Do Large Artificial Plants Look Tacky?

The short answer is no; large artificial plants don’t look tacky. In fact, they’re one of the most convenient and aesthetically-pleasing décor elements available today!

There was a time when if you didn’t have a green thumb, you could just forget adding greens in your décor – especially the large ones - for they just weren’t cut out to look like their real counterparts. They looked nasty, cheap, and tacky. But thankfully, material technology has since evolved, and artificial plants have made a huge comeback – yes, even the large ones! 

There’s one caveat to using artificial plants, though – they shouldn’t look fake. As long as they’re as close to the real deal, they’re not tacky. But this line is thin, which is why it’s essential to make sure that you don’t compromise with cheaper, industrial-quality artificial plants. While you may still be able to turn a blind eye to a small artificial plant, with a large one, you need to be extra careful and picky.

Here are some expert tips and tricks to ensure your large artificial plants don’t look tacky:

Natural shape and styling

Styling your large artificial plants is crucial to making them look realistic. Ensure that they have a natural and asymmetric shape. If you’re going for palms, adjust the leaves so that they have a natural and graceful fall. It might be useful to keep a reference photo of a real plant handy while styling your plants.

Realistic base

It’s a good idea to ‘plant’ your large artificial plants in nice and big pots, not just for the aesthetic appeal, but also to make them look real. After all, the real plants wouldn’t be able to survive off of those tiny pots, right? Also, check the base of the plant – are the stems simply coming out of a base like they don’t need soil since they’re fake? Cover up the base with dirt and moss to make your large plant look realistic. Bonus points if your supplier has even thought of including some fake roots. Here are some of the most lifelike bases you'll find for each type of product.

Trees: Anything less than real timber trunks will be a dead give-away. This is why we use real recycled tree trunks in our trees. Our trees look like real trees because parts of them are real trees!
Palms: Palms are a unique category of tree and one that really needs a different type of base compared to most other types of trees. Bark/ husk at the base is exactly what you want to see here. A great example of this is our Raphis Palms.
Flower Arrangements: The high quality and most lifelike faux flower arrangements will have moss at the base. This not only can add a really stunning finish to the overall design, but can also act as a filler if you're using a glass vase. Nearly all of our flower arrangements feature high quality faux moss and when used in a glass vase, we wrap the moss around the inside of the vase, so you don't see all those ugly flower stems. 

Here are a few Hyper realistic bases.

Check out some of our products with amazing bases and styling that makes them look incredible natural. Click or tap your favourite category to see more...

Detailed leaves

If you’re going for large-leaved plants like the Monstera, Fiddle Leaf Fig or Rubber Tree, make sure that the detailing on the leaves is accurate, for they will be clearly visible. Look for the vein patterns – ensure that they’re not simply printed on but are embossed. Also, check the underside of the leaves, for, in large artificial plants, they’re just as visible as the top.

No tacky additions

Avoid unrealistic, unnecessary details like water droplets on the leaves – they’re passé and tacky and they scream fake.

Real trunk

Unfortunately, one of the biggest giveaways of artificial plants is their trunk. No matter the detailing on the leaves, if the trunk isn’t exactly like the real plant, your plant will look just nasty. To avoid this issue altogether, the premium artificial plants at Artificial Plant Shop come with real timber trunks.

No plastic-y look

Many large artificial plants, especially outdoor ones, are made with UV-resistant material to protect them from sun damage. While the protection is great, the issue with this material is that it looks too plastic-y, especially against the light. Instead, it’s better to buy plants made of high-grade polyester, latex or polyethylene, and apply a UV-resistant spray coat (easily available at the local hardware store) over it.

Ensure cleanliness

Artificial plants have one flaw- they tend to gather dust over time. Even with the most premium plants, a layer of dust on the leaves will give them away. Ensure you clean your fake plants plants every 2-3 weeks to keep them looking as natural as ever.

Premium large artificial plants might be expensive, but they’re worth it

When you’re buying artificial large plants, one huge defining factor for your choice might be the pricing. While several suppliers sell industrially-produced plants at a cheap price, do consider the element of tackiness. Is there a point in buying fake plants if they don’t look real?

Artificial plants made of the right material with accurate detailing, like those at Artificial Plant Shop, may be expensive for all the work that goes into making them. But do keep in mind - you get exactly what you pay for!

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