Do Fake Plants Look Tacky? (Everything To Know)
Decorating your home with plants is necessary if you’d like to have a space that is refreshing, uplifting, and filled with positive feelings.
Real plants are always recommended but this may not be an option for those who are too busy to take care of plants or just not that good at it.
This is why you may opt for fake plants instead as there is no need to water and take care of them. But in terms of appearance, some fake plants may not be suitable.
Fake plants can look tacky if they are cheap and made from low-quality materials. They often have this synthetic and plastic look that makes it obvious that they are artificial. However, high-quality fake plants will never appear tacky and they can often be mistaken for real plants which is a huge benefit.
Since there are a ton of fake plants that are easily available almost everywhere that is a risk of deterioration and fading, so you’ll have to be careful with the ones you choose to display.
There are a few factors that you can take into consideration when picking out a fake plant for your home which will be discussed in further detail below.
I’ve also outlined a couple of reasons why fake plants can be great for your home and also ways to make them work for you.
Let’s get started.
Table of Contents
Everything To Know About Fake Plants
3 Easy Ways To Know If A Fake Plant Looks Tacky
Inferior-quality fake plants can look tacky but the higher-quality ones that are more on the pricey side can look great in your home.
Here are a few main elements you can take a look at (leaves, texture, color) with confidence when purchasing a fake plant to avoid getting one that looks tacky and cheap:
1. Inspect the Leaves
Take a look at the leaves and petals of the plant. They should resemble a normal plant as closely as they can. Depending on the plant you’d like to display, consider the pattern and lines on the plant.
Succulents are a great fake plant option as they often resemble a real succulent to a certain extent. The leaves should have a slight or close enough realistic appearance to the real plants.
For this example, let’s take a deeper look at one of the most beautiful plants below:
On the left side, this fake representation does a decent job however it’s nowhere near as beautiful and exotic as the real orchid looks.
It simply cannot capture the essence and beauty of the real orchid.
With a closer look at the fake plant, don’t you feel it looks cheap and tacky compared to the real richness of the orchid?
2. Consider the Material/Texture of the Plant
The material of a fake plant can make or break its look. If a plant has a too fabric or plastic look, this can really make the plant look tacky.
Fake plants are typically made from materials like polyester, plastic, silk, cotton, or rayon.
You’ll want to choose a high-quality fake plant that looks great close-up and far away. The texture and details of the fake plant can also help in making the plant resemble the real one more closely.
Another factor that needs to be considered with fake plants is the risk of deterioration and fading.
Try to get a plant that is made from a material that is UV resistant or consider placing the plant away from direct sunlight to avoid facing discoloration over time.
3. Color
Color plays a big role in whether a plant looks tacky or too artificial. Most plants are rich and radiant in color but some fake plants can look dull and lacking in color.
Some fake plants can also use a color that is too vibrant and far off from the real green-brown color of the leaves. Consider the color of the plant, its petals, and its leaves when picking a fake plant.
If a fake plant can look life-like from far away, then you should be able to get away with it even if it may not meet your expectations completely when inspecting the leaves and details.
Main Difference Between Real Plants and Fake Plants
Real plants are rich in texture and provide many benefits in terms of mood enhancement, reducing stress, and filtering the air.
Most fake plants are made from low-quality materials and fabric that looks cheap. It can be quite obvious that a plant is fake with just a glance at the leaves, color, or style of the plant.
However good quality, well-crafted, and realistic-looking artificial plants may not provide the same benefits as fake plants in terms of cleaning the air and such, but these fake plants still look beautiful and can make a huge difference in terms of aesthetics that will add a pop of color which will influence your mood and focus even if they aren’t technically real but will give you a close enough effect to a real plant.
It really boils down to personal preference and your budget but if you’re dead set on making sure these flowers or plants contribute to making your space look its best, it might be a good idea to just get a real house plant instead.
This will avoid the risk of the plants looking tacky and cheap while saving you time and effort.
Recommended Fake Plants:
Dracaena Silk (Real Touch) 43in Artificial Plant
Get this plant over here on Amazon
Sansevieria with Black Planter 35in
Fake Plants vs Real Plants
I guess it’s time to put the plants to a test. Below, you’ll find a quick yet informative breakdown of the pros of each plant that will help you decide:
Benefits of Fake Plants
Even though fake plants can look tacky, real plants can also look bad if they are wilted or dying. This means there are still loads of benefits and pros to opting for fake plants.
Especially for those who can’t keep or don’t want to maintain real plants. To quickly list a few benefits of realistic-looking fake plants, they are as follows:
- Easy to maintain – Fake plants don’t require any assistance or care as a normal plant would. They is no need for soil, chemicals, and other items to maintain the plant. You may just have to wipe them down once in a while to get rid of dust.
- Does not require light – The best pro to fake plants is that you can place them anywhere in your home, unlike real plants which are necessary to provide them with sunlight to grow.
