Sometimes, you just have to fake it...
Thoughts florals were just for spring and summer? Not so when there are so many berry, pine, burgundy and crimson autumnal arrangements on offer. But if you’re not best placed for a woodland ramble or a foresty forage, the good news is it’s easier than ever to fake it. Faux flowers are better than ever, and they’re not just about pretty spring flowers. There are myriad benefits to faux flowers (low-maintenance, allergy-free, long-lasting – we could go on. Invest in some wild foliage and more unusual leaves, flowers and branches to bring arrangements to life – and then reuse them year after year! Ideal for arrangements that you want to last – in the hallway, on the dining table, next to the bed or in the home office.
FAUX GOOD
Rooms feel more joyous with the textures and colours of foliage, so what better way to spread some natural charm throughout the home than with the new selection of faux stems from Oka? They won’t droop in a warm house and will continue to look beautiful for seasons to come.
From £4 for a single stem, oka.com
IN BLOOM
Believe it or not, this arrangement from Bloom are not the real deal. They are in fact made from silk! We love the faux florist’s seasonal arrangements for its rich, autumnal shades and instant tabletop impact.
Autumn faux flower arrangement, from £7 for a stem, bloom.uk.com
HARD TO TWIG
Fox Flowers’ fresh collection takes must-be-real blooms to the next level, featuring bunches of lilac stems, nigella petals and eucalyptus willow, all hand-tied in gloriously rustic hessian wraps.
Just don’t be surprised when guests try to smell them.
Lilac gift bunch, £155, foxflowers.co.uk
FAUX REAL
Ideal to see you through the winter months when local fresh flowers are naturally less abundant, modern artificial stems have intricate changes in colour and subtle shifts in texture which add authenticity.
You’ll find a variety of ready-made arrangements at Fox Flowers, with prices starting from £100. Or if you prefer, you can select individual stems to create your own display from a choice of blooms and foliage, from £9 a stem.
Hydrangea Galore, H98xW90cm, £1,690 including delivery, foxflowers.co.uk.
If you are feeling extravagant, treat yourself to the made-to-order Hydrangea Galore (pictured here), an impressive arrangement of 45 stems featuring hydrangea blooms and mixed foliage, including eucalyptus, willow and fig leaves, in a handmade vase. It will last forever, needing little more than an occasional light dusting.
ON THE SCENT
One thing faux flowers can’t offer, of course, is fragrance. That’s where Marcel Wanders comes to the rescue. Never one to do things by the book, his new fragrance collection for Alessi is every bit as wild as you might hope. It features diffusers, scented candles and room sprays that capture the essence of the four seasons. Our favourite? This Brrr Leaf diffuser.
Leaf diffuser, £59, alessi.com
LASTING BEAUTY
Florist Philippa Craddock, whose floral designs featured at the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, has launched a range of faux flowers in collaboration with the V&A. Inspired by the museum’s rich archive of botanical studies, the collection of hand-painted flowers includes wild meadow and tropical varieties with prices from £12 for a single stem.
Flowers, philippacraddock.com
FLORAL DAYS OUT
Still can’t get enough flowers? Spend the day on 10 October with The Land Gardeners (thelandgardeners.com) and The Flower Appreciation Society at its London studio for a Growing & Arranging Cut Flowers event, where you will learn how to design your own cut flower garden. The day costs £245 and includes tea, a seasonal lunch and an arrangement of flowers to take home.
Can’t get to town? Those in the West County can get in the mood for the festive season with Grace Alexander Flowers for A Country Christmas. The day takes place in Mello View, Somerset, the popular self-sufficient homestead featured on Grand Designs.
Together, you’ll style a festive table, break for a delicious lunch, then spend the afternoon making wild, natural and foraged wreaths.
When Saturday 8 December 2018, 10am to 4pm
Where Mello View, Winsham, Somerset
Need to know A Country Christmas costs £145. All tools, ingredients and lunch are provided. To book, visit gracealexanderflowers.co.uk.
