May 19, 2026
A Newcomer’s Guide to Living in California
You’ve made up your mind and decided to take the leap: you’re moving to California. This expansive state is home to beaches, forests, mountains,...
Is it a faux pas to use faux plants? Are fake plants out of style? The answer to both of these questions is “absolutely not” — especially when done right! In fact, faux greenery has come a long way. Today’s artificial plants feature more realistic textures, subtle yet realistic color variation, and organic shapes, making them far more convincing than their earlier counterparts.
However, there’s a fine line between tasteful and tacky when using artificial plants for home decor. Be wary of these common mistakes people make when decorating with faux greenery, and tuck away some tips for refining your artificial green thumb.
This one is simple, but it’s also the foundation of everything else. Even the best styling won’t fully disguise a plant that looks overly plastic or uniform. Only decorate with quality artificial plants.
Here’s what to look for in a good fake plant:
Bonus Tip: If you have a few plants that look a little more fake than the others, place them on top of a bookshelf or other spot away from possible scrutiny. No one will be the wiser.
Feel free to double up on the plants you like, but avoid putting the same kinds of plants next to one another since they’ll look nearly identical. Nature isn’t uniform, and your decor shouldn’t be either. Mix different plant types, leaf shapes, and sizes to create a more organic, believable arrangement.
Even high-quality faux plants can look awkward if their scale feels off for the room. A tiny plant in a large living room can disappear completely, while an oversized tree squeezed into a tight corner makes a room feel cramped. To make faux greenery feel more intentional, think about proportion the same way you would with furniture or artwork.
Tall trees like fiddle leaf figs and ficus plants work best when they’re helping anchor empty corners or soften large furniture layouts. Medium-sized plants are ideal for consoles, sideboards, and accent tables, while smaller plants and trailing greenery work well on shelves, desks, and countertops.
A good rule of green thumb: your plants should feel like part of the room’s overall composition, and not an afterthought squeezed into leftover space.
Would you put a live houseplant in a dark, windowless hallway? If you wanted to keep it alive, you wouldn’t! When figuring out how to arrange indoor plants, think about where they would grow best if they were living. Even though your faux plants don’t need sunlight, your placement should still mimic those natural cues.
Here’s where to put faux plants in your house:
Welcome everyone who walks in the front door with a gorgeous “living” succulent wall. Place your succulent wall behind an eye-catching console table or bench for maximum impact. It’s sure to impress and is a unique alternative to a large mirror, photo, or painting.
Some of the best artificial plants for the living room include trees! Fiddle leaf figs, smilax, and ficus trees fill an empty corner beautifully and make a great statement piece. There are plenty of good fake plants for living room decor, too. Bookshelves are another easy place to start. Trailing plants like philodendron and pothos (which come in various colors, including golden, silver, marble queen, and neon to complement any room’s color palette) go nicely on the top shelf, while peperomia and succulents work well between shelves. Snake plants and monstera deliciosa can hold their own in a floor planter, shelf, or on an accent table.
Succulents are a no-brainer for dining room plants because a mixed succulent arrangement makes a perfect centerpiece. Alternatively, a colorful Bird of Paradise is a pretty substitute for a vase of flowers, while peperomia and ZZ plants are also good choices for the dining room because their leaves are more contained, allowing them to dress a gorgeous table without dominating the space.
Place a few faux friends on the windowsill above the sink to make washing dishes 10x more enjoyable (and avoid taking up valuable counter space). Try a lineup of cacti, succulents, herbs, and aloe vera. Aloe vera plants are known for their soothing properties, and while your fake one won’t provide much relief to an oven burn, it’s still fitting for it to live in the kitchen. Simple green grasses are another excellent option for the kitchen because of their herb-like quality.
Artificial hanging plants are ideal for creating bedroom bliss. A fern looks quite lovely hanging on the corner or sitting on a dresser or high shelf, and its fringe-y leaves help soften a room. Peace lilies are also popular fake plants in bedrooms—put one on your nightstand to enjoy.
Bamboo creates a spa vibe, which is likely just what you want in your bathroom. A string of pearls or donkey tail plant is also a beautiful addition. Let them hang in a decorative plant hanger or perch them on a shelf, letting their beads drape down like a peaceful green waterfall.
Real plants aren’t perfectly symmetrical, and your faux plants shouldn’t be either. Some artificial plants arrive compressed from packaging with stiff branches, identical leaf placement, and an overly polished shape. Unfortunately, that “perfect” look is often what makes them feel obviously fake.
Before styling your faux greenery:
These small adjustments mimic the irregular growth patterns of real plants and can make your faux greenery look more believable.
When you bring home a live plant, you repot it, add more soil, and personalize it for your home. Do the same with your faux plants! These three things will go a long way to creating a tastefully plant-studded home.
Tip: Think of the planter as part of your decor, not just a container.
One of the biggest giveaways that a faux plant is artificial has nothing to do with the plant itself—it’s the maintenance. While you may not have to water your faux indoor plants, they still need regular care.
Artificial leaves gather dust and grime over time, which can quickly make them look dull or obviously fake. Faded colors, brittle stems, or warped foliage can quickly make even high-end faux plants look dated and neglected. To keep faux greenery looking fresh:
Touch up their form every once in a while, too. Like any decor item, faux plants look best when they’re cared for and refreshed occasionally.
While Crazy Plant Lady may be the new Crazy Cat Lady, there is such a thing as too many fake plants. A room full of living plants creates a lush, organic feel, but a room bursting at the seams with faux plants tends to have a lackluster effect.
The best way to get that organic feel with your fake plants is to mix in a few real plants, too — the addition will make the overall feel more natural, and you can get away with a few more green friends. To stick to your budget, choose larger artificial plants and smaller real ones.
Once you’ve avoided common mistakes, the next step is to use faux plants intentionally to enhance your space.
One of the easiest ways to make faux plants look more natural is to vary their height throughout the room. Pair a tall floor plant with medium-sized greenery on a console or side table, and finish with smaller plants on shelves. This layering effect adds dimension and keeps your space from feeling flat.
The container matters just as much as the plant itself. A sleek ceramic planter can lean modern, while a woven basket adds warmth and texture. You’ll also want to coordinate planters throughout a space to keep everything cohesive without being overly matched.
Faux plants are especially effective at balancing structured furniture. Instead of placing them randomly, give them a purpose. Place a plant next to a sofa to soften its lines, use greenery to bring life to a quiet corner, add a calming touch to a bedroom or bathroom, or add a small plant to a coffee table or bookshelf to create a more relaxed, lived-in feel. When each plant has a role, your design is sure to feel more curated and intentional.
Whether you’re in a short-term rental or a homeowner, it’s important to personalize your space and create a relaxing environment. One of the simplest—and most cost-effective—ways to enhance your space is with decor.
Wondering where to buy artificial plants? At CORT Furniture Rental, you have the option of sprucing up your monthly furniture rental subscription by incorporating faux plants! In addition to a bit of greenery, you can add other decorative items, such as artwork, pillows, throws, and functional housewares like dishes, linens, and towels. Visit a CORT showroom near you or jump online to start curating your Move-In Ready furniture rental package today!
