5 ideas for decorating with artificial plants

The story was reported in magazines and newspapers around the world in March 2020. A British woman, Caelie Wilkes, announced on her social networks that she had been pampering a small succulent seedling for no less than two years only to realize that it was not possible for it to grow and respond to her affection, as it was made of plastic.

“I have had this beautiful succulent for two years. I was very proud of this plant. It was in bloom, beautiful color; it was the perfect plant. I had it in my kitchen window. I had a watering plan for it, and if anyone tried to water it I would get defensive, because I wanted to keep giving it good care. I loved my succulent,” Wilkes explained on her Facebook account.

All her illusion collapsed when it was time to transplant it to another pot and she realized the reality: the plant had no roots, but a piece of cork at its base.

“Today I decided it was time to transplant it; I had found a really cute pot that suited it perfectly. I took it out of the original plastic pot I bought it in and realized that this plant was ARTIFICIAL. I have given this plant a lot of love! I washed its leaves. I tried everything to make it look its best, and it’s all plastic! How did I not know this. I took it out of the container and it was sitting on cork with sand stuck on top. I feel like these last two years have been a lie,” she recounted. 

Her confession, which unexpectedly went viral, demonstrates the extent to which the quality of artificial plants has made it possible for them to supplant the real thing. This reality opens up a whole world of possibilities not only for those who are unable to keep even a simple cactus alive, but also for those who want to be especially creative when it comes to decorating with plants. Read on and you will discover lots of ideas to achieve this at home!

1. Use artificial plants as a separator.

Artificial plants can be used to divide a room into two or more parts. To do this, we must ally ourselves with tall and dense specimens, such as the Areca tree, 160 centimeters and made of wood, PVC and resin.

It will be useful both to compose a row that separates certain parts of the room and to cover the back of a sofa or a shelf that is in turn, serving as a separator.

The interior design studio Egue y Seta, for example, makes use of this ‘gimmick’ in a Madrid apartment. Thus, between the kitchen and the living room, and between the master bedroom and its bathroom, it creates two large internal gardens of artificial plants delimited by glass windows, made to measure in lacquered wood carpentry.

2.Some artificial plants are ideal for hanging from the ceiling.

They look especially at weddings and parties, but can also be left all year round to decorate a cozy and boho corner. We are talking about artificial plants hanging directly from the ceiling, a composition that you can achieve with specimens such as Aspar. This model, made of PVC and resin, has variations in tone to achieve a realistic look.

Another idea? You can use hanging artificial plants to make a mobile, or a lamp, that catches all eyes generating a magical atmosphere.

3. Create a vertical garden with artificial plants.

The Aspar model can also be used to create a vertical garden with artificial plants, which will add freshness and sophistication to any space.

In addition, if you team up with decorative artificial plants that emulate different species, such as eucalyptus branches, you can add variety to your green wall.

4. Use artificial plants to create a beautiful table decoration.

Just like the hanging option, artificial plants used as table decorations are also a great option for parties that you can use again and again.

No matter what the reason for the festivity, they’ll brighten up any feast! An example? A very jungle-like children’s birthday party – watch how artificial ivy is used to decorate the balloons!

Artificial plants also look great in a sophisticated Christmas decoration, especially if they emulate ‘winter’ plants, such as spruce.

If you decide to cut and shape them to your liking, you could use artificial plants to create a centerpiece inside which to place, for example, a couple of candles.

Another good idea: put some cut branches of artificial plants in a glass vase or a demijohn for a delicate effect.

A few touches of male fern always look spectacular in large arrangements. Although of course, we understand that you don’t want to ruin this beautiful pot – which is also suitable for outdoors.

Another option? Get a glass bell or dome, or some other transparent decorative container in which to put small branches of artificial plants, garlands of lights or even a candle to create an unforgettable detail on the table.

5. Make your artificial plants look ‘real’.

No matter how realistic the leaves are, don’t settle for the look of your artificial plants. If you want them to blend in perfectly with your home décor, give them the most realistic look possible!

You can achieve this by covering the base with soil, pebbles or even moss – it is also possible to create a combination of these three elements. It is also a good idea to place the artificial plants where the species they mimic would normally be. For example, if you decide on a monstera (Adam’s rib), it would be interesting to place it in a space without much direct light.

If your favorite artificial plants are cacti, on the other hand, it is convenient to place them in full sun, perhaps near a window or balcony. However, to make sure that UV rays will not affect their appearance, make sure they are suitable for outdoors, such as this San Pedro cactus made of wood, PVC and resin.

Of course, none of these tricks will work if your artificial plants are of poor quality. To make sure the emulation will work, opt for models with leaves of various sizes and different shades, as is the case with the Aralia Tree decorative plant, with premium finish, natural-colored trunk and 279 PVC and resin leaves.

You can also go one step further in the realm of realism and perfume them! This is a tip that works, especially with artificial flowering plants. To achieve this, there are several options:

1. Place them near an air freshener that smells like the flowers they mimic. For example, you can activate a rose scent near a vase full of these fake flowers, or even hide small ‘bottles’ with scent among the branches.
2. Spraying the flowers with their own scent, either through a perfume spray or by ‘painting’ them with the plant’s own oil.

Finally, it will also help to create a ‘real’ look to keep artificial plants clean, avoiding that unsightly layer of dust that often settles on the leaves. To achieve this, simply wipe their surface with a damp cloth, and voilà! Your specimen will look as fresh as ever.

Artificial plants, a fantastic option for adding greenery to your home

Given their level of realism, the new artificial plants are able to bring a sense of freshness to any space with great dignity. In addition, the fact that they do not need soil and water is not only convenient when it comes to eliminating the care they usually require, but also to get especially creative when it comes to using them to decorate the house.