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How Do I Choose the Best Artificial Office Plants?

B. Miller
B. Miller

Fortunately, choosing artificial office plants is a much easier prospect than choosing real plants, since you do not need to worry about the amount of light they will need to get or who will take care of them. You are free to choose plants based entirely on the look they will give to a room, and how they coordinate with each other. One important factor to keep in mind when choosing artificial office plants is to choose ones of quality. Cheap artificial plants are easy to find, but they fade quickly, and can even start fraying, which will make it very obvious that the plant is fake.

When you are choosing quality artificial office plants, look for those made of silk; some are also made from reformed bark from trees. These will not only hold up better, but they will look much more realistic, which is really the key to making artificial office plants look good. Another thing to look for is whether or not the plants are coated with anything to make them resistant to UV light, which will help to prevent fading and ensure the plants last for many years. Choosing plants with sturdier leaves will also make them easier to dust and wipe clean, giving them that shiny appearance that real plants have, which is really the only maintenance needed for artificial plants.

Businesswoman talking on a mobile phone
Businesswoman talking on a mobile phone

The specific artificial office plants you choose are largely up to you and the type of atmosphere you want to create in the office. If you choose plants designed to look tropical, for example, it is generally a good idea to stick with that theme to provide a sort of cohesiveness to the office. It also depends on the amount of space you have. If you have a large space to fill, an artificial tree can look great, whereas smaller desk plants or hanging window plants can really brighten up a smaller, darker office.

A mixture of small and large plants is generally the best choice, but be careful not to go overboard with the artificial office plants. In that case, it will quickly become evident that the plants are fake, particularly if they are in a room that does not receive a large amount of natural light. For the best look, choose artificial plants that look as if they could actually be growing wherever you choose to put them, within reason. This will be the most aesthetically pleasing choice.

Discussion Comments

clintflint

@KoiwiGal - the problem is that most offices have barely enough light for the people in them, let alone for some plants. If you're in an office with lovely big windows looking into the sunlight, then I say everyone should get a plant. But a lot of offices are entirely dependent on artificial lighting, and in that case fake plants are the best that they can do.

I would try to get a whole lot of the same kind of plant, or maybe just one or two types, because I think it looks weird if an office has fifty different types of artificial trees and cacti everywhere.

KoiwiGal

@indigomoth - A really nice looking artificial tree can be so realistic I often have to touch one of the leaves to even know that it's not real.

I do think there's something to be said about having real plants in the office though, if you can manage it. They add to the oxygen and make everyone a little bit more relaxed as well as looking nice.

indigomoth

It really is more cost efficient to spend more money on the artificial plants in the first place so that they will be of a better quality. Even in an office environment, cheap plants will look pretty haggard after a few years, while a good quality artificial plant will last for a long time.

You also need to make sure that you dust and wipe them down every now and then, so that they keep a glossy look.

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