If you're short on time, these are the findings that define the Best & Bloom Flower & Home Styling Report 2026.

Together, they reveal changing purchasing habits, evolving attitudes towards artificial flowers and the increasingly important role flowers play within modern homes.

🌼 Consumers are buying fresh flowers less often

79% of respondents said rising living costs have reduced how often they buy fresh flowers.

Rather than suggesting consumers no longer value flowers, the findings indicate many households are becoming more selective about when they buy fresh flowers and how frequently they replace them.

🌼 Artificial flowers are becoming more accepted

65% of respondents said their opinion of artificial flowers has become more positive over the past five years.

Changing attitudes appear to reflect improvements in product quality, realism and the growing role flowers play within modern interior styling.

🌼 The stigma is fading

57% of respondents said they do not believe artificial flowers still carry a stigma.

Among respondents aged 18–24, this increased to 90%, suggesting younger consumers may be leading changing perceptions of faux flowers.

🌼 Realism is everything

More than half of respondents (52%) identified realism as the single most important factor when choosing artificial flowers.

Realism was selected almost five times more often than longevity and more than six times more often than price.

Consumers are not simply looking for artificial flowers—they are looking for artificial flowers that look convincingly real.

🌼 Realism is also the biggest barrier

39% of respondents said concerns that artificial flowers would not look realistic enough would prevent them from making a purchase.

Interestingly, almost as many (37%) said nothing would prevent them buying artificial flowers.

This suggests acceptance of artificial flowers is growing, but expectations around quality continue to rise.

🌼 Flowers have become part of home styling

64% of respondents said they choose flowers to complement their home's décor.

A further:

• 60% choose flowers to add colour.
• 50% choose flowers to create a welcoming atmosphere.
• 47% choose flowers to lift their mood.

The findings suggest flowers are increasingly viewed as part of interior styling rather than simply decorative accessories.

🌼 The living room matters most

More than half of respondents (55%) said flowers make the biggest impact in the living room.

The kitchen followed at 21%, with the dining room (11%) and hallway (10%) completing the top four.

Flowers appear to be most valued in the spaces where people spend the most time and welcome guests.

🌼 Longevity remains a key motivation

55% of respondents said they purchase artificial flowers because they last longer.

Other leading motivations included:

• 34% cited lower long-term cost.
• 33% cited seasonal decorating.
• 26% cited convenience.
• 26% said they simply like how artificial flowers look.

The findings suggest consumers value artificial flowers for a combination of practicality, longevity and design.

🌼 Consumers are embracing both fresh and artificial flowers

The research challenges the idea that consumers are choosing between fresh and artificial flowers.

The most popular ideal approach (28%) was to use artificial flowers as a permanent base while adding fresh flowers occasionally.

Overall, 71% of respondents selected an ideal approach that included artificial flowers in some form.

Rather than replacing fresh flowers, artificial flowers appear to be becoming part of a more flexible approach to decorating the home.

🌼 A more intentional approach to decorating

Taken together, the findings suggest consumers are becoming more intentional in the way they style their homes.

Flowers are increasingly being chosen for their ability to create atmosphere, complement interiors, provide lasting enjoyment and make everyday living spaces feel more welcoming.

This shift reflects broader changes in consumer priorities, where longevity, quality and thoughtful design are becoming just as important as price.

The Story Behind the Statistics

Viewed individually, each statistic offers an insight into changing consumer behaviour.

Viewed together, they tell a much bigger story.

Consumers are not turning away from flowers. Instead, they are rethinking how flowers fit into their homes, budgets and lifestyles.

Fresh flowers continue to hold emotional value and remain an important part of many households. At the same time, artificial flowers are becoming increasingly accepted as long-term interior styling pieces, particularly when they offer exceptional realism and complement modern home décor.

The findings throughout this report suggest that flowers are no longer simply decorative purchases. They are increasingly viewed as part of the wider home interiors conversation, helping consumers create spaces that feel welcoming, personal and thoughtfully styled.

Key finding

79% of respondents said rising living costs have reduced how often they buy fresh flowers.

Of the 202 consumers surveyed:

• 86 respondents (43%) said they now buy fresh flowers significantly less often.
• 73 respondents (36%) said they buy fresh flowers slightly less often.
• 40 respondents (20%) said there had been no change to their purchasing habits.
• Just 3 respondents (1%) said they do not buy fresh flowers.

