To master decorating with artificial trees, buy a quality tree (such as an artificial olive tree or fiddle leaf fig), select a planter that is the right size to fit the room and fluff the tree branches to look like natural growth. Install trees near windows like real plants and place natural fillers like dried moss or river stones at the bottom.
This guide will also discuss how you can transform any boring place into a green and lush room without the need to worry about watering or the sun.
Step-by-Step: How to Decorate With Artificial Trees Properly
If you just open the box and place your artificial tree somewhere in a corner, it has to look fake. However, it is not that difficult to adorn fake trees provided you pick a nice one and introduce some styling “zhuzh” to it.
Step 1 — Choose the Appropriate Artificial Tree Type
The first thing to do is to choose a tree based on your interior and the feel you want to create. The appearance of various artificial trees is quite different.
- Artificial Ficus trees are appropriate in the traditional and intermediate regions. They are full, green, and work even if the room is a little empty.
- Artificial olive trees are suitable in contemporary, Mediterranean, or neutral interiors. They are not too heavy.
- Artificial Palm trees are applicable in sunny and casual areas or in business offices. They add height without feeling bulky.
- Artificial Fiddle leaf fig trees make an impressive statement. They can be installed in modern or minimal houses but they require space to breathe.
Step 2 — Pick the Correct Height and Scale
| Room Type | Recommended Tree Height | Why? |
| Small Apartments | 4 to 5 feet | Doesn’t crowd the floor or the line of sight. |
| Standard 8ft Ceiling | 6 to 7 feet | Provides height without hitting the ceiling. |
| Vaulted/High Ceilings | 8 to 10+ feet | Fits the grandiose of the architecture. |
Step 3 — Select the Best Placement in the Room
Basically, you want to put your tree where a real plant would actually survive. You want the whole room will look more balanced and credible:
- Empty Corners: There might be a corner behind a chair or beside the TV unit that seems to be sad or empty, a tall tree can fill that vertical space so well.
- Near Windows: Even though it doesn’t need sunlight, putting a faux tree near a window is a great trick. When people see light hitting the leaves, their brain automatically thinks the plant is real and growing there.
- Next to Bulky Furniture: When you have a very large sofa or a heavy wooden cabinet, one of the things that can make those hard lines seem less rigid is the plush leaves of a tree that will make the room seem softer.
Step 4 — Use the Right Planter or Basket
Do not leave your tree in that little ugly black plastic pot it was in—that is just for shipping. It needs to be up-poted into a larger more fashionable looking container such as a ceramic jar or a jute basket to for a real high-end look.
- The Size Rule: The decorative planter must be at least 2 or 3 inches wider than the tree base. A small pot will make the tree to appear top-heavy and may even fall over.
- Lifting the Height: In case your tree is too short, put some old bricks or even thick heavy books in the bottom of your big planter and then put the tree on top of them. This lifts the height immediately.
- Stability is Key: Once the tree is inside the big pot, pack the extra space with old newspapers or bubble wrap so the trunk doesn’t wiggle around.
Step 5 — Style the Tree for a Natural Look
Spend at least 15-20 minutes styling the branches and fluffing the leaves to get that healthy and fresh appearance.
- Gently spread branches in all directions
- Avoid perfect symmetry, because nature is not
- Use faux moss, bark chips, or decorative soil at the base
Pro Styling Hacks
It is these little pro touches that create the difference between a simple plastic plant and an expensive interior design element.
1# Make your room smell like a tree.
One big giveaway that a tree is fake is the lack of any natural scent. This is easily corrected by either using essential oil diffusers or hidden scent sticks placed in the branches or the soil area.
- For Pine or Evergreens: Cedarwood or balsam fir oils.
- For Citrus Trees: Lemon or orange blossom scents.
- Scented Moss: You can even buy preserved moss that has a natural, earthy smell to place at the base.
2# Seasonal & Style-Based Decorating
Don’t just leave your tree the same way all year round, treat it like a real plant that changes with the seasons. During the winter, you may place some warm white fairy lights in an olive tree to make it look warm and in spring you can change your heavy ceramic pot to a lightweight woven seagrass basket.
Where Should You Place Artificial Trees? (Room-by-Room Guide)
Artificial trees can be installed in any room literally since they do not mind the humidity or the amount of light. However, to get that magazine look, match the ambiance of the tree with the room’s style.
Living Room:
The tree in the living room is supposed to be a focal point which binds together the furniture. The majority of the people put a 6-foot tree beside the TV stand or at a corner beside the sofa to bring a pop of green that harmonizes the colors of the room. A dark green Fiddle Leaf Fig is a very nice contrast to a neutral colored room.
Entryways and Hallways:
The doorways are usually very slim so when you want to have greenery, a pencil-like tree is the best choice because it does not block the passage. A tall Ficus or a Cypress works will work wonders here.
Bedrooms and Cozy Spaces:
For the bedroom, you want something soft and calming, and definitely not spiky. A soft-leafed tree like a silk Bamboo or a Small Olive tree, can create that spa-like atmosphere.
Offices, Lobbies, and Commercial Spaces:
Artificial trees are excellent in the workplace since they do not need any maintenance personnel. Banyan or maple trees are large, bushy trees, which are ideal for lobbies or to fill in large spaces. In the case of a home office, a medium-sized tree behind your desk makes a very professional-looking Zoom background.
Common Decorating Mistakes to Avoid With Artificial Trees
| Mistake | Why It Matters | How to Avoid |
| Choosing the Wrong Size for the Space | A tree too small will look lost, while an oversized one will feel forced and awkward. | Measure your room and compare the proportions of the ceiling and the furniture before buying. Better to go a little larger than too small. |
| Ignoring the Planter and Base | Even a good tree seems to be a fake and out of place object in the room when placed in a cheap pot. | Plant the tree in a strong, elegant planter, wicker, ceramic or stone, to suit your decor. Add moss or stones for a more realistic look. |
| Overusing Artificial Trees in One Room | Too many trees may overpower, making it unnatural or untidy. | One large tree per room or one and two smaller plants. |
| Poor Lighting | When the lighting is too harsh, too dim or too uneven, artificial trees appear flat or unnatural. | Install trees where there is natural or soft ambient light. Direct overhead harsh light could produce unrealistic shadows. |
Key Takeaways: What to Do When Decorating With Artificial Trees?
Decorating with artificial trees is a perfect method of beautifying any room and bringing greenery, height, and character without the inconvenience of natural plants. What you need to do is:
- Select the right type of tree.
- Make sure the size is proper to the scale of the room.
- Best if the leaves and trunk have hand painted brush styling.
- Tie it all with a nice planter.
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