4 Simple Tricks to Make Your Fake Plants Look Convincingly Real

Not every green thumb has the time to keep real plants alive. Turns out, a well-styled fake one can look just as good, and be just as beneficial as the real thing.

For people who have no time or green thumb to care for real plants, fake plants have become a tempting option. However, it’s not enough to use a fake plant; you also want them to look real.

According to design expert Joanna Saltz, the secret isn't about searching for the most realistic looking fake plant, or splurging on the most expensive one. It’s all about how you style them. "Stop treating faux plants like objects and start treating them like living things," she says. Here are four tricks that make all the difference.

Trim the Stems

Fake plants are often too perfect and symmetrical, so they look unreal. One thing you can do is trim its stems so they look like they grew unevenly. Using a pair of scissors or wire cutters, trim the stems to slightly different lengths to create natural variation and movement.

Add Water

If you're using a clear vase, add water. An empty glass vase with lush-looking stems immediately signals "fake." Adding water (and changing it periodically) gives visitors the illusion that the plant is an actual living thing.

Un-liven Them

Fake plants never lose their luster or droop. But real plants do. To unliven your fake plants, gently bend a few stems downward or out of place to create an asymmetrical, natural formation.

Hide the Base

Most fake plants come with visible foam, plastic or glue at the bottom. You can hide this by layering fake moss over it, which also gives the base texture and more elevation.

Now that you’ve made your artificial plant look convincingly real, you can also enjoy their benefits. Like real plants, fake plants that look real can boost mood and mental energy. According to research, indoor plants, fake or otherwise, can help destress and even enhance creative thinking. So you get the same benefit as a real indoor plant, without worrying about watering, lighting, or pet-safety concerns.