Taken together, these findings suggest that fresh flowers remain highly valued, but many consumers are becoming more selective about when and how often they purchase them.

Consumers are adapting, not abandoning flowers

Fresh flowers have long been one of the simplest ways to brighten a home, celebrate a special occasion or create a welcoming atmosphere.

The findings suggest that rising household costs have not reduced consumers' appreciation for flowers. Instead, they have changed purchasing behaviour.

Rather than buying fresh flowers as frequently as before, many respondents appear to be making more considered decisions about when floral purchases feel worthwhile.

This reflects a wider trend in consumer spending, where discretionary purchases are increasingly evaluated in terms of value, longevity and overall enjoyment.

Researcher's Note

The findings do not suggest consumers value flowers less than they once did. Instead, they indicate that many households are becoming more intentional about when they buy flowers, choosing to purchase less frequently while still recognising the role flowers play in creating attractive, welcoming homes.

Nearly half of consumers are becoming more open to artificial flowers

The survey also explored whether rising living costs have influenced attitudes towards artificial flowers.

Almost half of respondents (47%) said the cost of living has made them more likely to consider purchasing artificial flowers.

Breaking this down further:

• 44 respondents (22%) said they are much more likely to purchase artificial flowers.
• 50 respondents (25%) said they are somewhat more likely.
• 79 respondents (39%) said rising living costs have made no difference.
• 17 respondents (8%) said they are less likely to consider artificial flowers.
• 12 respondents (6%) said they were unsure.

While economic pressures are clearly influencing consumer behaviour, the findings suggest artificial flowers are not simply being viewed as a lower-cost alternative. Instead, they appear to be becoming part of a broader shift towards longer-lasting decorative purchases that continue to deliver visual impact over time.

Consumers are redefining value

One of the strongest themes emerging from the research is that consumers appear to be redefining what value means.

Traditionally, value might have been measured primarily by price. However, the findings throughout this report suggest today's consumers are increasingly balancing price with longevity, quality, convenience and how a purchase contributes to their home.

This changing mindset helps explain why fresh flower purchasing is declining while interest in artificial flowers is growing.

Consumers are not necessarily looking for the cheapest option. They appear to be looking for products that provide lasting enjoyment and continue to enhance their homes long after the initial purchase.

Researcher's Note

Rising living costs provide important context for these findings, but they are unlikely to tell the whole story. As later chapters demonstrate, changing attitudes towards artificial flowers and increasing expectations around realism and quality are also playing an important role in shaping consumer behaviour.

Cost pressures are influencing every generation

The impact of rising living costs was remarkably consistent across the different age groups represented in the survey.

Among respondents aged:

• 18–24, 79% said they now buy fresh flowers less often.
• 25–34, 77% reported buying fresh flowers less often.
• 35–44, 79% reported buying fresh flowers less often.
• 45–54, 78% reported buying fresh flowers less often.
• 55–64, 78% reported buying fresh flowers less often.
• 65+, 83% reported buying fresh flowers less often.

Although attitudes towards artificial flowers varied by age, the effect of rising living costs on fresh flower purchasing was evident across every generation represented in the survey.

This suggests the change is broad-based rather than being confined to younger consumers or a single demographic group.

What This Means

The findings suggest consumers are becoming more deliberate in the way they buy flowers.

Fresh flowers remain popular, but many people are choosing to purchase them less frequently. At the same time, artificial flowers are becoming more attractive to consumers seeking decorative purchases that offer longevity and lasting value.

Importantly, this does not appear to be a story of fresh flowers versus artificial flowers. Instead, it reflects a broader shift in consumer priorities, where quality, practicality and thoughtful spending increasingly influence purchasing decisions.

As the following chapters demonstrate, economic pressures are only one part of a much wider change in how consumers think about flowers and the role they play within the home.

Chapter 1: Key Takeaways

• 79% of respondents said rising living costs have reduced how often they buy fresh flowers.
• 43% said they now buy fresh flowers significantly less often.
• 47% said rising living costs have made them more likely to consider purchasing artificial flowers.
• The impact of rising living costs was evident across every age group represented in the survey.
• The findings suggest consumers are becoming more intentional about how they spend on flowers, placing greater emphasis on purchases that provide long-term value and enjoyment.

Key finding

65% of respondents said their opinion of artificial flowers has become more positive over the past five years.

