available in one or a handful of colours. Make sure that you choose the natural colour of that particular flower.
Choose quality
If you are making an investment, you should always look for quality silk blooms. Yes, they will cost a bit more but it will pay off in the long run. They look more realistic and they will last longer too.
Avoid extra thick stems
When a bunch of artificial flowers are wired individually before being enclosed in thick plastic create the impression of a single thick stem. If you love the flowers but are not too fond of the thick stem, you can always choose a vase that will hide the stem instead of using a clear glass one.
Dividing the bunch
Your faux flowers will usually come in a bunch but there is nothing stopping you from separating these bunches. You will need wire cutters to get the job done. Avoid using scissors because you will dull them or possibly break them completely.
Keep it simple
Many people think that artificial flowers are not elegant but this could not be further from the truth. They can be wonderfully elegant if you follow the steps above and choose a limited number of colours. Two to three different colours in a single bouquet will be perfect for creating an elegant display.
Cleaning
You will need to dust your faux flowers regularly to ensure that they look natural. Natural fresh flowers do not have time to gather dust. This is why dust is a dead giveaway that your flowers are fake. There are many ways of doing this. Check with your flower supplier for their recommended cleaning process.
Avoid sunlight
Just like fresh flowers, you should keep your silk flowers away from direct sunlight or they will fade. Sources of heat can also be damaging. If you wish to store one bouquet and put another faux bouquet on display, make sure that you clean the flowers before storing them. Store in an airtight container and place in a dry, cool place out of the sun.
Mix fresh and faux
Fresh and silk flowers can be used together in flower arrangements provided your artificial blooms look realistic enough. You do not want there to be an obvious difference between the two.
Now, with all this in mind, it's good to remember that there are also so exceptions. For example, if you are creating a Halloween flower arrangement, you might want to add orange and black elements. In this case, black artificial flowers like roses will make a fine addition. Pair with pumpkin orange flowers and you are all set.
