Floral Arrangements: Silk Orchids, Hydrangea and Roses and How to Use Them

Flowers can make a stunning difference to any room's decor, but they do more than that, they lift the spirit at the same time. Not long ago, silk flowers were only a poor imitation of the originals, but in the last two years stunning, botanically correct silk flowers have hit the market and it is changing the way we look at floral arrangements. No longer poor cousins, silk flowers are an art form in their own right, floral arrangements large and small set the mood in any room and can compliment any decor.

Amongst the first flowers to become truly realistic were orchids. These precious hot house flowers were once used to adorn hats and expensive garments. Now silk orchids, in stunning colors from red through rust, orange and yellow to the always popular white, pink and lilac, can be used to decorate rooms in quite different ways. For a country house look choose orchids in deep rust in a brown or oriental container. For a modern, minimalist look, a tall floor standing orchid is ideal, while for sophisticated settings white moth orchids, in pots or vases, will always be the perfect choice.

Hydrangea are the latest flowers to become truly realistic. While gardeners are generally familiar with the blue, pink or white varieties, silk hydrangeas can be found in far more colors. a search through flower catalogues will show that these are often true to life, green and deep red hydrangea do occur in nature, most real blooms change color quite a bit as they age. Hydrangea's are ideal for silk florists as their large, showy blooms can create beautiful arrangements, but they can also be divided and wired to add to other flowers. Hydrangeas can be sophisticated in red or white, while blue and pink varieties are ideal for cosy cottage style decor. Use deepest burgundy for Christmas centerpieces and pale blue wherever you have the need for blue flowers, they'll always look far better than other varieties in colors nature never thought of.

New realistic, real touch silk roses are nothing short of amazing. Botanically correct in their details many pause to touch and smell them. They are available in a wide range of colors and configurations and unlike most other flowers roses are suitable for almost every decor. But, while open, full blown roses are wonderful for county house arrangements or a cottage style, closed or bud roses are more suitable for a formal floral arrangement.

The most versatile of silk flowers, a white rose, looks wonderful alone in a small glass jar on your kitchen counter, as a summer table-center, or mixed with berries and ivy on your Christmas buffet display. White is a versatile color, but white silk flowers can also be painted using paints and markers. If you need to complete your room decor with a floral arrangement that picks up just the right shade from your drapes, consider tinting the edge of a white silk rose and creating your own, new variety.

Silk floral arrangements are ideal for every modern home. They need no maintenance, they wont leave water marks or drop dead petals, they just brighten corners and bring smiles.

About this Author

Jane Alexander Ogilvie is a self-confessed flower enthusiast and certified interior designer who enjoys everything to do with flowers, whether natural or artificial. She particularly enjoys searching out the best silk flowers and floral arrangements in order to make them available through  website Certain Style Flowers