May Martha Stewart roll over in her gardening bed (have you seen her lately? The lady looks incredible). Most stylists are pretty anti-faux plants, flowers, and branches simply because the real stuff is so much prettier, more organic/nuanced/special-looking, etc. Then there is the whole plastic issue with fake flowers, which isn’t awesome, and of course, the dust, hearkening to the 90s era general badness of styling and decor. Martha does not approve, to say the least.
Well, a few weeks after I styled/shot my brother’s house for the big reveal (coming so soon!) I went over to their house, and all the real pretty summer branches were either dead or the vases were empty. The once pretty vignettes looked sad, and then I got sad. But I know my brother and Katie and knew that they needed my help: Not only do they not want the pressure to make sure everything looks perfect per their sister’s request, but they aren’t sure what to clip, what to buy, what looks good in what type of vase, etc. And frankly, a bad real flower arrangement is worse than no flower arrangement at all (really showing my snobbery for flowers here).
My general ethos as a designer is to create homes that reduce people’s stress, not add to it, so I offered to pick out and buy them faux flowers/branches. They said yes (with relief). What we found blew us away (it’s not the 90s anymore).
And listen, while this isn’t my thing at my house, I recognize that I’m privileged enough to live on a property with a ton of real flowers and trees right outside my door, and furthermore, I genuinely love clipping and arranging flowers and branches around my house. It comes very easy to me (lol… after like 20 years of experience – women need to stop saying that things are easy when really we are just skilled from decades of hard work). But not everyone is in my position, and you can’t have sad, dead branches, empty vases, random flower arrangements from the grocery store, or even worse – really ugly fake flowers. My brother’s new faux summer branches that we bought and arranged looked incredibly real… until fall came and the “Queen Anne’s lace” and “cherry blossoms” became glaringly fake (to me) because those flowers can’t exist in September (this is key to the faux branch program – non-seasonal flowers look extra fake). So, in the name of making sure their house, that I worked so hard on for 4 years, looks beautiful year-round, in every season, I offered again to switch the summer “branches” out for fall, and once again, after shopping A TON, we found some that look FANTASTIC. I think I just put the final nail in my career coffin of ever working for Martha, but here we go.
Faux Oversized Eucalyptus Branch | Faux Japanese Maple Stem | Faux Black Plum Leaf | Faux Sedum Stem | Faux Seeded Eucalyptus Stem | Faux Turning Aspen Branch | Faux Blue Sea Holly Stem | Faux Burgundy Cosmo Stem | Faux Meadow Sedge Stem (similar) | Faux Siberian Elm Branch | Faux Autumn Leaves Branch
These were the absolute best of the best (we bought a lot more). The key to why these work is in the tone of the flower/leaf (i.e., not bright green and not shiny) and the shape of the stem (I arranged all the stems to be really organic and “random” like a real plant would be). I tried to hide the underside of some of the green leaves (that give it away). It also doesn’t hurt that all the vases are pretty dang good.
See those pretty flowers poking in on the coffee table? Those sparked it all. They look incredibly real and made me rethink the entire category (and my snobbery). We didn’t take a full shot (we came back for portraits weeks after we shot the reveal, but I never reshot the coffee table with the fake stuff).
Faux Burgundy Cosmo Stem | Vase
But here they are – and the way they flop and style really help them look even more real. The deep, dark color is really pretty and subtle, with some color variation but not too much. I actually think these are appropriate for all four seasons, and they style so easily in a vase.
Faux Autumn Leaves Branch | Vase (unavailable)
These were so pretty (and large) and flopped perfectly to look so real and dramatic. Great for an entry table or somewhere that you need the height and volume.
Faux Autumn Leaves Branch | Vase (unavailable)
We shopped at Target, World Market, Crate and Barrel, West Elm, and CB2, and Crate had the best (but are the most expensive, of course).
Faux Turning Aspen Branch | Vase
We put these in their mudroom (didn’t take a photo, sorry), and they looked pretty real. Green with a hint of “turning” to red.
Faux Seeded Eucalyptus Stem | Vase
These look really real right now, they are everywhere outside, and since eucalyptus dries really well, you can get away with them in a pretty vase like that for months while looking real.
