Key Takeaways
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Mixing faux and real florals gives you beauty and longevity.
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Use faux stems as the base and add fresh for fragrance and impact.
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Stick to a theme — harvest, moody or minimalist.
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Replace only fresh stems weekly, saving time and money.
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Keep arrangements slightly imperfect for a natural look.
Fresh flowers have an undeniable charm—they bring color, fragrance, and life into any space. But as lovely as they are, they fade fast, and keeping up with weekly bouquets can be time-consuming and expensive. That’s where faux florals come in—especially the incredibly realistic designs from True Bloom Floral, available exclusively at Third & Main. The secret to creating arrangements that look natural and effortless is knowing how to mix real and faux the right way.
Why Mix Real and Faux?
Mixing real and faux flowers gives you the best of both worlds. Faux stems from True Bloom provide a lasting, reliable base that holds its shape season after season, while fresh flowers add natural fragrance, color variation and that touch of imperfection that makes arrangements feel alive. It’s also a budget-friendly strategy—you can buy fewer fresh stems each week and rely on high-quality faux pieces to keep your vases full and vibrant. And when it comes to upkeep, the combo couldn’t be easier: just replace your fresh stems as needed while the faux elements stay beautifully in place.
Step 1: Pick a Theme
Decide on the overall mood or palette you want to create.
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Harvest-inspired: Combine faux wheat, eucalyptus, and mini pumpkins with fresh sunflowers for a cozy autumn feel.
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Moody autumn: Try deep-toned faux dahlias with fresh burgundy roses and trailing greenery.
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Minimalist: Keep things simple with faux greenery and a handful of crisp white blooms for a clean, modern look.
Step 2: Use Faux Florals for the Base
Start your arrangement with faux stems such as eucalyptus, hydrangeas, or ornamental grasses. They’ll provide the structure, shape and fullness for your design so you need fewer fresh flowers to complete the look.
Step 3: Add Fresh Flowers for Impact
Choose three to five fresh stems in complementary tones—think roses, tulips, or seasonal favorites like dahlias or ranunculus. Tuck them naturally into the faux base, varying their heights to create depth and movement. Replace them weekly or as they fade, while your faux base remains ready for the next refresh.
Step 4: Style by Space
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Kitchen island: Faux eucalyptus with a handful of fresh seasonal flowers like dahlias or mums.
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Dining table: Faux hydrangeas mixed with fresh roses for timeless elegance.
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Mantel: A relaxed mix of faux grasses, wheat and fresh greenery for an earthy, layered look.
Step 5: Keep It Natural
Vary the heights, mix texture and use odd numbers of stems (the rule of three!) to keep the arrangement from looking too uniform or overly staged. A little asymmetry helps your display feel more organic and ensures no one will guess there are faux stems in the mix.
The Bottom Line
Blending real and faux florals lets you enjoy the beauty and scent of fresh blooms without the hassle or cost of constant replacement. With True Bloom as your foundation, you can easily swap in fresh stems throughout the season to match your mood or decor. The result is a full, natural and effortlessly styled arrangement that brings lasting beauty to any space—no matter how often (or how little) you want to fuss with flowers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I make sure the faux doesn’t look fake next to real flowers?
Choose high-quality faux florals like True Bloom, which mimic real stems in texture and tone.
Do I need to water faux florals?
Never water faux florals, which can cause damage. But if you're incorporating fresh flowers, tuck those stems into small water tubes or a separate vase inside your arrangement.
What fresh flowers pair best with faux for fall?
Dahlias, roses, sunflowers and eucalyptus blend beautifully with faux hydrangeas, grasses and berry sprigs.