Most craft designers are aware of the variety of Silk Flowers Stems available. But it is a resource that home designers and decorators often overlook. Decorators are used to working with fabrics, wall hangings and accents. Silk flower Stems provide a great way to add subtle color without the high maintenance of live plants.

Convenience and Comfort are the decorating mantra for today's designers. With the busy lifestyles that we lead, homeowners insist on rooms they can live in, not rooms that they are constantly maintaining.

Silk Flowers are a quick and easy way to accommodate these styles. There are some simple rules to follow.

• Consider the rest of the room when choosing Silk Flower Stems. Don't throw in colors that don't go into the rest of the decor.

• Don't overwhelm - putting 5 dozen bright red flowers in a room can pull all the focus into one spot.

• Choose flowers you can live with year round. If you get sick of seeing daisies after a few months, choose a flower that you normally don't see in just one season. Silk Lilies, Silk Tulips and Silk Roses are probably the most popular choices.

• Don't Skimp. If you do this right, silk flowers will be in the room for many years. Many people keep silk flowers for a decade. The difference between first class and no class is only a few dollars per year.

• Choose the vase or planter carefully (Please note, silk flowers are versatile - unusual containers are perfectly OK). The container should match the stem. If you have very tall stems, choose a tall container. If you a single stem, don't use a long rectangular planter. A little common sense goes a long way.