7 Expert Tricks to Make Faux Greenery Look Lifelike in Your Home

Faux greenery is trending — and with a few tricks, no one will ever know it’s not real.”

Looking for realistic faux greenery? Here are some amazing tips to make it look so real, you might forget and water them.

// faux greenery branches // white flower branches (similar) //

In my never-ending quest to summerfy the house, I’ve been searching for realistic greenery.

Are you aware what a steep mountain that is to climb?

Seriously.

Whoever makes faux greenery should look to the real greenery for inspiration.

Real plants are green, but not too green.

Not too shiny, not overly waxy.

The leaves are different sizes.

And in all my travels over highways and byways—never, ever, ever have I seen…

…a real plant with a rubber branch.

Trying to find greenery that actually looks realistic?

It’s like trying to find a needle in a haystack.

But here’s the thing.

This is no ordinary, unscintillating post about faux greenery because…

….I have the BEST tip to make these faux greenery branches look more realistic.

See this little corner of the living room?

The one right there in the bay window? There are stacks of books and a lamp and a tiny blue and white cow perched on top of a blue and white container and a ruffled vase that I fill with greenery.

Sometimes I add hydrangeas and sometimes I add simple branches and sometimes I add faux greenery branches.

I love, love, LOVE ficus leaf branches—but they can be kind of pricey (especially the ones that look like real ficus branches).

Somewhere along the way, someone decided that ficus was at the top of the plant food chain.

And priced them according.

I looked online for similar branches to these and they were listed at $99.

What in the world? $99?

For something that showed up without roots?

So I found this set instead that are 44″ long and come in a set of three for under $20.

And to make them look even more realistic?

I do this.

I add REAL GREENERY.

Like this branch.

Tell me what you think? Have you ever done that before? Add real greenery? It elevates the entire look of the faux branches.

Now you are probably thinking—how do I keep the real greenery branches watered? I have a couple of suggestions:

• certain real greenery (like eucalyptus, for example) can just dry in place
• I let it dry in place and don’t add water
• you can also lightly mist the greenery every now and then to keep it fresh longer
• you can also add water to the vase with the faux and real greenery (just make sure to check it and change it out so the faux plants don’t get mold on them)

// faux greenery branches // white flower branches (similar) //

Here’s how I created this arrangement:

• five stems of these branches
• three stems of white flowering branches with larger leaves like these that are similar
• stems of real greenery I cut from the yard

That’s it.

I make sure to twist them this way and that a little to make the arrangement look more realistic. For example, see the one branch that kind of hangs down? I twisted it to hang down like that to make it look more like branches from the yard.

Here are a few more tips on how to make faux greenery look more realistic:

• if the leaves look too shiny, you can always use a matte floral spray or even rub them with cotton ball dusted with baby powder
• look to see if the stems are rubbery—if it’s not something seen in nature—steer clear
• I like layering in at least three different types of greenery to vary the texture
• stay away from symmetry—real branches don’t grow in perfect stems
• please, please, PLEASE dust them—nothing gives away faux branches than a layer of dust
• lightly mist with water—it gives the illusion of real branches

And of course—add in real greenery.

I also think—on another note that the faux branches of today are not your grandmother’s faux flowers. They keep getting realer and realer looking.

And speaking of real?

Here are a few of my favorite faux branches.

// white orchid fruit blossoms //

I love mixing it a white flower with the greenery.

It’s such a classic look.

These white orchid fruit blossoms have a coupon right now, too.

You can see them here.

// eucalyptus branches //

You will never believe what a great deal these six eucalyptus branches are.

And the stems are super realistic and they are 24″ tall and there’s a 10% off coupon right now.

You can see them here.

//. cherry blossom branches  //

These cherry blossom branches come in three different colors.

The branches and the flowers look real.

You can see the cherry blossom branches here.

// lighter ficus branches //

Here’s another ficus option with lighter leaves.

Make sure to twist the branches so they aren’t all symmetrical.

You can see these branches here.

//. japonica branches //

These japonica leaf branches are 28″ long.

The leaves are so modern and would look so cute mixed in with branches from the yard.

You can see the japonica branches here.

// pink and orange dress / heart bead necklace //

These faux branches are keeping me and my living room company and they truly look so real.

Not a rubber branch in sight.

Maybe you’ve already ordered branches like these.

Maybe you are much more brilliant than me and you are nodding your head and pointing to the ficus branches on your coffee table.

Maybe I should have bought these sooner.

All I know is my living room and I are high-fiving and drinking sweet tea.

I needed refreshment.

Climbing the faux branch mountain can be exhausting.

PS Quick update on Westleigh’s room. The rug showed up and we were not about it. So we are looking at at different kind of rug. The bed looks amazing and the room is really coming together. We just need a new rug. Hopefully, I can share it next week.

Combine these tips with natural textures and good lighting to complete the illusion.”