You know what room it is in your house. You walk by it every day and each time you say to yourself, “Gee, that room needs something”. The next day you don’t think about it until you walk by again. It’s just like “Groundhog Day”, isn’t it?

So where do you start? You know you need color, but do you paint a wall, move the furniture, add a rug? Well, having been in the design business for quite some time, I’ll happily tell you my thoughts about it in the hopes that it helps you do your next room. I think you look at doing all of those things, and then you add what makes the most difference. I call it the “Green ~ Flower” effect. You need green in the corner and flowers on the table. Let’s have a look at what you might want to do and where you need to start.

First, at least one wall needs color to add drama. Don’t worry about using a dark color. Match it to your rug and you are on your way.

Now that you have that done, it’s time to pick out a silk tree for at least one corner. It guides the eye up and helps your brain take in the room all at once and sense warmth. Without at least some greenery, your room will look cold and stark. It complements your furniture and brings subliminal comfort to the feel of the room. I don’t think you need a rain forest, but a couple of silk green plants or trees in some really awesome pots will make a room rock!

Once you’ve nailed down the greenery part of the “Green ~ Flower” effect, it’s time to work on my favorite part, the flowers! This is when the fun starts! You start by writing down all of the colors you want to highlight or bring out. Be sure to start with your wall color. Pull others from your rug and your furniture if it is made of fabric or leather. With list in hand, go to your room and stand there. Imagine that you have a flower arrangement on the table that is in a non-descript pot and all the flowers are a solid color. Start at the top of your list, close your eyes and imagine each color on your flowers. See how they look with the wall and the rug. Rule out any that don’t sit well with you. Trust me, you’ll know as soon as you “see” it. You should now have a nice list of colors that you want in your silk flowers.

The next step is to determine what design category you are in. My categories are:

the “Minimalist” the “Traditionalist” the “More is Better” the “Eclectic” the “I have no idea & I need help”

The Minimalist

If you tend to favor a very simple, scaled down look with very few decorative items sitting around, you are what I call a “Minimalist”. This simply means that you don’t like clutter, and if you put out a decorative piece, you are proud of it and like it very much. Minimalists should begin their search for flowers with types like orchids that are simple,serene, elegant and yet electric with their beauty at the same time. There are so many varieties and vibrant colors that there is surely one that will fit perfectly.

The Tradionalist

I fall into the Traditionalist category. I like silk flower arrangements with lots of different flowers. I like them to have all of the colors that I want to bring out with different hues of those colors to make it interesting. I like a vase or container that is complementary, but is “discussion worthy”. It should make someone say, “That arrangement is beautiful in that vase!”. It could be the color, texture, or size, but it should spark a comment or a conversation. I also like different kinds of ivy and greenery that complement the piece. I guess that I just like “traditional” flower arrangements instead of funky or wild ones. It all depends on the room and the contents.

The More is Better

These folks tend to like stuff everywhere. They feel much more comfortable with all of their stuff around them. They tend to attach sentimental value to decorative items and like to set them out and enjoy them. I’ve been known to poke gentle fun at my “More is Better” customers by telling them that they will develop the “hoarder condition” if they don’t watch out, but I have to admit that at one time as a youngster I could very well have fallen into this category. They enjoy many different colors and textures, but will probably lean toward their “favorite” flower. They will say something to me like, “Oh, I want something with a “whatever it is” flower. They are my absolute favorite!”.

The Eclectic

These customers are so fun to work with! Their rooms have all kinds of neat stuff in them, and making an arrangement for them gets my imagination running wild. There is one on my website that I did a few years ago that my customer absolutely loved. It has willow branches going everywhere and looks kind of like a thunderstorm with lightening to me. It’s really cool and funky, and I get comment emails from the website about it all the time. It still makes me chuckle. When I interview these customers, I write pages about what they like, and then go off and sleep on it. Usually I wake up the next morning itching to get into my flower room to make the design I have in mind.

The “I have no idea & I need Help”

These customers are also very fun to work with. I write volumes with them as well. I really like to do these locally so that I can go see their home and start to figure out their style. I’ve used pictures for long distance customers, but it’s much more fun for me if I can get “into their house and into their mind”! They usually ask a thousand questions which I love. They usually end up falling into one of my other categories, and usually when I see their home I know right away what category they fall into.

