If you’ve ever wondered why your faux branches look fake? Here’s a simple tip to transform them and make them look so much more real.

// blue and white artwork (similar) // red pomegranate stems //

In AMAZING NEWS?

We just finished painting the entryway.

If you need an amazing white paint color? SW Pure White is the perfect shade of white. It’s a soft, clean shade of white with slightly warm undertones and it works well with cool colors as well as warm colors.

It doesn’t feel stark, and it makes the room feel classic.

Now that the walls are painted, I changed up the corner of the entryway just a little with a hint of fall and new artwork.

I went to arrange the pomegranates in the glass vase in the corner.

And I used one of the best tips to transform faux flowers.

It’s such an easy way to make them look less fake.

Here’s why faux branches look fake (and how to fix them).

// blue and white artwork (similar) // red pomegranate stems //

Let’s start with this little corner.

It’s right by the back door.

It used to be painted SW Sandbar, but now it’s painted SW Pure White.

I know I mentioned it before, but isn’t it the prettiest color?

// blue and white artwork (similar) // red pomegranate stems //

This little corner is right by the back door, next to the office entrance and the door to the stairs.

I added this cabinet that was headed to the thrift store and a blue and white painting I had hanging upstairs.

And then?

It was time to add a hint of fall.

Nothing too much.

Just a whisper.

// wicker cloche (similar) //

I found these white ceramic turkeys at the antique mall downtown.

Then I filled this cloche with a wicker base with white pumpkins.

You can see a similar cloche here.

// blue and white artwork (similar) // red pomegranate stems //

And then?

It was time to add a little bit of fall color.

I LOVE these pomegranate stems so much. Don’t they look fancy?

You can see them here.

They come in a set of four and they are 31″ long (it’s important to note that I cut them so they would fit the glass vase).

Truth?

They DID NOT look like the pictures in this post.

Not even close.

I had to make a few changes to make them look a little more real.

Are you ready?

Here’s the secret.

It’s a little Captain Obvious, but SO MANY people forget.

When you open the package and take out the branches, they are all squished together. The stems are flat. They are lifeless.

So many people fluff out the branches slightly and put them in a vase.

NO.

JUST NO.

1. First of all—you want to take your time. Enjoy the process. Pretend like you are a professional floral designer and this is your one mission of the day—to arrange the stems like artwork.

(Total aside: I know that seems silly, but when you are arranging flowers, mindset truly matters.)

2. Take ONE branch. Then touch EVERY SINGLE part of the branch. Fluff every part of the branch. Pull the leaves apart. Twist the branches. Separate the smaller branches on the stem.

3. Then? This is the big tip—TWIST THE ENTIRE BRANCH. It’s so easy to forget. You don’t want your branch to be straight up and down. You want it to look like a branch in nature. Bend it slightly. Squoosh it a little. Branch imperfection is the goal.

4. Next, place that ONE branch in the vase. Let it droop a little. Let it be imperfect.

5. Repeat the entire process with the next branch.

6. Don’t rush. Feel free to stop for refreshment in the middle of the process.

7. Keep going until all your branches are in the vase.

8. Step back and assess. I like my branches to be imperfect—kind of a little lopsided, with a little more height on one side.

9. Fluff a little. Step back. Fluff a little more. Remember—you are a professional floral designer with all the time in the world.

// blue and white artwork (similar) // red pomegranate stems //

That’s it.

Just look at those branches.

If you opened the door and walked by them, wouldn’t you think I had just cut them from the yard?

I wish.

I wish I had a pomegranate tree in my backyard.

But until then?

These branches are perfect—faux sure.

(I’m so sorry I couldn’t help myself. 🙂

 

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