A New Perspective on Decorating with Silk Flowers

It’s easy to feel good about my orchid silk flowers: I know that they were the right purchase to make. Too bad I didn’t come to that conclusion sooner… It was while I was away on a trip that it occurred to me: there was nobody to water my plant. Yes, just one plant, but a beauty: a pastel white orchid. This delicate wonder was my most recent addition to my décor. It had caught my eye, and my breath when spotted at the local flo rist. The price itself was staggering, but I left the store that day armed with detailed care instructions and firm resolve that this time I would lovingly tend to the care and well- being of a house plant. Then I hopped on a plane and completely forgot about the commitment and the orchid - until it was too late. There was a burial in the compost heap as soon as I returned. During the memorial service I had to confront the fact that I was missing the houseplant gene and it was time to move on. When I looked into tropical silk flowers, I was amazed at what I learned.

Decorating with silk flowers is not what it used to be. The days of stiff, waxy fake-looking fabric floral arrangements are gone. Today’s tropical silk flowers are sophisticated, elegant and so close to the real thing that you will probably have to stop yourself from watering them. What’s different?

Silk Flowers Aren't Made of Silk?

Though they may still be called ‘silk flowers’ they are not made from the stuff anymore (actually, many if the old-fashioned ones were made of crepe paper which held neither color nor form well.) The best of them are now made from synthetic fibers. The higher the quality of these fibers, the better they hold their shape and color. Artists create high tech sculpted molds of the individual components: petals, stamens, stalks and leaves that are highly detailed. The fibers are then ‘melted’ (heat-pressed) into these molds.

Works of Art

Skilled artisans design the molds, paint the pieces, assemble and arrange the components. The creations are botanically precise; the pieces are unique, intricate and durable. Painters apply color in amazing and intricate, subtle and precise detail, using labor-intensive shading and gradations that bring the pieces to life. The components are then combined, assembled and arranged. The result is unique and organic shapes and textures of individual flowers that look surprisingly real.

I Can’t Believe it’s Not Water.

Many makers of decorative silk flowers are as sophisticated as their products. Some offer a special acrylic substance in their decorator vases that looks like water. It is actually a clear acrylic that has been ‘hardened’ in the vase and (again) has a very real appearance. This offers the look of cut flowers soaking in water.

Easy to Clean

Although decorator flowers are not totally maintenance-free, they are the next best thing. They will need to be dusted once in a while, but because the better ones have a durable construction this won’t be a fussy task. Every few months they will need a ‘cleaning’ but manufacturers have even made this part easy, with some offering a cleaning fluid that is quick dry (some are just spray on and go, no need to wipe off!)

Ready to Go!

Some of the makers also package their arrangement (for shipping purposes) ‘ready to display. The flowers, greenery and vase (or pot) is co-ordinated and arranged so that all the recipient need do is unpack and the arrangement is ready to be showcased in your home.

My orchid silk flowers are life-like, long-lasting, easy to care for (!) sturdy, and come in a wide range of colors, shapes and sizes. I am now part of the ‘trending’ of tropical silk flowers - Grandma would be surprised and proud!

About the Author:

Leigh LaCava, publisher of FreshSilkFlowers.com, recommends low maintenance silk flowers for easy home decorating. Leigh has decorated her home with a variety of silk flower arrangements and lives in Los Angeles, California, with her husband Jeff and their 15-year-old daughter, Ava.