Faux Sedum Stem | Vase (similar)
In their powder bathroom, we put these sweet little dark red sedums. The powder bath is the only bathroom I consistently make sure has fresh sprigs since people actually see it, so not going to lie that I feel a bit tempted to do this.
Faux Siberian Elm Branch | Vase
These more spindly branches work so well in here – it picks up on the gold and burgundy of the painting (ooh!!! sneak peek of the dining room styling!!!). These were oddly expensive, and they need a big bulbous vase to offset the spindly-ness (i.e., not a tall skinny vase).
Faux Black Plum Leaf | Vase (similar)
These guys, from Target, are excellent (shout out to Joanna Gaines). By far the most budget-friendly and also excellent of the group (10/10). The color is perfect, and nothing about them looks fake, even up close.
Faux Small Golden Leaf Branch | Vase
Another fantastic fall branch that looks so real. I think that branches are easier to execute than flowers in the faux department, FYI. These work so well in most rooms.
Faux Japanese Maple Stem | Vase (similar)
These wild Japanese maples were really well executed. Again with the color variation in the leaves and the organic shape of the stems.
Faux Blue Sea Holly Stem | Vase
Now, I feel like I could have styled these a little better (we were in a huge hurry, TBH) and these are too straight up and out, but I still think they are great and they are living there forever 🙂
Faux Oversized Eucalyptus Branch | Vase
These are HUGE oversized eucalyptus that we thought could work in the house, but they need either a huge entry table or a credenza against a wall (too big for a dining table). But they were very real-looking with a nice tone.
So there you have it – never say never 🙂 Always learning, right? So again, if clipping outside or shopping for seasonal greens brings you joy, let’s stick to the real deal. But you aren’t alone if having a really good faux version makes you love your home more and makes your life easier. I hope some of these help 🙂
*Photos by Kaitlin Green
Shall we just ignore that incredible green RUG!? Or will details come later
Yes! That rug got me!
I love this! But can you do this again with “best year round” stems? I can’t be the only one who doesn’t have the space, time or mental bandwidth to store and swap out seasonal stems. I want my home to look nice but in a “one and done, don’t have to think about it again” way.
I had green eucalyptus branches at my old house. Real eucalyptus is pretty much always available at my grocery store, so it doesn’t feel tied to a particular season.
that’s a great choice. I think most green branches are more year round, or dried flowers or dark leafed flowers. its the bigger peonies blooms that ring fake in the middle of January.
I think I’m going to tackle this project in the next few days. Who doesn’t love the real deal, but these make life so much simpler.
These are gorgeous! I want the Siberian elm branch! Here’s my business pitch, anyone feel free to steal it: can we make these but biodegradable? Feels like after a year or two they get dusty and gross and *maybe* they can be cleaned a few times before their finish starts to wash off but they’re ultimately kind of a disposable good so being made from not plastic would be a benefit.
I think there probably are some? I should look. Honestly I don’t think if they are kept in a normal room (like not high up) that they get very dusty. probably just a good shake outside would do it … I still think a lot of these last for years (hopefully).
I bet one of those keyboard cleaners would get the dust off them too.
I’ve seen some really beautiful paper flowers on Etsy. They are clearly not real, but they aren’t trying to look real and they still add the sculptural look and pop of color.
Just buy a real branch from a florist or farmer. I’ve had bay leaf greens from McFadden Family Farms shipped to me and several friends in other states (as house warming gifts)… Something like that is wonderful… Long lasting color, natural aroma, edible, and biodegradable.
This is a great idea. I just can’t support producing more pointless plastic stuff. Medical supplies, fine. Fake branches, no way.
Martha Stewart actually has a line of artificial flowers that are gorgeous. I bought some at Homegoods to decorate my granddaughters fairy themed stroller for a baby parade 🙂
HAHAH. oh really? I just remember when I worked there as an assistant stylist (freelance) it was blasphemy, offensive, etc. good to know!
I’d love to know how many stems are in each arrangement in this post to achieve the styled look. #sheneedsallthehelpshecanget 🙂
Yes please, came to say the same! I find that can be the trickiest part!
FWIW, for the ones from Crate & Barrel (sedum, small golden leaf), the item description on their website tells you how many stems they used in their photo.
