For a small space like an assisted living apartment at Bethesda Gardens Arlington, choosing a few high-quality faux plants is ideal. It gives you the natural look while keeping clutter under control. Too many faux plants in a small space can give it a closed-in, smaller feel. Investing in a few higher-quality plants also means you can spend a little more to get an authentic look. Set your budget and decide on the number of plants you want. Then, look closely at the details when you purchase plants. Find a plant that's free of seams and has a smooth look without obvious connections. Look at the proportions of the plant and details such as the stem thickness and leaf size to make sure they reflect the look of real plants. Coloring and detailed touches also add to the authentic design of high-quality artificial stems.
There's nothing wrong with having a favorite type of plant, but pulling in a little variety keeps your display interesting. Start with different plant sizes. Varying heights and widths keep the display interesting. Differences in the leaf shapes, sizes and colors can also add to the look. For instance, you might choose one plant with a few long, wide leaves and another with stems covered in lots of tiny, round leaves. Adding a plant with berries or flowers brings in new colors, textures and shapes.
You can add even more color to your assisted living apartment with your choice of containers. Potted faux plants usually come in basic, simple pots. Choose a slightly larger decorative container to bring life and color to the display. An easy solution is using a flower pot. They come in all different sizes, shapes, colors, materials and designs, so it's easy to find something that fits with your decor. Or get creative and use a different container such as a basket. Place the original plant container inside the decorative one to dress up the look instantly.
Little details spruce up the look of your artificial plants and add to the realism. Plus, the accents can hide some of the plant parts that look less realistic. Moss and rocks hide the base of a faux potted plant to disguise the fact that it's not planted in dirt. If you're using individual faux plant stems, try putting them in a vase with a little real water in the bottom to make them look realistic.
Your accents don't have to be natural. Look for decorative accents that fit your decorating style. A decorative stake or pick can go into the plant between the leaves for a touch of color. Create a warm glow by wrapping strands of fairy lights around the stems. For more variety, mix in other decor pieces around the faux plants or add some real plants to the display.
Just as an artificial Christmas tree needs a good fluffing at the start of the season, artificial plants also benefit from shaping. That's especially true if you order your plant online and it arrives smashed inside a box. Adjust the stems, branches and leaves to mimic a real plant of that species. If you're not sure how it should look, look for an image online and manipulate the plant parts into a similar design.
Faux plant placement adds to the illusion that the greenery is real. Think about the location requirements for a real plant. It needs sunlight, and you'd want it in a spot that's easy to reach for watering. A common spot is near a window, either on the floor for taller plants or on a table for shorter species. Placing your artificial stems in those same areas can make them seem realistic. Avoid dark rooms with no windows or high locations like the top of cabinets that would be difficult to access for watering plants if they were real.
You don't have to worry about your faux plants dying, but they can get a little dusty and bent out of shape if you ignore them for too long. Keep the dust bunnies at bay with a feather duster. Go over the leaves to refresh them when you notice a light layer of dust.
Sometimes your plants might need a little more love to keep them clean. If the duster doesn't brush off the dirt, grab a microfiber cloth and moisten it with warm water. Wipe each leaf individually to clean off a thicker buildup. You might need to reshape the plants after cleaning them to restore their natural look.