So now you know all of my trade secrets, and how I do design work. It’s really fun and I meet the neatest people. My hope is that you will figure out what category you are in and find just the perfect wall color, rug, silk tree and arrangement for your room!
Julie Eby, Dallas TX
Julie Eby is the owner of http://www.CrossesAndChristmas.com/, a retail website that sells religious home decor and jewelry in the catholic, Christian theme.
Julie is also the owner of http://www.LuxuryInBloom.com/, a retail website that sells silk floral arrangements, silk orchids, silk trees and plants, and greenery. Julie also creates custom arrangements for customers. Proudly serving the Dallas, TX area, and the USA since 2005.

Silk Flowers are a great way to make your dining room table look great all the time. I recently bought a beautiful silk tulip arrangement. The arrangement is 30” high and fills the center of the dining table perfectly.

The best part is most people think it is absolutely real. When I tell them it is a fake flower arrangement they don’t believe me until they smell it. The arrangement is full of white French tulips in a glass vase with Faux water. The arrangement was nicely arranged out of the box. I simply unwrapped it and put it on the table.

Maintenance is simple, no watering. About once a week I use a feather duster on it. I read that I could also use compressed air if I am careful. This arrangement has added a lot of beauty to the room. I am thinking of getting a few more so I can change them around.

Quality silk arrangements are not cheap. This was just over $200 but I did shop around and found that cheaper versions look fake. That may be fine for a corner in an office but in a prominent place like a dining room, a high quality silk arrangement is the best option.

Lastly, I was pleased to find out that silk flowers are not made of silk. Most silk flowers are made of synthetics so they last longer and look more realistic. Add a touch of beauty to your dining area with low maintenance Silk Flower Arrangements.

Flowers are a popular accessory to use for party decorations but, you may need a few tips to help your decorations go from fair to fabulous. Decide what kinds of flower go with the kind of party you’re going to throw. Roses are romantic, tulips are elegant, daisies or sunflowers are whimsical and carnations are casual.

You can use real or silk flowers for your centerpieces or for table top decorations. You may want to arrange centerpieces ahead of time so that all of your party preparations don’t have to be done at the last minute. Silk flowers are perfect for this accommodation.

If you want to help fresh flowers last longer there are a few things you need to do. Make sure that you use only healthy flowers. There should be no brown spots or wilting pedals. Cut the stems of the flowers at an angle underwater, place the flowers in lukewarm water and add a little lemon-lime soda to the water to give your flowers an extra punch.

If you are using flowers for centerpieces keep the arrangements high for a buffet table, low and long for a sit-down dinner and small and scaled down for smaller tables. Use unique and inventive items to place the flowers in. Look for elegant shaped vases, beautiful bowls or even silver or metal trays.

To create interest and beauty to your centerpieces fill the bottom of clear vases with colored stone or add floating candles to a centerpiece with few flowers. Using an online florist such as www.florists.tk will save you time. Shopping on the internet you can find all of the supplies you will need to create a wonderful setting for your party.

Another flower tip is to only use the petals of flowers in your decorating. Using this method is a great way to use your own flowers that are not picture perfect. Sprinkle pedals on table tops and other flat surfaces with a few candles as your decorative statement.
Mrs. Party… Gail Leino is the internet’s leading authority on selecting the best possible party supplies, using proper etiquette and manners while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. Lovely flowers, centerpieces and gifts are available online. Here is a store that specializes in online Flower Delivery.

Trying to appropriately fill in certain spaces in your home can be difficult and sometimes we just need a little inspiration. What should I do with this ledge? And what about the space above those cabinets? And how about this large stair landing? And then there’s my high ceilings that I don’t know what to do with. Pictures and sconces can help to fill some gaps but sometimes just further highlight the size of the room. Silk flower arrangements are a great way to fill out your spaces and make them pop.

In today’s world there are many choices of silk flower arrangements that can provide just the right solution when you need to add depth, volume or just bring the height down to a manageable level without eliminating spaciousness. Here are some helpful examples:

Tops of Bookshelves: Similar to the entertainment center, finding silk flower arrangements that will seemingly draw out the length of the bookshelf is key. Also, depending on the available space, smaller, more delicate blossoms or greenery can be placed throughout open spaces on the shelves to give a completed and filled feeling to the entire bookshelf.

High Ceilings: Use artificial trees. They come in many species and variations to accommodate any size or height. Artificial palm trees are a particularly popular choice. Large, decorative wreaths are also a good solution, plus they are easily updated season by season. These items do a great job of adding warmth and a personal touch while reducing and often eliminating that sterile “big empty room” look.