Most had 2-3 I think 🙂
I’ve bought some stems from the Bloomist and the quality is exceptional. I use a “frog” in the bottom of my vases to keep the stems in place. (For some reason, I can’t post a comment the includes the link but Google bloomist.com and browse through the botanicals collection)
hey are good! I tried to order in time for the shoot but they weren’t going to make it, I should link them up in the post thought. there are also a lot of dried flowers that could work (I have some in my guest room that have lasted since we shot it over 2 years ago actually).
Thank you! Can you note how many stems were used in each vase to get the specific look you’re displaying – I always end up with too many or too little.
They sure to do look real but knowing they are plastic kills the joy for me. I’ll opt for empty vases and occasional clippings or bodega bunches instead. I think what makes this decor special is that isn’t available 100% of the time…
Love this post. I also got some fake hydrangeas from the Martha Stewart brand at HomeGoods. Really looks real!! We just came back from a trip to the Netherlands (family) and was sooooooo surprised to see artificial flowers really everywhere. The Netherlands is the biggest FLOWER COUNTRY ever (tulips!) and even there people are using artificial, but the quality is so so good. I heard because real flowers are becoming so expensive and only last for 1-2 weeks. I have to say I really enjoy the whole process of going to a flower shop (they are so good over there, and compared to here, still so affordable!!) and pick out the flowers for the coming week but I can also understand the ease and in the end the cost-saving aspect. I made a picture of a bouquet I saw in a store (Sissy Boy) and it was gorgeous (and fake;-)), I wish I could add it here.
I agree. real flowers (the good ones) have become almost prohibitively expensive AND so many of them come from so far away that I feel bad that they only last for a week at most. I can’t get my head around having them just for an event or a party, so expensive and so much work/travel for just one day. I want to support local florists for sure (and def farmers markets in the spring/summer from local farms) but its hard at times to make it make sense.
I have invested in some high quality silk flowers. I have realistic spring/early summer lilacs, peonies. and iris. I have both green and white flowering viburnum branches.
I have a very tall floor vase that has tall bougainvillia branches in it right now. In the fall, I put in tall branches of crabapples.
II just bought three fall stems. A gorgeous dahlia with a huge blossom and a small bud, a large chrysanthemum, and a stem of several zinnias. I put those in with my mid summer hydrangeas.
With those super realistic, seasonal flowers, I can mix in some less expensive branches and background stems.
It’s fun to arrange a bouquet for the season, adding and subtracting, and tweaking the stems. I don’t really think dust is a problem, maybe because I change them out, give them a good shake, and wrap them in tissue to store.
I also really like our electrostatic air purifier that is attached to our HVAC system. My husband has a dust allergy, and we just don’t have a dusty house.
Uggghh… I just spent ages looking for the least offensive faux branches for our mantle. I’ve been buying fresh branches for months, but they’ve been getting more expensive and it was starting to feel wasteful. I landed on a set of faux eucalyptus from Marks & Spencer (we live in Ireland), but no matter how good it looks, I will know the truth and it KILLS ME!!
I loooove faux flowers and branches because I have a demon cat who will not rest until he has decimated every single bud, leaf, stem, branch, and root of a real plant or flower arrangement. I curated my houseplant collection to be pet safe, only to watch him chomp and pluck and uproot everything! Thankfully he doesn’t even attempt to attack the fake ones. Thanks for the roundup!
Martha Stewart is about as artificial as these faux plants. Interesting post, but neither are my cup of tea.
These are all so very beautiful! I use a mix of real plants interspersed with fake ones here and there, as my house unfortunately doesn’t get a lot of natural light. I really never thought about displays with just branches and I love it! I am, however, dismayed at the cost of a lot of these…no way I can afford to do this in more than one vase (maybe the world market one!). I do find the occasional realistic-enough flower arrangement at thrift stores, but it’s pretty rare as so many donated ones can be garish. I’ll keep my eyes peeled now for different types of branches!
This is a great list!! As someone who’s lazy to take care of flowers, I love buying dried flowers as well! They last forever (well until their color goes away after months). I was also very anti-faux plants but there’s a corner in my house with no natural light and I ended up buying a large faux plant on FB marketplace, it’s very high quality and most people are surprised to find out it’s fake!