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A Tip For Making Basic Faux Stems Look Designer

Learn a simple trick to make budget-friendly faux stems look designer by extending and pairing them for a more realistic, organic appearance.

In this post, we’ll walk you through how to elevate basic faux stems by pairing and extending them, creating stunning, designer-worthy arrangements for your home.

When it comes to home decor, there is so much value in the details. One of the most transformative elements you can bring into a room is greenery, but for many of us, the maintenance of fresh plants and flowers can be a challenge. Enter faux stems—a budget-friendly, low-maintenance option that can easily mimic the beauty of fresh blooms. However, not all faux stems are created equal. If you’ve ever shopped for artificial flowers, you’ve likely noticed that high-end faux stems have a much more natural, organic appearance, often with longer, more graceful stems than the more affordable versions.

The good news is you don’t have to splurge on designer faux flowers to achieve that look. With a simple trick involving brown floral tape and budget-friendly stems, you can create realistic, lush arrangements that rival those high-end versions.

The Problem with Budget Faux Stems

Affordable faux stems are a great alternative to fresh flowers, but they often come with a few telltale signs of being less expensive. One common issue is their shorter, more rigid stems. High-end faux stems are usually longer, with a more fluid, natural appearance that mimics the graceful drape of real flowers or greenery. Short, stiff stems can make faux flowers look unnatural and artificial, detracting from the overall look of your arrangement.

Additionally, cheaper faux flowers often lack the variation in height that makes an arrangement feel organic. In nature, flowers and plants grow at different rates and have slight variations in shape and size. A good faux arrangement should reflect this natural diversity.

The example above is from faux stems I recommend and love. They are all one height and this one tip makes them even better!

The Simple Solution: Pair and Extend

One easy and cost-effective solution to make basic faux stems look more high-end is to pair and extend them using brown floral tape. This trick not only adds height to your stems, but it also helps create the more natural, flowing movement that expensive faux stems are known for. Here’s how you can do it:

What You’ll Need:

  • Budget-friendly faux stems (you’ll need two stems for each extended stem)
  • Brown floral tape (the brown color blends well with most stem colors and looks organic)
  • Wire cutters (for trimming any excess or repositioning)
  • Optional: faux greenery or leaves to fill out your arrangement
tip for faux stems

Step-by-Step Guide:

Choose Your Stems:
Start by selecting two stems of the same type of flower or greenery. When choosing, try to find stems that look as realistic as possible in terms of their leaf texture and flower shape, even if they’re shorter or less expensive. Think about the flowers and plants that are in season or would naturally appear in your home.

Pair the Stems Together:
Take two stems and place one on top of the other, overlapping their ends. The goal is to create a longer, more fluid stem that mimics the organic height variation found in nature. You can vary how much you overlap them, depending on how tall you want the final stem to be. Typically, you’ll want to add about 4 to 6 inches to the original length of the stem.

Tape the Stems with Brown Floral Tape:
Once you’ve positioned your stems, it’s time to tape them together. Use brown floral tape to secure the stems where they overlap. Start wrapping the tape tightly at the top of the overlap and work your way down, making sure to keep the tape taut as you go. Brown floral tape is ideal because it blends in with most stem colors and gives a more natural, earthy appearance than green or white tape. It will give the illusion that the stem has grown longer on its own.

Adjust the Shape and Flow:
After you’ve taped the stems, you can gently bend or curve the stem to give it a more natural flow. One of the key differences between budget faux stems and designer stems is how stiff they can appear. By giving the stem some movement and curving it ever so slightly, you create a much more organic look that mimics the way real flowers or plants grow.

Trim Any Excess:
If there’s any excess wire or tape at the bottom of your newly extended stem, use wire cutters to trim it down. You want the base of the stem to look seamless and tidy, without any obvious bumps or bulges. Keep the base of the stem thin enough to fit easily into a vase.

Repeat for More Stems:
Continue pairing and extending more faux stems to create a cohesive arrangement. You don’t have to do this for every stem, but varying the lengths of your stems will help to give your overall display a more designer feel. Mix and match different flowers, greenery, or textures to create a balanced and natural look.

Why This Technique Works

The key to creating a high-end, natural-looking faux arrangement is all about paying attention to the small details that make it feel real. By pairing stems together and extending them, you’re adding that critical height and movement that makes faux stems appear more organic and lifelike. This technique also allows you to control the height and shape of your arrangement, making it feel less static and more dynamic.

faux stems

The brown floral tape is another essential element, as it camouflages the join between the two stems. This type of tape has a matte finish that mimics the look of bark or woody stems, unlike shiny plastic or metal stems that can give away their faux nature.

Finishing Touches: Enhancing Your Arrangement

Once you’ve extended your stems, you can begin arranging them in your vase or container. To make your arrangement feel even more luxurious, consider adding some of the following elements:

  • Faux Greenery: High-end faux arrangements often incorporate a mix of florals and greenery. Eucalyptus, olive branches, or ferns can add volume and texture, making the arrangement feel fuller and more natural.
  • Height Variation: As mentioned earlier, vary the heights of your stems to create visual interest and mimic the organic growth patterns of real plants.
  • Seasonal Touches: For a fall arrangement, add faux branches with berries, pinecones, or dried wheat. In spring or summer, opt for lighter, brighter greenery.

Final Thoughts

With just a few inexpensive supplies and a little creativity, you can transform basic faux stems into high-end designer pieces that elevate your home decor. Pairing and extending stems using brown floral tape not only makes them look more realistic but also gives you greater control over the shape and flow of your arrangement. It’s a simple yet powerful technique that will make your faux flowers stand out, looking lush and natural, much like the expensive versions available in designer stores.

So next time you pick up some budget faux stems, don’t be discouraged by their short length or rigid form—just grab some floral tape and work a little magic to create a gorgeous, organic arrangement that will have everyone thinking you splurged on the real deal.

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