Four savvy tips on how to save money and brighten your home with artificial flowers
A VASE of flowers can brighten up your home on gloomy days, but fresh cuts may be pricey and will wilt before long.
Artificial blooms, arranged well, can look real and last for years, making them much better value for money.
Here’s how to create your own “forever” bouquet . . .
PICK WELL: Hobbycraft, Dunelm and Wilko are among stores selling individual stems from £1, allowing you to put together a display based on your budget.
Dominique Dashwood-Quaye specialises in artificial flower arrangements.
Find her on Instagram @thequayelifewithlove.
She says: “If you want to invest in one main display for your home, go for year-round varieties rather than seasonal.
“You can always tweak by swapping in or out focal stems.”
BERRY GOOD: For ultimate realism, use a stone or opaque vase so you can’t see the bottom of your stems.
That means you can bend them instead of cutting to height, so they can also be used in different displays in future, says Dominique.
She adds: “When picking flowers, don’t just look at the head — study the stem and the leaves, too.
“Look for a mixture of textures and variations in the foliage to mimic nature.
“Realistic berries go a long way in elevating your display, especially on wired stems, so you can bend and position them to look as realistic as possible.”
Don’t feel you need to overfill your vase.
You can use scrunched up chicken wire at the base to fill spaces and hold everything in place.
KEEP IT CLEAN: To keep your display looking its best, gently blow away dust with a hairdryer on the cold setting every few weeks.
Then wipe down the leaves with a damp cloth so they stay looking fresh.
BRANCH OUT: For quirky artificial blooms, build your own with Lego flowers.
Argos currently has offers on selected sets.
- All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability.
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