I haven’t taken much time to wander around in a store like Target for quite a while. I’ve gotten used to placing online or curbside pick-up orders, which are convenient, but I’m realizing I really miss getting out and about regularly. I’m a homebody, so it’s very easy for me to fall into a pattern of just staying home. But getting out of my everyday environment (more than just going for a walk around the neighborhood) provides so much inspiration, even if that isn’t the intention. I can’t help but see things that get the creative wheels turning – color combinations, textures, new products, and books naturally. I ran a quick errand to my local Target and decided to mill around for a while, looking at things I wasn’t shopping for and didn’t need. It felt good to not be purpose-driven but to just allow myself to stroll and browse. I mostly just looked and picked up the groceries I needed, but I did end up buying one artificial fern plant (and a couple of cute, cheap pairs of sunglasses for my upcoming beach trip.)
is the fern I bought. It actually looks pretty real in person, which is important to me. I dislike artificial plants that are an unnatural shade of green, look like plastic, or just look off. The pot is neutral and certainly non-offensive, but I decided to use one of my favorite tricks for elevating the look of artificial plants.,,
I put it in a container that is more my style – in this case, it’s an antique crock. Not only does it make the artificial plant as a whole more my style, but the size of the crock is a better match for the size of the fern. I hate it when artificial plants are put in too-small pots that clearly don’t have room for the roots if it were real. Hate is probably too strong of a word, but it does give away that the plant is fake. Which defeats the purpose of having a realistic-looking artificial plant.
| how to frame a baby dress | linen slipcover
Because this is a very advanced decorating technique, I made a video tutorial showing how I put the artificial plant into the crock. Pay close attention…
I know that not everyone is up for DIY projects that are this involved, complicated, and time-consuming, but I wanted to let the few who were brave enough to try it know just how I did it. Please always use caution and wear the proper safety gear when doing projects around the house.
Of course, I’m being facetious. This is a super-easy way to elevate the look of a nice artificial plant and make it look a little more at home in your home. If you can even call this a “decorating trick“, I’ve used it for years. I don’t know if I ever display an artificial plant in the pot it came in. I almost always put it in an antique basket, crock, or piece of ironstone. I’ve even been known to rip plants out of their plastic pots to fit them into a container perfectly. In the case of these artificial “moss balls”, I pulled them apart and made them a “moss mound” in an antique ironstone punch bowl.
If the base of the plant is also giving away that it’s a fake, I will tuck some moss around the bottom, and that works wonders. As long as my cats don’t hunt it, kill it, and drag the moss all over the house to give to us as presents.
It’s simple and maybe even a little bit of an obvious idea, but I hope it gives you a little inspiration to bring some greenery into the corners of your home that can’t support a real plant. It’s a great way to bring a touch of spring while we’re waiting for the real thing.
And some of us have to wait a little longer than others…
29 Responses
I bought that exact same fern at Target! I thought it looked amazingly good for being fake.
I bought two different varieties of Target ferns and am so happy with them. The maidenhead fern I put in an Ikea wooden container and the other unknown variety fern came in a trendy bleached wood container. For $18 and $20, I am a happy camper.
I actually got this idea from you years ago using the fake plants from IKEA. Putting them in thrifted crocks and vintage china bowls makes them look so much better!
I always like using different pots for fake plants. Crocks are my fav.
I recently demolished some cheap artificial foliage and used in a terrarium jar. I surprised myself with the result. It really does look very realistic.
Your tutorial and stern warnings made me laugh out loud!
My reaction was that you are practicing for April 1st. Light heartedness is good for the soul. Love your blog and your style.
My sarcasm made an appearance today! I just wanted to poke a little fun at myself for sharing something simple (but effective.)
i particularly liked the sound effects in the video…
Best internet tutorial I have seen in years! Thank you so much.
Not to be Debbie Downer but your post about plants and cats reminded me that Easter is a good time to remind all cat owners that all Lilies are poisonous to cats as well as some other common flowers like peonies and mums. I learned the hard way when my cat ate some of an Easter Lilly and our vet bill was out of sight. Or we can take your advice and stick with artificial plants and make them look awesome.
LOL, i would have never thought how to put an artificial plant into a crock, that was cute. its good to have a sense of humor.
i did watch how you frame a baby dress and will be doing that with the antique christening
that i have,
Hoping I can retain such difficult directions because I do need to buy a fake plant for a dark corner, Thank you for breaking it down as simply as humanly possible.
Such fun! ???
This is one DIY I can absolutely handle. Can’t wait for the next BIG decorating tutorial!
I actually clicked on and watched your instructional video even though I kind of knew what you were going to do…good laugh! Hobby Lobby has wonderful fake greenery and florals, too. I have done a mixed greens pot which looks quite real and brightens up a dark corner of my living room. I “planted” it in a metal pudding mold topped off with moss.
Your fern looks very convincing!
LOL! Just the humorous interlude I needed at the end of a long day! I’m a long-time admirer of yours and love that you have a good sense of humor and don’t take yourself too seriously!
P.S. I enjoyed looking at your original art a day or two ago and am impressed by how much you’ve grown as an artist. Keep it up!
I purchased the same plant at Target. I love the Threshold line. I’ve given up on real plants. My local garden center should have a “wanted” poster of me in their shop. I’ve killed far too many of their plants.
I laughed out loud about the cats. Read it to my hubs and we both got a kick out of the way you said it – your happy mood
shone through in this post. Well done with placing your new faux fern in your crock – looks so much better.
I don’t know. This DIY project might be too difficult for me! lol. I seriously do not like fake plants. They always do seem to look great in other peoples homes…now I know why! Ha! I may have to get this fern!
By George, I think I got it! Loved your tutorial
Wow, and you did it with one hand! Girl, you are an inspiration.?
Oh, well, that’s because I’ve done it a few times before. If you’re new to this technique, you might want to use two hands or get some help. ?
Thanks for the chuckle this morning! I mostly have live plants, but have learned to embrace the fake when the location calls for it.
Hysterical! Well played, friend!
Wow! Impressive tutorial! 🙂 It really looks great.
What a genius idea, made so simple with your technique!! I have done this for years and for every faux plant I have, via your tips from a few years ago. Thank you for keeping things light 🙂
I recently thinking about purchasing ferns for my small room. I love the one you bought, looks natural. Thank you for sharing the link and revealing this technique. It’s a simple way to follow