Large Stairway Landings: With the use of a plant stand placed tight into the corner, depth and texture can easily be added to your staircase with a strategically place silk flower arrangement. For a more dramatic effect, place one stand to the far corner of the landing and another on the next step up at the opposite corner. Be sure the stands are the same height so the stair-height difference will be evident. An artificial tree is certainly another beautiful alternative you can use in this situation.

Artificial Flowers are great elements to add to just about any space. Be creative. Don’t be intimidated.

Remember…decorating doesn’t have to be intimidating but really should be fun. Experiment with different ideas. You’ll find that using combinations of beautiful silk flower arrangements, ledge gardens, small artificial plants, artificial grasses and greenery, decorative wreaths and even artificial trees will often add just the right touch to your special spaces.
Johnny Best is a freelance writer and online commerce expert covering the latest trends and emerging product segments in e-commerce. He is also the owner of several e-commerce businesses including the popular site DesignerSilkPlantsandFlowers.com where they feature Silk Flower Arrangements, wreaths and much more.

Flowers seem to be a significant part of every wedding. The decision to have flowers usually isn’t the hard part, as is deciding which kind to have. There are many different options for wedding flowers. Having real flowers or silk flowers and deciding on type, color and arrangements can be a daunting task.

Deciding on the types of flowers may be one of the most challenging aspects. Some things you may want to consider are between real flowers and silk ones. Real flowers are beautiful but also expensive. You also have to put them all up and take them down again. Knowing what flowers are in season at the time of your wedding and going with them could save you a lot of money.

You also have to decide on colors, if your colors are the same as some flower then you could save a lot of money not having to dye them. Silk flowers on the other hand are easy to dye and will be something to keep forever if you wanted. You could use them in arrangements around your house after the wedding.

Another point to keep in mind is where to get the flowers. You need to shop around well in advance since wedding flowers have to be ordered and possibly dyed. Some places to check for the best deal are grocery stores, farmers markets, always check flower shops last since they are the most expensive way to get flowers.

If you are planning an outdoor wedding you may not even need the flowers. If you plan to wed in a park for example, you probably won’t need flowers. Try just tying ribbons or making the most of the flowers already in the park. If the park will allow some arrangements you could consider donating them to the park after the wedding.

Most churches allow flowers with some restrictions. It is important to know far in advance what is expected. Some churches will allow flower arrangements along the aisles as long as they are removed promptly. As for flowers around or on the altar, it is imperative that the instructions for decorations are clear. Some churches will not allow any flowers or decorations on or near the altar. Another point to keep in mind is what the plans are for the flowers after the wedding. Some churches will appreciate a donation of some flower arrangements while others may not.

When planning a wedding the flowers are a very important part and very time consuming. From the decision making to the actual wedding, flowers may consume a lot of the planning time, however they are a special piece of the wedding and you will treasure the memories for years to come. Walking down the aisle to your new life together, don’t forget to stop and smell the flowers.

For you crafters that like to work with silk flowers for all your many hobbies, if you are like me, it is hard to find a method of storage for all your silk flower supplies. I like making silk flower arrangements, artificial floral candle rings and wreaths; you usually like to keep supplies around since you find great deals when you’re shopping. You probably have found that storing them by laying them down does nothing but ruin its posture. Or storing them in vases takes up a lot of floor or shelf space, and you also have to compensate for the size of each container. Today I wanted provide a quick how to article stepping you through the process of creating a platform that allows you to store your many different silk flower supplies with a small foot print.

The premise for the design is to take advantage of height and shape of silk flower stems to “stack” your silk flowers in an organized and easily maintainable way. You can picture a pole to hang coats, but instead of hooks were going to use rings to hold the flowers at an angle.

Items you will need:

6′ long / 4″ diameter PVC pipe 6′ long / 5″ diameter PVC pipe 1″ woods screws (approx 30) 2′ sq. piece of ¾” particle board 3 x L shaped bracket (should have at least a drilled whole in each in, two in each end would be even better. Make sure the holes are not larger than the head on the 1″ wood screws.)

Equipment you will need:

Phillips Screwdriver (the neck of the screw driver -the metal part- will need to be most likely 5-6″ long. power screwdriver if you have it) Power drill Approx 3/8 drill bit (must drill holes bigger than the head of your wood screws) Some type of power saw or hand saw to cut the PVC pipe. You can change the dimensions of this design to fit your needs easily. I am making this at 6′ high, but could be at any height, but I probably wouldn’t go below 3′. Once you get the hang of what you are accomplishing it will be a breeze to complete. The hardest part will be figuring out the layout of what you want.

