Why Go Artificial?

Artificial flowers have a tremendously long history; the ancient Egyptians created them from thin shavings of coloured animal horn, the Romans made wax flowers to decorate their villas and over 1500 years ago in China, silk flowers were made for ladies in the Imperial Palace to wear in their hair.

The popularity of artificial flowers has fluctuated over time, but they are now enjoying a resurgence. Gone are the days when they were dusty, garish horrors in your nan's spare room. Now, they are key players in the ongoing flower-wall trend and are available everywhere, from supermarkets to shops on the high street and everything in between. The range of outlets selling them is as wide as the quality on offer.

But be warned, not all modern artificial flowers are equal; surprisingly even some of the big names in the faux flower world sell some that are far from natural looking. However, when you come across ultra-realistic flowers and foliage, it can be truly astonishing, leaving you hard-pressed to tell the difference even on close inspection. The variety on offer is vast; from the raw beauty of wildflowers and grasses to the prettiest of summer ones. Some even have petals that are real to the touch, so much so, that even your fingers would be hard pressed to tell the difference.

When buying in person, always check out the leaves as these seem to be the most tricky thing to get right. If the flower itself is gorgeous but the leaves shriek artificial, consider stripping the leaves from the stem. That way, when arranged with other flowers or foliage (real or otherwise), the stripped stems and lack of leaves will be hidden. Blending real and artificial like this extends the lifespan of last week's tired bouquet, transforming it into something fresh and new. When buying online, always ensure the shop has a no quibble returns policy. 

Buy the best you can but be warned, they don't come cheap however they last for years, work tirelessly hard and provide increasing flexibility as you add to your collection. While this up-front cost may seem daunting, they work out less expensive than fresh ones over time. 

 So why have artificial when you can have real?

• Faux flowers don't have seasons so are always available.
• They are allergy free; allowing people who spend their time sneezing around live flowers to enjoy the beauty without the aggravation.
• They are versatile and can be placed anywhere - they don't mind draughty rooms or being next to radiators.
• They can be mixed in with fresh flowers to bulk out bouquets or create a new look. They last for years, needing only a shake or dust.
• They are deceptively realistic.

Choosing between fresh or faux is not a binary choice. Everyone loves fresh flowers; I have jugs of them everywhere from the garden during the summer months, but I wouldn't be without my artificial ones either. Both have a place in my home.