How to decorate your home with artificial plants
They’re easy to look after
Except for a light clean every so often, artificial plants are extremely low maintenance and don’t require the same care and attention as living plants. They can’t be killed, so you don’t need to worry about the regular watering, feeding and misting that real plants require.
They look the same as living plants
Nowadays it can be hard to tell the difference between real and artificial plants. Most are designed with leaves and stems that vary in size and colour, which gives them an extremely natural appearance and means that they can easily blend in with any living plants in your home too.
They can survive in almost any condition
Living plants require specific conditions to thrive, and these can vary greatly from species to species. Things such as light, humidity and temperature can have a positive or negative effect on a plant’s wellbeing, and it can be hard to control these in a home, especially if you have lots of different plants that all require individual treatment. Artificial plants don’t require special conditions to look good - the only place you shouldn’t put them is outside or in direct sunlight, as it could damage them.
They won’t grow
With care and time, living plants will get bigger. They may outgrow their plant pot, or they may outgrow your home. Artificial plants will stay the same size, which is ideal if you have a limited amount of space, or you want to avoid the hassle of having to repot your plant as it grows.
They’re non-toxic and mess-free
Some real plants can be toxic if ingested, which is something you should consider if you live with pets or young children. Using artificial plants may save you a costly trip to the vet, and because they’re not potted with soil and won’t drop their leaves, you don’t have to worry about tidying them up if they’re accidentally knocked over.
They’re always in season
Artificial plants aren’t at the mercy of seasonality like living ones are, and won’t react to changes in temperature or light. As long as they’re well looked after and regularly cleaned, they’ll look good all year round.
How to clean your artificial plants
Your artificial plants won’t need to be looked after much - it’s one of their many benefits! However, to keep them looking their best, you should regularly wipe their leaves and around the pot to remove any dust or dirt. Real or artificial, plants or succulents with flat leaves can easily be cleaned by wiping each leaf individually with a soft damp or dry cloth. You will need to take more care with small plants or varieties with bushy stems such as ferns or hanging plants. Depending on the size, try using a feather duster, ball of cotton wool, or paintbrush to gently brush the dust off each leaf, then use a cotton bud to clean tight areas like the stems or fake bedding inside the pot. Over time, artificial plants that live in the kitchen may become sticky with grime. To remove the dirt, spray the plant with a half-and-half solution of vinegar and water and leave it to sit for a few minutes, then finish by wiping each leaf with a clean damp cloth.
How to combine fake plants with real plants
When choosing artificial plants, look for styles that have individually shaped leaves and natural, variegated colouring, and plant pots that are topped with fake soil, sand, stones or moss which will give them a more realistic finish.
With these features, not only will they look lifelike on their own, but it will also make it easier to combine them with any living plants already in your home. For best results, vary the size and species of the real and fake plants you pair together - you don’t want the leaves to be too similar as it may make the artificial plants look manmade. Try pairing a living bushy fern with a fake succulent or an artificial aloe vera with a real trailing plant.
And lastly, to make them seem realistic, display them in a decorative plant pot or storage basket.
Not only will it make the artificial plant blend in better with its real plant siblings, and add an extra decorative touch to your home too.
Pick the perfect pot
Shop Plant PotsWhat are the best fake plants?
Whatever look you’re trying to achieve, whether it’s to add a bit of greenery here and there, or to go big with a lush indoor jungle, you’ll find artificial plants in a range of different species and sizes to suit. If you need a little help choosing, here are six of our favourite varieties, and how best to use them in your home.
1. Artificial yucca plant
A yucca plant is a type of evergreen tree or shrub with flat tentacle-like leaves. This large artificial plant is over 1 metre high, so you’ll need to display it on the floor or a low table with lots of room. It would look really impactful placed in a corner, styled in a statement plant pot with a stand to give it more height, or a seagrass basket. This yucca tree is potted in a black pot, dotted with bits of faux moss to make it look more realistic.
2. Artificial trailing plant
Vertical gardens are trending right now and trailing plants like this wild-looking hanging grass are great for adding height to your indoor garden. With long, draping stems, they need to be displayed away from the ground, where they could get damaged by children or pets. They look most impactful in a hanging plant pot, basket or placed high on a shelf, anywhere that will ensure their wild tendrils are kept on display.
3. Artificial succulent plant
Small succulents are perfect for adding pops of greenery to any area of your home. In your living room, add an artificial succulent to shelves or a side table, while in your bedroom or home office they’ll look great on your dressing table or desk. Despite their size, they look just as good displayed on their own as they do with groups of plants, and because they don’t take up much space, they can be easily moved around your house as your decor changes.
4. Artificial snake plant
Also known as mother-in-law’s tongue or St George’s sword, snake plants have striking spear-shaped leaves that stick straight up from their roots, with bands of stripes on each leaf. Display this medium-sized artificial plant on a shelf or table on its own, in a large plant pot for maximum effect.
5. Artificial fern plant
A true showstopper, this leafy fern has bushy stems that need a lot of space. It’s not overly large, and can be displayed by itself on a mantle, cabinet or side table, but looks best paired with other plants to create a wild jungle-like look. To give this artificial plant even more height, take it up a level with a plant pot on a stand.