An artificial tree is one of the few pieces of decor that can fill an awkward corner, soften a hard wall of glass and add a bit of life to a room, all without a single watering. But there's a wide gulf between a faux tree that fools guests and one that screams plastic from across the room. The difference usually comes down to three things: what you buy, how you position it, and the ten minutes of care it gets each month. This guide walks through all three.
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In this guide
- How to judge quality before you buy
- Getting height and proportion right
- Styling it so nobody looks twice
- Cleaning and keeping it looking real
- A few of our favourites
- Frequently asked questions
How to judge quality before you buy
Pick a tree up, if you can, and look past the leaves. Cheap faux gives itself away at the trunk and the join points: a moulded plastic pole with an obvious seam, leaves all facing the same way, and a colour that's uniformly flat green. Better trees use a real or realistic bark-wrapped trunk, varied leaf tones, and stems on wired branches you can bend and splay. Check the leaf count too, as density is what reads as healthy. A cedar cypress topiary, for instance, should feel full to the core rather than showing bare inner stems when you part the foliage.
Getting height and proportion right
The commonest mistake is buying too small. A tree that stops at windowsill height looks lost in most rooms; you generally want the canopy to reach roughly two-thirds of the way up the wall behind it. In a room with 2.4m ceilings, a 120cm to 150cm tree in a raised planter hits the mark, while a snug corner or a hallway can take something slimmer like a 90cm topiary. Measure the spot before ordering, and remember the planter adds 20 to 40cm. Leave a little breathing room above so the top doesn't look squashed against the ceiling.
Styling it so nobody looks twice
The giveaway is rarely the tree itself; it's the pot and the base. Swap the plastic nursery pot for a heavier ceramic or woven basket, and top-dress with real moss, pebbles or bark so no green foam shows. Bend the branches into an asymmetric, natural shape rather than a perfect dome, and angle the fullest side towards the room. Position it near a genuine light source, because a tree lit as a real one would be reads as real. A cluster of a taller tree with a lower plant or two beside it always looks more convincing than one lone specimen.
Cleaning and keeping it looking real
Faux foliage doesn't wilt, but it does gather dust, which dulls colour and flattens the illusion faster than anything. Once a month, run a soft duster or a hairdryer on cool over the leaves; for a deeper clean, wipe leaves with a barely damp microfibre cloth and let them dry fully. Keep indoor trees out of harsh, all-day direct sun unless they're UV-rated, as non-treated material can fade over a couple of years by a sunny window. Fluff and re-splay the branches after cleaning, and rotate the tree occasionally so it wears evenly.
Keep reading
If you found this useful, you'll enjoy How to Style Artificial Plants Like an Interior Designer and Decorating with Artificial Plants Through the Seasons.
A few of our favourites
A few pieces from the Botanik range that suit this beautifully:
- 60cm Artificial Cedar Cypress Topiary UV Resistant
- 90cm Artificial Cedar Cypress Topiary UV Resistant
- 120cm Artificial Cedar Cypress Topiary UV Resistant
Frequently asked questions
How long do good artificial trees last?
A well-made faux tree kept indoors and dusted regularly will look great for five to ten years or more. The main enemies are sun fading and crushed branches, so keep untreated trees away from all-day direct light and reshape the foliage after any move or clean. UV-rated trees hold their colour longer, indoors or out.
Can I put an artificial tree outdoors?
Only if it's specifically UV-resistant. Standard indoor faux will fade and grow brittle within a season of British sun and weather. UV-rated trees, like many topiaries, are made to cope outdoors, though even these benefit from a sheltered spot and a weighted, well-drained planter so they don't blow over.
How do I stop a top-heavy artificial tree from toppling?
Weight the base. Slide the tree's pot into a heavier ceramic or metal planter and fill around it with sand, gravel or a bag of stones. This lowers the centre of gravity and stops wobbling. For very tall trees, choose a wide-based planter rather than a tall narrow one, which is more stable.
Are expensive artificial trees actually worth it?
Usually, yes, for anything at eye level or larger. The extra cost buys realistic trunks, denser and multi-toned foliage, and bendable wired branches, all of which sell the illusion up close. For a distant corner you can compromise, but for a tree people walk past daily, the quality difference is very noticeable.
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