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If ²â´Ç³Ü’r±ð new to the art of flower arranging, or perhaps new to working with faux flowers, the prospect may seem a little daunting. Our guide harnesses expert tips from flower designer Poppy Sturley and walks you through every stage, from choosing colours and containers to creating your display and adding seasonal touches.ÌýÌý

And if you're shopping in stores, ²â´Ç³Ü’l±ô be sure to find one of our resident floral experts on hand to help guide you through the process. Find your local store here.Ìý

Choose a theme

An understanding of the space in which your arrangement will live and the existing colour palette in play is essential. The right combination has the potential to amplify your chosen aesthetic.Ìý

Consider vases, pots & jugs

Begin by choosing your vessel, considering scale, style and the final silhouette of your display.ÌýBudÌývasesÌýwork particularly well along the center of a tablescape, while larger wide-neckedÌývasesÌýare best suited to a console table or kitchen island for example.Ìý

‘What’s really lovelyâ€� says Poppy, ‘is to think outside of the normâ€�. Whether it'sÌýjugs,ÌýbowlsÌýand ramekins from your kitchen or largeÌýgarden pots, ‘all sorts of things can be used as vessels to create interesting arrangementsâ€�.Ìý

Selecting your flowers & foliage

Once youÌýhave decided on a vessel to house your arrangement, you canÌýturn to selecting your stems.ÌýOur collection is abundantÌýand includesÌýeverything fromÌýstatement stemsÌýtoÌýtwigs and greenery.Ìý

Filler foliage

StartÌýby selecting yourÌýfoliage,Ìýthis will help toÌýdetermineÌýthe shape of your arrangement, adding naturalistic depth and texture.ÌýWhile Poppy tends not to follow traditional number rules, she suggestsÌýâ€�working in odd numbers can helpâ€�Ìýwhen selecting twigs or greenery.

Note -ÌýtheÌýgreeneryÌýyou selectÌýis an investment, one that canÌýbe reused across your displays and throughout your homeÌýtime and time again.Ìý

Hero flowers

Now you can select your all-important hero stems. Again, you may find it easiest to work in odd numbers. The key here is to be open-minded, follow what ²â´Ç³Ü’r±ð naturally drawn to. ‘Just try to limit yourself to three flower speciesâ€� Poppy says, suggesting ‘stems such as roses, dahlias and peonies.â€�Ìý

For those who wish to take their flower arranging skills one step further, Poppy recommends an additional three stages. Firstly, adding ‘layering flowersâ€�, these are smaller flowers like ranunculi than can be placed in front of your hero stems. Secondly, ‘frothy flowersâ€�, such as gypsophila branches to add a sprinkling of light colour and lift the arrangement. And finally, two or three ‘dancing flowersâ€�, these can be any stems which add height and will ‘float around the top of the arrangement, such as arrowgrassâ€� says Poppy.Ìý

Form your arrangement

To form your arrangement Poppy recommends deciding on your shape and then layering outwards. ‘Arrange things in groups� she says, ‘mirroring how they would grow in your garden or in the wild�. This will help to make your arrangement feel as natural as possible. ‘You want it to look like it grew within your chosen vessel� Poppy explains.

To keep your stems in place, tie them together with string, or as Poppy has done here, discreetly scrunch up chicken wire, layering it in the base of your vessel. This is particularly helpful when using lower pots where you have less support.ÌýÌý

Finally, adjust each individual stem for a more lifelike display. All of our stems contain a cleverly concealed metal wire to allow for gentle shaping. Should you need to cut any of your stems to size, we recommend using wire cutters.Ìý

Seasonal updates

We recommend rotating your bouquet with the season to refresh its look and feel. Beginning with your base, select several new stems, faux or fresh, each season to reflect ·É³ó²¹³Ù’s naturally in bloom. ‘In spring you can add blossom, in summer roses, in autumn focus on foliage and in winter the addition of branches is perfect for something more structuralâ€� says Poppy.Ìý

Caring for your flowers

The wonder of our life-like florals and foliage is that they promise to keep your home in bloom through the year, every year. To keep your arrangement looking its very best, we recommend keeping it away from direct sunlight and moisture and regularly dusting it with a feather duster.Ìý

For more inspiration, watch Poppy's tutorials on (the Japanese art of flower arranging), and i. Ìý

Explore our collection of stems, twigs and greenery online hereÌýor in yourÌýnearest store.

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