The sun is setting later, the pollen is back with a vengeance, and flowers are front of mind for everyone. This is to say, it is officially springtime. In the midst of spring cleaning and getting adjusted to the warmer weather, it’s only right that our homes get a decorative refresh as well.

Enter: flower bouquets — one of the best ways to liven up a space. Long gone are the days when flowers are strictly reserved for special occasions. This spring, every day is a celebration, and we are going to have the flowers to prove it. In the spirit of longevity and transparency (not everyone has a green thumb), we have compiled a list of everything you need to know about crafting beautiful faux floral arrangements that will last you for many springs to come.

Pick a theme.

Picking a central theme, whether that be color or flower type, is an essential first step for building the best bouquet. If you follow a neutral design scheme, classics like white, red or pink are pretty safe bets. For those with a more adventurous design style, faux thistle flowers may be a better option.

Remember filler flowers are your friend.

No matter the exact floral trend you select, adding fake filler flowers to your arrangement will enhance your bouquets. This is a great way to add depth and variation to your bouquets, making them look more like fresh flower bouquets. Artificial baby breaths are perfect fillers and come in such a wide variety of colors they can be worked into any color scheme. Amaranthus and Kiku flowers are also a great way to add visual complexity to your bouquets.

Don’t forget that vases matter.

One of the most important parts of the final look is your choice of vase. The vessel you choose to place your flowers in should match your general aesthetic, but don’t let it get in the way of your creativity. Mirrored vases or vases that mimic other items like a paper bag or other recognizable silhouettes are another way to up the ante when it comes to creativity.

Shape them.

Another overlooked aspect of making faux floral bouquets look more realistic is trimming them and shaping them, similar to how you would do actual flowers. This means trimming the ends but also applies to the stems and petals depending on your desired outcome.

Use flower foam.

Foams can be used in real and artificial bouquets but are more commonly associated with faux floral arrangements. The foam allows you to perfectly place each flower exactly where you want them to be so you can exercise total control of height and fullness with your bouquets.