- Durable – Fake plants can last longer whereas real plants can die if they are not taken care of properly. However, some fake plants can also fade and look dull if the material is placed in sunlight for too long over time.
- No bugs or insects – There are no bugs or insects and this way you won’t have to use sprays or pesticides in your home unlike with real plants.
- Cost-effective – Real plants can be really expensive and some plants may not even thrive in your home. With fake plants, you can get as many as you like that can last longer.
Benefits of Real Plants
Now it will be only fair to list a few positives to real plants which you can use to create a comparison to decide which will be more suitable for your home:
- Will never look tacky – With real plants, there’s no chance of a plant looking cheap and tacky. It’s the real deal. You’ll definitely be able to achieve a stunning and serene effect with real plants.
- Good for the air – Real plants recycle carbon dioxide that helps our breathing. This will be great for your physical and mental health.
- Reduces stress – Real plants add a sense of peace, calm, and positive energy that helps you feel relaxed. It can also be therapeutic when taking care of plants.
- Looks beautiful– Household plants enrich the space and can make any home look amazing even with a simple and minimalistic decor.
Both options pack a ton of benefits that make them appear attractive. However, with real plants, you’ll definitely be assured of quality.
With fake plants, there is always the risk of them looking tacky and bad but this can be easily avoided by picking the right type of artificial plants.
How To Take Care of Fake Plants
Keep It Clean
Make sure to keep a fake plant clean as well to maintain its quality.
Even though they don’t require care and maintenance as a normal and real plant would, it’s still a good idea to wipe the leaves down once in a while to get rid of dust and this should maintain the appearance and quality of an artificial plant.
You can use an electrostatic duster that will quickly and easily remove any dust or use a microfibre cloth to wipe the leaves.
For larger plants and leaves, a good ol’ used dryer sheet will remove the dust and keep it cleaner for longer.
If your plants have a lot of dirt, stains, or grime, you could try using a home remedy by dipping a toothbrush into rubbing alcohol and testing a small patch first this should remove the stains.
Be sure to test this method out first before wiping down an entire leaf. Certain materials can get ruined if it doesn’t take to this method.
Other ways of cleaning an artificial and fake plant are using a cotton ball, duster, vacuum, paintbrush, or tissues.
How To Decorate With Fake Plants And Make Them Look Good
If you have a couple of fake plants on hand already, there are a few smart ways to make them look good. Also, these tips can be used for high-quality fake plants to increase their appeal and aesthetic:
Option 1: Use a Fancy Container
A common flaw most people do when placing a fake plant in their home is using a boring or the original container a fake plant comes with.
It will be better to place the fake plant in a fancy or suitable container that will make the plant and display look more attractive.
A fake plant can look way better in a modern or detailed container like a geometric plant holder that will suit the decor.
In my home, I paired this fake plant with a stunning textured gold planter that makes this fake plant look elegant and attractive.
The gold and green also complement each other which increases the appeal of the arrangement.
If you’d like to take it one step further by trying to create a real illusion with the fake plant, you can always fill the pot with real soil or get artificial soil for the fake plants.
Option 2: Create a Beautiful Arrangement
An empty space can definitely benefit from a beautiful arrangement and display of plants.
Place a few fake pot plants next to each other or in a row.
If you have real plants as well, consider mixing them up together and this should help the fake plants blend in with the real ones.
You can also place the fake plants next to other ornaments or accessories to create a cohesive style.
Option 3: Use a Macrame Hanger (Optional)
If you’re looking for a fun, stylish, and quirky way to incorporate fake plants into the interior, use a hanging macrame plant hanger.
This can add a creative detail that will also make the fake texture and style of the plant less noticeable when it’s paired with a beautiful, knotted holder that is trendy and popular.
Option 4: Place The Fake Plants on a Shelf
For smaller fake pot plants, you can display them in a flattering location by placing them on floating shelves or on top of a cabinet, drawer, bookshelf, or table.
With just a few fake plants in between other ornaments and decorations, this can be a nice and easy way to create a beautiful display.
It wouldn’t really matter if these small fake plants look real or not if it’s accompanied by other unique and fun items.
Final Thoughts
The key takeaway from this is to never compromise on quality and style when choosing a fake plant.
Most cheap and low-grade artificial plants can look tacky and fake. The best way to avoid this is to opt for higher-grade fake plants or low-maintenance real plants.
It’s not really a big deal if you go for smaller fake plants but large fake pot plants can look off-putting and cheap, giving a bad impression of your taste and style.
Looking at the material, texture, and color of a fake plant is always a good idea before purchasing the plant.
If you manage to get a fake plant that resembles a real plant, this should definitely work great with your decor but avoid a plant that looks too plastic and fake as this will look tacky and odd.
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Where To Put Plants In A Living Room? (Best Arrangement Ideas)
