You would never know these faux stems were fake.
Our homes often feel a bit empty after all the holiday décor comes down. The Christmas decorations and Valentine’s Day accessories have been packed away, leaving our spaces feeling somewhat bare. But a simple and beautiful solution to this problem is spring stems.
Designer Sarah Grover suggests that spring stems are an excellent way to fill those empty spaces around your home, from your entryway table to your mantel. Now is the perfect time to invite the colors and florals of spring into our homes.
One of the best things about spring stems is that they can be faux. Yes, you read that right. Faux spring stems can be not only beautiful, but also incredibly realistic. They offer a practical and long-lasting solution to home décor.
Where to Put Faux Stems
Sarah suggests placing faux stem arrangements in various parts of your home. She likes to use them to add brightness to the kitchen, living room, and entryway.
“Really… a pop of color in every room is so needed, even if it’s just greenery,” she said.
Adding that organic element to your home can make it feel more lively and vibrant.
Seasonal Stem Switching
When it comes to seasonal décor, you don’t necessarily need to switch out your stems every season. If your home is already bright and you’re adding in greens to contrast with it, you can keep the same stems throughout the year.
“It just depends on your taste,” Sarah said. “If you’re utilizing those good, everyday greeneries, you can add colors into it and not take everything out.”
You can keep a general base and then mix and match different pieces now and then.
“Just add a few extra things in with the season. That’s what good stems will do for you,” Sarah said.
If you want to switch things out with some fall stems or Christmas stems during those times of year, you totally can.
How to Choose the Right Stems
Choosing the right stems can be tricky. Sarah advises looking for stems that have a nice branch off of the main stem.
“You’re looking for that dramatic effect where branches that come off have different sizes of petals and leaves. If everything is the same size, it’s going to look fake right away. In nature, nothing is the same size,” Sarah emphasized.
Also, pay attention to the color. Naturally, stems and leaves are not all the same color, so look for different tones of greens.
“You’ll see darker green with lighter green and cream. That’s going to help it look more natural and more real,” Sarah advised.
Avoid shiny stems!
“These are not your mother’s old florals. Shiny stems are a major giveaway that they are fake,” Sarah said.
A matte look is more natural and organic. Once you’ve picked out your stems and brought them home, don’t worry if they’re too long. You can easily bend a good stem to fit your vase.
Stem Styling Rules
- Shop for longer stems. That way, you can bend them to fit your vase, and, it helps them stand up nicely. Sarah likes a 32″ stem or longer.
- Use an odd numbers of stems.
- Start with a color for your base. Use a minimum of three stems of that base color. You can add more, but stay within those odd numbers.
- Fluff as you go.
- Add a filler. Eucalyptus is a really good option any time of year. Again, work in odd numbers.
- Match your green shades. Make sure your filler green and the leaves of your color stems are the same shade. Bringing in something darker or lighter adds too much contrast rather than giving you a soft, organic look.
Find more home design inspiration from Sarah at sarahgroverhome.com, or on Instagram, @sarahgroverhome.
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