This was one of the strongest findings in the survey and suggests attitudes towards artificial flowers are changing significantly.

Of the 202 consumers surveyed:

• 131 respondents (65%) said their opinion of artificial flowers has become more positive.
• 49 respondents (24%) said their opinion has stayed the same.
• 17 respondents (8%) said their opinion has become less positive.
• 5 respondents (3%) were unsure.

Respondents were therefore more than eight times as likely to say their views had become more positive than more negative.

This suggests changing attitudes are no longer confined to a niche group of consumers. Instead, positive perceptions appear to be becoming increasingly mainstream.

Artificial flowers are shedding their stigma

For decades, artificial flowers were often associated with outdated interiors or poor-quality products.

The findings suggest that perception is beginning to change.

When respondents were asked whether artificial flowers still carry a stigma:

• 115 respondents (57%) said no, they do not.
• 49 respondents (24%) said yes, they do.
• 38 respondents (19%) said they were unsure.

For the first time, respondents who believe artificial flowers do not carry a stigma comfortably outnumber those who believe they still do.

This represents an important shift in public perception.

Researcher's Note

The findings suggest artificial flowers are increasingly being judged on their appearance and quality rather than on the fact they are artificial. This represents a significant change from historic attitudes, where the material itself often defined consumer opinion.

Younger consumers appear to be leading the change

The most striking differences emerged when responses were analysed by age.

Among respondents aged 18–24:

• 90% said artificial flowers do not carry a stigma.
• 90% said their opinion has become more positive during the past five years.

Although this age group represented a smaller proportion of the overall sample, the consistency of these findings suggests younger consumers may be accelerating changing attitudes towards artificial flowers.

Positive attitudes were also evident across other age groups.

Respondents saying their opinion had become more positive included:

• 67% of those aged 25–34.
• 75% of those aged 35–44.
• 57% of those aged 45–54.
• 62% of those aged 55–64.
• 39% of those aged 65 and over.

This demonstrates that improving perceptions are not limited to younger consumers alone.

Instead, positive sentiment can be seen across almost every generation represented within the survey.

Quality appears to be changing perceptions

The findings throughout this report suggest that improving attitudes are unlikely to be driven by a single factor.

Instead, several trends appear to be working together.

Consumers are increasingly:

• expecting greater realism from artificial flowers;
• viewing flowers as part of interior styling rather than occasional decoration;
• seeking longer-lasting decorative purchases;
• placing greater emphasis on quality than price alone.

Together, these trends appear to be reshaping how consumers evaluate artificial flowers.

Rather than asking whether flowers are real or artificial, consumers increasingly appear to be asking whether they are beautiful enough to deserve a place within their homes.

Researcher's Note

It is notable that the survey identified realism as the most important purchasing factor while simultaneously showing attitudes becoming more positive. This suggests improvements in product quality may be helping to reduce historic negative perceptions of artificial flowers.

Changing perceptions are creating new opportunities

Historically, artificial flowers were often viewed primarily as a practical alternative to fresh flowers.

The findings suggest that perspective is changing.

Consumers increasingly appear to value artificial flowers for their own qualities, including their longevity, styling potential and ability to provide year-round colour without ongoing maintenance.

This shift represents more than changing purchasing behaviour.

It reflects a broader evolution in how flowers are viewed within contemporary homes.

Rather than being considered a compromise, artificial flowers are increasingly becoming a considered interior styling choice.

What This Means

The research suggests artificial flowers are experiencing a genuine image transformation.

While some stigma remains, positive perceptions now outweigh negative ones among those surveyed.

Perhaps more importantly, attitudes appear to be changing because consumers are becoming more demanding rather than less discerning.

Today's consumers expect artificial flowers to look realistic, complement their interiors and meet the same aesthetic standards as other decorative pieces within the home.

As later chapters demonstrate, this increasing focus on realism and quality has become one of the defining themes emerging from the research.

Chapter 2: Key Takeaways

• 65% of respondents said their opinion of artificial flowers has become more positive over the past five years.
• 57% said artificial flowers no longer carry a stigma.
• Respondents were more than eight times as likely to report improving opinions than worsening opinions.
• 90% of respondents aged 18–24 said artificial flowers do not carry a stigma.
• Positive attitudes were evident across every age group represented in the survey.
• The findings suggest artificial flowers are increasingly being judged by their quality and realism rather than by the fact they are artificial.