If you love a fresh bunch of flowers to brighten up your home (who doesn’t?) investing in a faux bunch is a no-brainer. Not only will you save yourself cash, you can keep your house looking like it’s filled with fresh blooms all year round.
Admittedly, the hard part is selecting a bouquet that can’t be distinguished from the real thing - the colour needs to be right, the material needs to be realistic and the proportions have to be exact. Today, with more and more companies selling their own versions, it can be challenging to decide which are the best to invest in.
When looking, pay special attention to the fabric they’re made from. Typically materials range from silk and paper to synthetics and plastics and when it comes to colour, natural dyes are always better - something that will be obvious from first look and when it comes to size, again use your judgement to scale the stalks.
One thing that’s true with this purchase, is typically the more you spend, the better you’ll get. Aim to spend the maximum you can on your bouquet - the good news is price-per-use should pay off as these can last a lifetime.
Below, we’ve reviewed bunch upon bunch to find the most realistic out there. Our biggest advice? Just remember to dust them - that’s always an immediate giveaway.
And if you're looking for the perfect vase to showcase your best bunch don't forget to check out our Best vases roundup.
Fox Flowers
Best for: Styling
Pictured: Summer Cerise
Fox Flowers seem to have nailed the art of colour and texture as you can see in the Summer Cerise bouquet. The petals, leaves and stalks’ colours shift naturally as they would on living plants which is the most important thing when it comes to fake stems. Another huge bonus is that the stems come fitted with wires. This makes them perfect for styling around a fireplace, or weaved in an arch or somewhere such as an outside bench.
£269 | Fox Flowers | Buy it now
Oka
Best for: Individual taste
Pictured: Faux Hydrangea, Lilac & Berry Bunch
The USP of Oka’s faux flower range is that each shop has a dedicated florist meaning they will “make you up” a bunch instead of selling you a pre-arranged bouquet. The fact you can select stems means you’re guaranteed to get something you absolutely love - vital when a purchase’s lifespan is so long. Made from mixed silk and mottled with subtle dyes they look realistic and actually slightly worn in, which adds their authenticity. If you do want a pre-made bunch, you can’t beat the faux Hydrangea, Lilac and Berry Bunch.
£117 | Oka | Buy it now
Dunelm
Best for: Range
Pictured: Purple Armeria
Faux flowers don’t just come in bouquets, they also come in single stems, arrangement, wreaths and garlands and Dunelm’s selection is good for this. With their range you can find different styles to fit your home - if you want a garland for your mantle piece instead of flowers in a vase for example. Made of polyester, admittedly they’re not the most realistic looking product on the market up close but if you’re displaying on a shelf or somewhere less immediate, they work very well and sit at a great price point. For up-close, the deep purple Armeria are an excellent option.
£2 | Dunelm | Buy it now
Abigail Ahern
Best for: Detail
Pictured: White Hydrangea
What’s stands out about Abigail Ahern’s range of faux flowers is the detail given to each individual flower. The Hydrangeas, for example, have light brown tinges in the centre of the petals. Made from natural dyes and not overly manicured, the design of the stems focus on the natural aspects of plants rather than perfect arrangement which really gives them an authentic look.
£14.50 | Abigail Ahern | Buy it now
HuaYang
Best for: Value
Pictured: Peonies
A complete bargain, Huayang’s bouquets are absolutely one of the best on the market you can get within this price point. Made from silk, the colours on each petal avoid being blocky - something that often comes with cheaper, polysterien replicas - and instead blend and merge subtly like they would on the real thing. The company’s range isn’t huge, but if you’re on a budget and into Peonies, these are great starting bouquets to see how you get on with faux flowers.
£4.09 | HuaYang | Buy it now
John Lewis
Best for: Foliage
Pictured: Eucalyptus
John Lewis has a large range of artificial plants and flowers but it’s worth doing your research. Some, usually at the top end, are more realistic than others but overall, it tends to be their foliage that really worth investing in. Selling individual stems to bulk up any bouquet, the likes of Pussy Willow, Eucalyptus and Lambs Ear look much more authentic than their colourful floral counterparts and are worth the purchase.
£8 | John Lewis | Buy it now
VeryHome - Amazon
Best for: Events on a budget
Pictured: Vintage Bouquet
VeryHome’s range of faux flowers aren’t necessarily the best for having on display year round as they only really look authentic from far away. However, if you’re looking to decorate an event such as a wedding where you want to create the illusion of lots of flowers, opting for something like their vintage bouquet and then splitting out the stems is a great cost-efficient option that will add a dramatic pop of colour and texture to any event.
£8.99 | VeryHome | Buy it now
House of Fraser
Best for: Floral arrangements
Pictured: Thistle, Anemone and Lavender Arrangement
House of Fraser’s range is particularly good for offering beautifully potted or in-a-vase bouquets meaning they make fantastic presents. Often placed in vessels that appear to have water (typically a transparent gel), they haven’t cut any corners when trying to create an authentic product. Dickens & Jones’s Thistle, Anemone and Lavender Arrangement is perfect if you’re looking for a display that will translates well through all seasons.
£39 | House of Fraser | Buy it now
Bloom
Best for: Variety
Pictured: Red Poppy
The variegated colours of Blooms’ faux stems are what make them look authentic as you can see with the subtle detail on their Poppy arrangement. Leaves also have minute but realistic looking veins making it hard to decipher them from the real thing. With over 100 varieties of flowers and plants to choose from on their site, it’s a an excellent place if you’re looking to shop a lot of different floras.
£49 | Bloom | Buy it now
Appleyard Flowers
Best for: Gifting
Apple Yard Flowers artificial range is small but the great side of using this company is that you can send them, like you would a real bunch, to anyone in the UK. When giving someone a thoughtful present, usually fresh flowers are the go-to, but this offering would mean they have something that will stay bright and blooming for a lifetime. The Amaryllis is particularly pretty and perfect for that friend that can never keep a plant alive.
£43.99 | Appleyard Flowers | Buy it now
Verdict:
Fox Flowers are fairly unbeatable when it comes to authenticity thanks to the attention they pay to dyes and colour however, they’re not cheap. If you’re on a budget, House of Fraser’s variety will give you a range of bouquets that will last without fraying and won’t break the bank.
