When it comes to real & faux plants for home decor, the right greenery can completely transform your space. Whether it’s a lush fiddle leaf fig in the corner of our living room or a few small succulents on a shelf, plants instantly add color and life to any room. The only problem? Keeping real plants alive isn’t always easy! That’s where using a few well-placed faux indoor plants can really help you home decor.
In our home, I’ve found a happy balance between real and faux plants, and I love how the combination gives every room a natural, low-maintenance look. If you’ve ever wondered how to blend the two seamlessly, here are my favorite tips and decorating ideas to help you create a home that feels effortlessly fresh and stylish.
Our favorite fiddle leaf plant – a similar one can be found here at Walmart
1. Start with Real Plants in Key Spots
There’s just something about real plants that faux ones can’t quite replace — the texture, scent, and subtle imperfections make them special. I like to use real plants in areas where they’ll thrive, such as near a sunny window or in the kitchen where they have the best chance to grow.
Low-maintenance indoor plants like snake plants, pothos, or ZZ plants are great choices if you’re not an expert gardener. They handle less-than-perfect lighting and need minimal care, making them perfect for busy homes. Here is a picture of the real snake plant we have in our foyer, similar to this one from Home Depot.
2. Add Faux Plants Where Real Ones Struggle
Every home has those tricky spots — dark corners, bathrooms with no natural light, or high shelves you can’t easily reach. Instead of struggling to keep a real plant alive there, go for artificial plants for home décor that look incredibly realistic.
Some of my favorite faux options are olive trees, ferns, and small tabletop plants in pretty pots. When placed thoughtfully, faux greenery adds height, texture, and that cozy natural feel — no watering required.
3. Mix Real and Faux Plants Together
Here’s my favorite design trick: mixing real and faux plants in the same space!
Combine a few real plants on lower shelves or windowsills with faux plants higher up or tucked in decorative baskets. The real plants naturally “sell” the look of the faux ones. This creates the illusion of a home filled with lush greenery — without all the upkeep. This is our faux snake plant from Target, which looks very similar to the home depot real plant. I found a similar look at Wayfair here & the plant stand is similar to this one from Walmart, so you can level up the complete look!
Try grouping them in threes — one real, one faux, and one textured accent like a vase or candle — for a balanced and cohesive look.
4. Choose Quality Faux Plants That Look Real
Not all faux plants are created equal. Look for faux plants that look real, with varied textures, natural leaf tones, and realistic stems. A matte finish tends to photograph and display better than shiny leaves. Remember, try to find colors and shapes that you would see in nature. A plant that is too bright green, too neon, too light green can drastically make the plant look fake, taking away from the appeal.
Add them to woven baskets, ceramic pots, or textured planters to enhance their natural appearance. Always bend and fluff the stems to make them less uniform — it helps them mimic how real plants grow.
Here’s an example of one of our favorite faux outdoor plants—a line of artificial arborvitaes we used to create a beautiful patio privacy wall. They’re the perfect low-maintenance addition to our outdoor space, adding greenery year-round without any upkeep. Once the weather turns cooler, I plan to repot them on our front porch for a cozy, wintery holiday look. You can see exactly how we built our cedar planter boxes and styled styled them in our DIY Patio Privacy Wall post!
5. Refresh Your Décor Seasonally
Plants are the easiest way to make a room feel updated without redecorating everything. In spring and summer, use light pots and bright greenery. In fall and winter, switch to deeper green tones, burgundy, oranges, add branches or faux eucalyptus for warmth, or even small potted evergreens for a cozy seasonal touch. We switch out all our trees (Olive, Fiddle) for evergreen/Christmas trees for the winter season.
If you love rearranging your décor, budget-friendly indoor plant décor ideas like this are the perfect way to refresh your space without spending much.
6. Where to Use Plants in Your Home
From entryways to bedrooms, plants can work in every corner of your home. A few ideas:
- Living Room: Add a tall faux fiddle leaf fig or real monstera next to the sofa. Our favorite faux fiddle leaf is show below and linked.
- Kitchen: Style real herbs in small pots on the counter.
- Bathroom: Use eucalyptus stems for that spa-like feel.
- Bedroom: Try a small faux olive tree or real peace lily for a soft, calming touch.
Plants bring warmth, texture, and life to any space — even the smallest ones!
Final Thoughts
Whether your thumb is green or not, mixing real and faux plants gives you the best of both worlds — a natural, lived-in home that looks beautiful every day. Don’t be afraid to combine textures, play with height, and switch things up throughout the year.
Creating that cozy, layered look with greenery doesn’t require perfection — just creativity and a few smart decorating ideas.
For an easy crafting project to make a beautiful faux greenery piece for your table or mantel, try this DIY Faux Moss Bowl project with all the easy step by step instructions.
