How to Make a Fake Orchid Look Real

Have you ever come across a pretty potted orchid in a department store? An orchid so drop dead gorgeous, that you don’t want it because it’s too perfect 😆? It happened to me a couple weeks ago at the store, and I left it there because it just screamed “I’M FAKE”. After I thought about it for a day or two, I realized there were plenty of things I could do to make it look less artificial. Now, I’m here to share with you what worked, and “How to Make a Fake Orchid Look Real”. There’s also 12 more Thrifty Style Team surprises at the end of this post for you.

TIP: VIEW ALL 13 THRIFTY STYLE TEAM TRANSFORMATIONS AT THE END OF THIS POST.

Where I Found this Beautiful Artificial Orchid on Sale

We were visiting Kohl’s to take care of our “Amazon returns” and I spotted the bright pink orchid all by itself in the huge after Christmas clearance section. I picked it up a couple times, thinking it was pretty, but the stems and other parts just looked so fake. I ended up leaving the potted flower behind, even though I really kinda wanted it. (FYI: Kohl’s gives you a $5 coupon on the spot when you bring your Amazon return(s) to them and you don’t need a box 🤩).

A few days later, I invited our daughter to go back with me on an adventure searching for the long lost orchid. I just knew if I found it I could make it look real with some neat ideas I thought up. So, when we got to Kohl’s I got in line for another Amazon return, and my daughter went the other way so she could find the orphan, I mean orchid. Low and behold, she came walking back with a grin ear-to-ear carrying our new grandchild…at least that’s what it seemed like 😆. I ended up not only getting the sale price, but I used my $5 coupon, too. Score! Now, to make it look more realistic…

How to Use Real Twigs to Make a Fake Orchid Look Real

That same week I ended up going to the thrift store with both our kiddos (what a fun week). I wasn’t there for any particular reason, just to look around to see if I could find anything good, and of course to spend some time with my favorite peeps. I ended up scoring again 😲 with this big round glass pot, or vase (see photo above). At first I thought it was black, but when I looked at it in the light I realized it was dark purple, and the brass trim was a nice touch. It really didn’t sink in that this would make a perfect planter for the orchid until I got it home.

Speaking of getting home…my daughter was parking and I noticed the forest behind our apartment complex (we recently sold our house and both have apartments here temporarily) had some curvy vine looking twigs I was thinking about for the orchid. I’ve always noticed how my daughter’s real orchids have vines, sometimes green or dried so these would really help in making the stems look real. The kiddos were laughing at me out there in the snow with my knife. It was so cold, but I had to get them.

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Before I could add the twig vines to the fake orchid, I needed to get this baby stable in the big round dark vase from the thrift store and luckily it just fit. I just placed an old towel folded in three to raise up the white orchid pot so that it was level with the big one it was going in. I then secured it all by sticking in DRIED MOSS, but that was after I removed the plastic succulent that seemed to be in the way of my mission.

Finally, it came time to stick in some of the free vine looking twigs, and I was super careful to be gentle with the little curly parts because I knew they would add so much character, and age to the bright blooming (faux) orchid. It’s all about the details when trying to make that orchid look alive.

Before I get to the final reveal, and styling…here’s a great close-up shot below of how I intertwined the twig vines I found outside. First, I fluffed up the fake petals/stems a little because they were too clumped together and needed to spread out, and upward. Then I stuck the twig vines in between the original vase and the new. They stuck right in there easily, and then I swirled them around a little and secured with those curly guys (the curly guys really act like a wire). Some of the vines I made stand up, while one I bent over in a circular position. It helped to look on fresh flower delivery websites to actually see images of fresh orchids with vines.

The Reveal: Arranging and Styling the Fake Orchid to Look Real

Welcome to our little apartment entry way! I just love how this bright beautiful (fake-shh) orchid gives our little “foyer” a modern, glamorous, romantic theme. So much so, I styled the entire set up as if I was coming home from a long romantic dinner with my husband and we were settling in for a cozy night cap at home. All this romance is perfect timing for Valentine’s Day, too, because that’s exactly what we will be doing. Isn’t it neat how this all came together so nicely with first the orchid, then the vase, and finally the vines? It’s almost like that vase was made for that orchid. A perfect pair for Valentine’s Day…

Before I send you over to the remaining 12 thrifty styling ideas, I should tell you that the candle stick holders are from the thrift store, and the new BLACK CABINET is listed amongst my sources below. I put the cabinet together myself and I was quite proud of that (that means it’s pretty easy). I use it for outgoing packages, mail, and my disinfecting wipes 😊.

BLACK CABINET

VINTAGE RUG

ROUND MIRROR

CANDLE STICKS: THRIFT STORE

BATTERY OPERATED TAPERED CANDLES

BLACK (PURPLE GLASS) VASE: THRIFT STORE

FAUX ORCHID: KOHL’S CLEARANCE WITH COUPON MORE INFO IN STORY

DRIED VINES: YARD

DRIED MOSS

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