All the items I mentioned above can be obtained from your local hardware store. You are also not required to have exactly those dimensions. If your retailer carries 3″ diameter PVC only, you can use that, it just won’t hold as many silk flower stems as a 4″ or 5″ diameter pipe. The “L” shaped brackets are used for securing items like two boards perpendicular to each other. In our case, were going to use it to fasten the pole

Let’s start by picturing your standard pole for hanging coats on. We’re going to recreate this concept by fastening one of the poles to the 2′ sq particle board we have. With the 2′ particle board flat on the ground we will stand the 6′ long, 4″ diameter PVC pipe on end on top of, and in the middle of the board we have flat on the ground. (This is the only part an extra pair of hands would come in handy). If you are lucky to have someone hold the pipe the following will not be a problem. We are going to take the 3 “L” shaped brackets and place them equally around the pipe, with one end flush against the side of the pipe, while the other end of the bracket is flush with board. You will then use the 1″ wooden screws to fasten one end of the bracket to the board, and the other end to the pole. As I mentioned above, if you can find brackets that have 2 holes on each end, if will be even more secure. (TIP) if don’t have someone that can support the pole, you can opt to set the brackets around the pipe the way they will end up, mark the holes on the board (only), then remove the pipe. You can then proceed to fasten the brackets to the 2′ sq particle board first. Then proceed to put the pipe back in-between all three brackets and finish off securing the top part of each bracket to the pipe – make sure the pipe is plumb (straight up and down). We will now proceed to take the second 6′ long PVC pipe and cut it in segments of 4″ long pieces. This should give you approximately 18 pieces. This might or might not be enough depending on how big you are making this or how much you want to cram in on this pole. If you need more, you’ll need another pole PVC pipe to cut more 4″ long pieces. We are now going to use our drill to drill “a” hole on one side of each of the 4″ long pieces of PVC pipe we cut. Make sure to drill the hole in the dead middle of the ring. To be clearer, I mean the middle as in between the top and bottom of the ring. We are going to use this hole, to put our long neck Phillips screwdriver through in order to turn the screw that will fasten the opposite side to the pole (more on that in a minute). Once you are done drilling the hole through all the pieces, we are going to start at the bottom of the pole and work our way up. You must stop and understand that the intentions are not to set the holder so it is holding the group of silk flower stems perpendicular to the ground. Rather at a 90 degree angle. This is important as you will want to start high enough off the ground on the pole so that at 90 degrees the bottom of the stems is not touching the ground. You will probably have to put your stems through the ring (holder) and place against the pole to find the right starting point. This is where you would hold them at a 90 degree angle to get the right height. Holding the 4″ pipe piece against the pipe, we are going to line up the side that is the very opposite side from the side you drilled the hole. It would be idea to have someone hold this piece so you can concentrate on fastening. Place the wooden screw inside the ring, using your other hand feed the screwdriver through the hole. And commence with fastening the screw through the ring into the pole. With a tight fit, you should find that you can swivel the ring around. We will want to put it at 90 degree angle to figure out where the next one will go.
Now that we have one on, we can figure out how we are going to position the rest. You can definitely experiment with this depending on the length of your silk flower stems, but in most cases I found two idea methods:

Staggering the rings around the pole as you work your way up or Picture a candy cane strip as it works its way up the pole. Once you have proceeded to fasten each of your 4″ rings to the pole, you should find that you can easily adjust their angle to accommodate the different lengths of stems and what is beneath and below each ring. Once completed, you can then fill each ring with your silk flower stems. You should now find that you have assembled a 6′ pole, aligned with holders for silk flower stems. You can group them by project, or by type. What I have found is setting them into the holder, then taking the stems and giving them a very slight tub to snug them in place helps. There are a ton of other bells and whistles that am a not exploring in this article that you can add or change about your setup. I have included a few of those ideas in the below additional tip section. Enjoy.

Below are a couple additional tips:

When placing the bunches of stems in each ring, be careful not to overcrowd Other great ideas is taking small 2″-3″ pipe and cutting into 5″ lengths In open areas where you can’t place the large 4″ pipe pieces, you can then place these small pieces perpendicular with the ground against the pole to hold additional small silk flower supplies (close against the pole) out of the way of the larger holders. You could leave an area for hanging silk flower wreaths or silk flower candle rings. Based on the diameter of your wreaths or candle rings, you would leave this much room on the pole before your holders start. Then taking a 1″ PVC pipe (length is up to you) and by drilling a slightly bigger hole through the middle of the main pole, slide your 1″ pipe through and create a place to ‘hang’ your wreaths and candle rings.
Max McCarty is the author of this article and co-owner of DaisyBlossoms.com.

