Many homeowners and designers struggle with choosing between real plants and artificial plants. Natural plants require regular care, while fake plants can sometimes appear less natural. This article explores how to combine artificial plants with real plants to achieve the perfect balance of beauty and convenience.
Can You Mix Artificial Plants with Real Plants
Absolutely yes. You can effectively mix faux plants with real ones. It’s not only possible, but also a popular styling option among designers today. Maybe you heard that fake plants ruin the natural ambiance. Now the myth is outdated. Why? Because modern faux plants are now made from premium synthetic materials with natural texture.
Today’s faux greenery mimics the lifelike texture of real leaves. At FeelReal, we produce artificial plants with silk, high-grade plastic, and textured stems. Even plant lovers are amazed of the realism of our plants. This means you can confidently pair them with real foliage. It can maintain the natural feel of the space. At the same time, you can also balance big plants, trees, and smaller floral accents for the best effect.
The key to mixing things up is to avoid making them look forced. Instead, you can strive for a seamless and integrated look. In this way, people cannot tell apart even from a close look. This approach works in any space: indoors, like a bedroom or home office, or outside, like a balcony or porch.
For example, you can place a potted real Monstera in a sunny corner. Here it can thrive. Then pair it with tall artificial ferns on a nearby floor-to-ceiling shelf, as it doesn’t get much sun. Or, in the dining room, you can add a splash of fresh color with real flowers and sprinkle small artificial succulents around. You will find, it can keep the atmosphere lively all week long.
Benefits of Combining Fake and Real Plants
Imagine pairing artificial potted ferns with fresh houseplants or synthetic trees. Wouldn’t the difference between the floral displays be even more striking? Mixing real and artificial plants offers many benefits:
Low Maintenance: Real plants require special care. You’ll need to water them regularly and check for pests and diseases. Artificial plants come in handy if you have a busy schedule or aren’t a green thumb. They don’t require watering, light, or pruning, so a mixed planting reduces your overall care time.
Year-Round Beauty: Real plants go through natural cycles of growth, so they will wither or recede. By integrating artificial filler plants, such as faux ferns or creeping ivy, your display remains consistently lush and complete throughout the year.
Flexibility: Real plants are ideal for sunny locations. For the places where are exposed to inclement weather, the artificial plants are better suited. Real flowers may wilt in strong sunlight, while artificial plants offer protection from the outdoor elements.
Affordability: Real plants wilt easily and have a shorter lifespan. You’ll also need to buy consumables like soil and fertilizer. High-quality artificial plants, on the other hand, last longer and require less frequent replacement. This reduces maintenance costs and effort. It has better long-term value.
Allergen and pet-safe: Some real plants can be toxic to pets to pets or may trigger allergies. You can replace these with high-quality imitation plants. This way, you can enjoy greenery and privacy. At the same time, you do not worry about the safety of your pets or family. It can keep a luxury feel in your home.
Tips for Combining Fake and Real Plants
Follow these simple tips, you can seamlessly blend artificial and real plants:
Start with a balanced arrangement:
You can place real plants where they will thrive. For example, you can place light-loving succulents on a sunny windowsill. And you can place shade-loving ferns in a shady area.
However, artificial plants can be placed in areas where real plants struggle. These areas are dim corners, high ceilings, or narrow shelves.
So if you combine real and fake plants, you can add greenery to everywhere in your place. When you do the combination, pay attention to balance the heights. You can pair a tall real plant with a shorter artificial plant, or pair a big synthetic artificial tree with smaller potted real plants surrounding it.
Choose realistic, high-quality artificial plants:
Not all fake plants are created equal. You need to choose high-quality products from reliable suppliers. Good plants feature realistic leaves, textured stems, and materials that mimic real plants. Avoid cheap plastics that look obviously fake, as they will ruin the overall effect.
The foundation of a realistic artificial plant is built from its core materials and molding process. At FeelReal, we prioritize high-grade materials like PE (Polyethylene) and “real-touch” fabrics over the low-cost, glossy plastics that create an unnatural sheen. Furthermore, we construct our plants with internally wired stems, allowing them to be shaped and posed for a more natural look.
When you inspect a plant, pay attention to the details. Look for the natural vein patterns on leaves and subtle variations in color, which mimic real foliage. A superior product will feel authentic to the touch. However, visible plastic seams, a flimsy feel, and a uniform, glossy finish are the signs of a lower-quality item.
Mix complementary textures and combinations:
You can pair real plants with artificial plants that match the style. For example, a real Monstera with broad leaves can pair well with an artificial fern with slender leaves. Real succulents pair beautifully with artificial ivy. This mix of textures adds interest to your interior displays.
Use baskets and pots that coordinate:
The right baskets help blend real and artificial plants. Besides, it can also keep their appearance cohesive. They’re also great for hiding the bases of artificial plants. This way, it can make them look naturally grown. You can place real herbs in terracotta pots. In order to have a harmonious look, I suggest you use the same premium pots for the artificial succulents. It will show a cohesive and luxury look.
Focus on a natural display:
You can arrange plants in clusters rather than straight lines. Real plants grow in a messy, natural way, so your mixed arrangements should follow suit. For example, you can place real flower centerpieces on your dining table. And then sprinkle them with small artificial filler plants. Doesn’t this look more natural than a perfectly symmetrical arrangement?
Maintenance Tips for Mixed Artificial and Real Plant
Regular maintenance will extend the life of your mixed display. It can also maintain the realistic effect you desire. In order to keep your mixed plant display fresh, you can follow a few simple maintenance tasks as below.
For real plants: You need to maintain routine care. You need to water when the soil is dry and trim off any dead leaves. You can place real plants in a well-lit area, and use artificial plants to cover dark corners. Healthy real plants will appear vibrant. In this way, it can make the mixed effect with fake plants more convincing.
For artificial plants: Maintenance is simple, requiring only occasional cleaning. Dust accumulation on fake leaves can make them look dull and lifeless. You can gently wipe the leaves with a soft cloth. For resistant outside artificial plants, you can rinse them with a low-pressure hose to remove any dirt. This will keep them looking pristine.
Inspect for wear and tear: Over time, real plants may outgrow their pots. At this point, they’ll need to be moved to bigger planters. If artificial plants have loose stems or faded leaves, you can replace them. Every few weeks, you can make a quick check for your display. Then your display can remain in top condition.
Finally, you can refresh your arrangement with the seasons. Replace real plants as they naturally change, and add artificial greenery to keep the display full and balanced. During warmer, sunnier months, you can pair vibrant real blooms like hibiscus with lush artificial greenery, such as faux ferns, to create a look of abundance.
As the weather cools, you can complement plants like chrysanthemums with timeless artificial accents like pine stems or berry branches. This simple rotation ensures your display always feels fresh and in harmony with the time of year.
Summary
Blending artificial and real plants gives you the best of both worlds—freshness from live greenery and lasting beauty from lifelike faux plants. With FeelReal’s premium artificial plants, designed with natural textures and high-quality materials, you can seamlessly pair them with real plants for a lush, stylish look all year round.
FAQs about Artificial Plants：
Q1: Are fake plants tacky?
The idea that fake plants are tack is an outdated myth. The cheap, mass-produced plastic plants look tacky. But, modern high-quality artificial plants are produced with realistic materials, detailed textures, and natural color variations. They are nearly indistinguishable from their live counterparts.
Q2. How long can artificial plants last?
The lifespan depends on quality and placement. High-quality indoor artificial plants can last for 5-10 years with simple dusting. For outdoor use, UV-resistant plants are designed to withstand the elements and can last for 5+ years without significant fading. They are a durable, long-term investment for your decor.
