Garden Inspiration To Curate Your Artificial Plants Collection

There’s no arguing the fact that being surrounded by greenery is good for you – but styling your plants can feel a little tricky sometimes. While there are a lot of sources for garden inspiration in Australia, these often don’t take into account the flexibility and versatility of artificial plants when it comes to creating a vibrant indoor or outdoor garden.

Whether you live in the hustle and bustle of the CBD, in the more quiet suburbs, or in a tranquil rural dwelling, artificial plants offer a simple yet surprisingly effective way to transform your surroundings. They’re great to incorporate in a way that reflects your personal style – without adding constant plant maintenance to your to-do list. 

If you’re looking for garden inspiration that utilises your artificial plants in a curated, aesthetically pleasing way, we’ve got you covered! Keep reading to discover the different considerations for curating your artificial plants as well as a few artificial garden inspiration ideas to help inform your design process.

Things to consider when curating your artificial plants collection:

While you could spend hours or even days researching garden inspiration and planning out your perfect artificial garden, all that effort will be for naught if you don’t consider a few key things first. 

Before you get started with designing your garden renovation with a curated collection of artificial plants, make sure you consider the following factors:

1. Indoor vs. outdoor placement

The first step in curating your artificial plants collection is to consider the space that you intend to enhance with artificial greenery. Will you be using artificial plants indoors or are you looking to transform an outdoor space? 

The distinction is crucial because the surrounding environment will actually impact the durability and long-term vibrancy of your artificial plants. While artificial plants will last a very long time in indoor spaces, plants placed in outdoor areas are subject to the elements and may require a little more care.

2. Sunlight and UV exposure

One of the most important factors to consider with live plants is the amount of sun they get. Believe it or not, artificial plants can also be affected by the sun’s harmful UV rays! Even with high-quality plants, prolonged exposure to direct sunlight without extra protection can result in dry, brittle, and faded plants. Not a great look!

Take a moment to consider how much sunlight your space receives during the day, as well as any potential shaded areas where you can safely place your faux plants. If your artificial plants are exposed to sunlight at all, we recommend that you opt for ones with built-in UV protection. This ensures they retain their vibrant colours and integrity. A good UV spray is also a smart investment to prolong the lush look of your artificial plants.

3. Maintenance 

The best thing about artificial plants is that it requires a lot less maintenance compared to their real counterparts! While you won’t have to worry about watering or pest control, artificial plants still require cleaning. Usually every 3 to 6 months should do it! 

The process of cleaning your artificial plants is really easy. It takes very little time when you have the right products, but it’s a good idea to think about accessibility when deciding where to place your artificial plants. Perhaps avoid placing them in locations that would be tricky to navigate!

4. Additional garden inspiration accessories

While artificial plants look fabulous on their own, you might require some additional accessories and supplies to execute your epic garden design ideas. This may entail simple purchases like pots, vases, and vessels, but may also include longer trips to the hardware store to purchase cable ties, timber pieces, and pebbles or small rocks.

Think about the artificial plants already in your collection.  What’s the best way to install them or lay them out so they look their best? Perhaps one of your artificial garden pot plants looks better in a large pot (we recommend using this nifty hack that we shared on Instagram). Something like hanging plants might need some fishing line or wire to be installed in a way that’s aesthetically pleasing. It all comes down to how you want to display your artificial plant collection and the supplies you’ll need to make that vision come to life.

5. Your design theme

When it comes to seeking garden inspiration to curate your artificial plant collection, the main focus should primarily be on your aesthetic expression. The key to success here is to make sure that you’ve identified a clear and distinct theme that suits your taste and lifestyle. From there, you can pick the right plants to express those aesthetics.

Ideally, your artificial plant collection should also seamlessly integrate with your existing decor. Consider the colour palette, textures, and overall style of your space. This ensures that your plants not only look great on their own but also enhance the overall ambiance of the room or garden.

If you’d like to know exactly how to make the right design decisions for your dream artificial plant collection, keep scrolling!

How to curate your artificial plant collection

Now it’s time to get down to the nitty gritty of designing your garden based on your artificial plant collection.

1. Assess your space

Measure out the space that you intend to transform with your artificial plants. Jot down the height, width, and depth of the space in its entirety. This will help you make decisions on the size, scale, and type of artificial plant that will best suit your space.

