Not thrilled with your IKEA artificial plants? Here's what to do

Everyone’s going crazy about artificial plants; why shouldn’t they? After all, now you get perfect replicas of the real ones, so those who can’t manage real plants can still add that lovely touch of green to their décor. No, it’s not a cardinal sin to use artificial plants to decorate your home anymore!

Buying fake plants can get confusing, considering the thousands of options available today. But whether you’re buying Ikea artificial plants or faux plants of any other kind, the buying rules remain the same – what’s the point of fake plants that don’t ‘look’ real? Here are points to help you pick the most beautiful, realistic, life-like – the best artificial plants there are out in the market.

Check out the shape of the faux plant

Real plants have an organic, asymmetric shape – right? So why should your artificial plants be otherwise? While buying your faux greens, keep images of their real counterparts handy to compare the shape and ensure that you’re getting the real deal.

Look for realistic detailing on the leaves

‘God is in the details’ – this couldn’t be truer than for artificial plants! Pay close attention to the details on the leaves – are there vein patterns that look realistic? Are the patterns different in each leaf? Look at the underside of the leaves – can you see the vein patterns there as well?

Look for varying shades in the leaves

Reject fake plants that come in a single or just two shades of green – they scream ‘fake’ and are responsible for that ‘cardinal sin’ everyone keeps relating fake plants with! Look for multiple color variations in the leaves – darker tones in the bigger, ‘older’ ones and lighter shades in the ‘fresh’ ones.

Ensure ease of cleaning

Cleaning faux plants every couple of weeks or so is all the maintenance they need. This not only ensures the durability of your plant, but also makes it look real and keeps bugs and pests away. It’s always a good idea to go for plastic or polyurethane artificial plants rather than those made of fabrics like silk.

You can simply keep your plastic plant under running water to get rid of the dust and dirt. Most silk fabrics are delicate and would be ruined by water. They can only be dry cleaned and would require complicated cleaning strategies to get the stubborn dirt out.

Pick plants anchored in natural elements

For a more realistic touch, look for Ikea artificial plants or other faux plants that have real-life dirt, sand, rocks or even fake moss at their base. This adds an organic texture to your plants and is an easy way to trick someone into believing they’re real.

Look for realistic trunks, buds, flowers

Don’t stop at the detailing of the leaves! Look for other parts of your faux plant too – is the trunk believable? Did you know that you get faux plants made of real timber? Also, look at the buds, flowers and even the fruits – is there a variation in their size and color? Do they look as close to the real ones as possible?

Go for real-touch fakes

If you want to take your fake-plants game a notch higher, go for real-touch fakes! These are premium artificial plants that feel just like real plants. There’s absolutely no way to discern the fakes from the real ones!

Don’t compromise on quality

Whether you’re picking out Ikea artificial plants or others – here’s a solid piece of advice: don’t give up quality for the price! Cheap, unrealistic fake plants just look tacky and add no value to your décor. If you’re going to be replacing real plants, you better make sure they’re only with premium artificial plants!

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