Everyone notices flowers. Let me say that again, everyone notice flowers. Flowers can make the room and silk flower arrangements are the easiest way to do this. Silk Flower Arrangements are pre-made floral arrangements. They can be taken out of the box and set on a table in an instant in most cases. This is the simplest decorating technique that will have a great impact on a room.

These artificial floral arrangements are available in many sizes and can me made up of a single type of flower or a combination of flowers. Silk Roses, Tulips, Gerbera Daisies and Hydrangeas are the most popular flowers for arranging but many others are available. Clear vases and planters with faux water are the more common but clay or synthetic vases are usually found as well.

Color is important. A silk flower arrangement will bring a burst of color to a room so make sure it is the right color. Reds, Yellow, Creams, Pinks, Greens and Oranges are all pretty easy to find. You can also find arrangements that are more seasonal especially ones with a autumn theme or a Christmas theme. Clear vases are the most neutral but typically silk flower arrangements have neutral colored containers.

The next consideration is height. I personally prefer a short silk flower arrangement for dining tables. This makes it so guests don’t have to try to peer to the side to get a glimpse of another guest. In other settings there are numerous sizes available. Use a tall arrangement next to a fireplace or in an entry way, use a very small and compact arrangement in an intimate dining area.

One place often over looked in using flowers is an office. Offices benefit from a mid sized silk flower arrangement. People spend a lot of time in an office. Flowers can really make for a nice look.

The ease and cost of Silk Flower Arrangements make them a must have for decorating. From a cost standpoint, small arrangements cost $20-50 and a large arrangement will cost $150-250. This is very comparable to fresh flowers except that these will last for years. At home I keep 4 different arrangements for our dining table and switch them around throughout the year. This is a very cost effective plan. They store nicely and when I buy a new arrangement, I can very often just take it out of the box and put it on the table. Maintenance is also easy. A little light dusting with a feather duster usually does the trick.
Amazonfoliages.com is a great source for Silk Flower Arrangements

Most people seem to think that flower arrangements should only be used for special occasions, such as an anniversary party, a wedding reception, or something of that nature. But flower arrangements can brighten up anyone’s day at any time, and there’s no reason why they can’t be used as year-round accent decorations in your home.

There are two kinds of flower arrangements. First are the fresh flower varieties, which are the ones usually used on those special occasions. But flower arrangements using artificial flowers, leaves and berries will never wither and die, and can give pleasure all year round – especially if you love flowers but don’t have the budget to continually purchase fresh ones and don’t have the green fingers necessary to grow your own.

Artificial flowers look so realistic these days that anyone looking at a sumptuous arrangement would be prepared to swear that they were real. And because they’re artificial, it’s easy to arrange them in any way you like, and rearrange and rearrange until you have a design you like.

“But they’re artificial!” you say in disgust.

But consider. Silk flowers are hypoallergenic. They have no pollen – which causes allergies in some people – they are disease free and nontoxic. If there are any allergy sufferers in your family, they will thank you every day for giving them the colorfulness and beauty of flowers, without the attendant problems.

Home decor and hobby stores in your area will doubtless have a selection of artificial flowers and vases, however you can also look online to see the vast array of products you can use to create your masterpieces.

The first thing you’ll need to do is select an appropriate vase. Vases can be made of various materials such as porcelain, ceramic or glass, and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. To show off your flower arrangements you’ll want a solid-color vase – not one with a fancy design on it.

Afloral.com is a site that offers hundreds of silk flowers, berries, garlands, wreaths and swags, fruits, vegetables and greenery, not to mention, gems, stones and crystals. They also offer the adhesives, glues and tapes you’ll need to fix your design once you’ve got it arranged to your satisfaction. Funnily enough, they don’t offer vases…

QualitySilkPlants.com is a site that offers silk trees and topiaries, silk orchids and artificial cactus – all quite realistic looking.

Silkflowerdesign.com offers flowers suitable for “country” designs, as well as “traditional,” “modern,” “oriental,” and “exotic.”

Let your creative juices flow. Check out the world of artificial flowers today!
Andrew Caxton is the editor of different articles published at http://www.home-decorating-reviews.com , with reference to flower arrangement and furniture . You can find more information and resources on decorating styles at his website.