For example, if you have a narrow, vertical wall space, you might consider creating a stunning green wall using artificial vertical garden panels. On the other hand, if you have ample floor space, you could opt for larger potted plants to make a bold statement. If you have high ceilings, perhaps hanging plants would be the perfect option for filling up all that vertical space.

2. Identify your personal decorating style

Your approach to decor and design will play a significant role in choosing the right artificial plants for your space. Are you a fan of modern minimalism, rustic charm, or bohemian chic? Your style preferences will guide you in selecting plants that align with your overall aesthetic. 

For a sleek, modern look, consider minimalist pots and planters. Choose plants that are more structured and manicured such as a topiary shrub, boxwood hedge, and topiary spiral tree. If you prefer a more rustic ambiance, choose plants that mimic the wild, untamed beauty of nature such as an olive tree and ficus tree. Understanding your decorating style ensures that your artificial plant collection seamlessly blends with your existing decor.

3. Consider vertical gardens

If, like a lot of folks, you have limited floor space or want to create a visually striking focal point, consider going vertical. Green walls, also known as vertical gardens, are a fantastic option. These greenery panels are easy to install and can instantly transform blank walls into a lush paradise. 

The best part is that they can also be easily customised to your space. They can even go with you if you ever move to a new place. There are a variety of designs to choose from as well, from the jungle-like design of the Luxury Green Tropics panels to the more delicate flowers on the Flowering Artificial Buxus panels. If florals are more your thing, then a flower wall would surely be a crowd-pleaser!

4. Fill up vertical space

As we mentioned before, hanging plants are a great way to decorate areas with high ceilings. Cascading artificial plants not only draw the eye upward but also infuse your space with a sense of vertical depth. 

Consider hanging artificial ferns, ivy vines, or faux flowering vines to create an enchanting, suspended garden. Looking for a more modern contemporary look? Our hanging artificial wall disk comes with a faux gold ring and provides a beautiful focal point for spaces with high ceilings.

5. Fill the gaps

If you’re designing an outdoor garden, it would be a good idea to consider filling the gaps between hardscaping and larger plants with smaller artificial plants. Our wild artificial grass plant, small potted flowering boxwood plant, and faux agave are a few good options for this purpose. 

Real plants would not do well in these conditions. They’d be stuck under the shade of a larger tree or be bordered in by hard materials like wood or concrete. Artificial plants provide a hassle-free solution for creating a lush, cohesive look between the larger features throughout your garden.

Garden design inspiration ideas to help you curate your artificial plant collection:

Now comes the fun part – choosing a theme for your artificial garden! Each person’s artificial plant collection should be unique to them, so of course your artificial garden should reflect your own unique tastes! That being said, we hope these design theme ideas can provide a spark of garden inspiration to help you create your own dream garden.

A Mediterranean Oasis

Escape into a relaxing Mediterranean-inspired space.

• Opt for olive trees, lavender plants, and rosemary plants.
• Decorate with terracotta pots and rustic accents.
• Add a small fountain or water feature. 

A Tropical Paradise

Bring the tropical resort vibes indoors or create a lush oasis in your outdoor garden.

• Select lush palm trees, vibrant orchids, and tropical plants like monstera.
• Accessorise with bamboo furniture and tropical decor.
• Got a pool? Tropical plants are the perfect poolside option.

Sweet Serenity

Achieve a tranquil small Bali inspired garden or Japanese inspired garden with these tips:

• Incorporate bamboo and a variety of grasses.
• Decorate with natural materials like wood and stone.
• Add elements like pebble pathways, stone lanterns, and a miniature bridge.

Cottagecore Charm

Create a whimsical cottagecore ambiance in your home with these tips:

• Choose moss and ivy for a whimsical garden.
• Decorate with vintage-inspired planters and cosy textiles.
• Add elements like faux mushrooms, fairy doors, or a miniature well.

A Hygge Haven

Create a warm and inviting hygge-inspired space with these tips:

• Opt for popular indoor plants like fiddle leaf fig and monstera.
• Decorate with soft, neutral colours made of natural materials.
• Use fairy lights to create a cosy, dreamlike ambience.

Start curating your artificial plant collection now

When it comes to artificial plants, the possibilities are endless! These versatile and aesthetically pleasing decor items require very little maintenance and can instantly increase the style points in any space. Our plant bundles are a great way to add to your artificial plant collection, by the way!

If you need extra help to transform your space with artificial plants, we’re here for you. The experts here at Designer Plants® can help you choose the right plants for your space with a little help from you – contact us to learn more.