Best Tips For Decorating With Faux Christmas Greens

Decorating with faux Christmas greens can be just as beautiful as real evergreens. Here are helpful tips for choosing and decorating with many different kinds of beautiful faux greens.

Oh, yuck! That was my exact thought as I carried a large festive arrangement, leaving a trail of needles like a flower girl at a wedding. On the way to the sink, the unmistakable odor of stale, murky water hit me square in the nose. Have you ever dealt with this not-so-festive scenario?

Do you love the timeless beauty of real evergreens at Christmastime, like I do? Maybe you are ready to explore an easier, cleaner option, so it might be time to give faux greens a try!

My Christmas Faux Green Story

I love decorating with live Christmas evergreens in our home, but I really don’t love the mess that comes with them—changing sap-laden water, constantly sweeping up fallen needles, and replacing the greens every ten days or so.

One year, I had enough. There had to be a better way! So, I embarked on a quest to find faux greens that looked just as beautiful as the real deal. And guess what? My search paid off—it felt like a Christmas miracle!

That was nearly ten years ago, and faux Christmas greenery has come a long way since then. Over the years,

I’ve collected boxes and boxes of faux greens, and I like to think of myself as a bit of a faux greenery aficionado. Today, I’m excited to share my best tips for choosing and decorating with faux Christmas greenery!

What You Need To Know About Buying Faux Green

When I decorate with faux Christmas greens, I like to keep things simple and let the greens shine! Their beauty deserves to take center stage. Here are my favorite tips for choosing and decorating with faux Christmas greenery.

Real or faux? It’s hard to tell! These are my go-to faux Christmas greens, and I absolutely love how they fool the eye. High-quality faux organics create a beautiful Holiday look.

Here are my best tips for finding the best-looking faux greens…

• Invest in quality. When it comes to artificial greenery, buy the best you can afford. For the most realistic options, skip the large craft stores. While they carry plenty of greenery, the quality often falls short. Instead, shop at local decor shops, large floral outlets, or trusted online retailers for greens that look remarkably real.
• Shop sales. You’d be surprised at the Christmas decor already on sale! For example, I recently found a gorgeous faux evergreen branch priced at $4.90—and got it for 25% off. Sales are a great way to stock up on high-quality greenery without overspending.
• Choose realistic sizes. To make your faux greenery look as authentic as possible, opt for sprays and branches that match the size of real greens. Proportion makes a big difference!
• Get creative with garlands. A realistic garland can go a long way. Consider cutting it apart to use as individual stems or fillers. It’s an economical way to get plenty of greenery for your decorating needs!

How To Make Greens Look More Realistic

• Choose faux greens with wired stems. Look for greenery with flexible, wired stems that can be shaped and adjusted for a more lifelike appearance.
• Fluff and bend the branches. Take time to bend and position each branch naturally, mimicking the way real greenery grows.
• Add variation. Avoid symmetry by shaping the stems slightly differently to create a more organic, less “perfect” look.Fill in the gaps. Use the wired stems to fill empty spaces, making your arrangements appear more lush.

Creating A Collection You Can Use For Years

• Collect faux greenery little by little. I’ve been collecting high-quality fakes for years and have accumulated quite a stash. I can now decorate my home with all the greenery I have collected. It takes time to build up a great collection. Add to your collection every year!
• Choose three or four different types of greenery to collect and keep collecting just that kind. I chose short needles: evergreen, pine, and juniper. Right now, cedar is very popular, so collect a bit. It’s so easy to mix and match them!
• Pass up any greens that you know in your heart won’t look very realistic. Be choosy!
• Don’t be afraid to cut your faux branches and greenery garlands apart. I do this all the time! I save every little piece and bit of greenery. Sometimes, you only need a couple sprigs of some pretty greens to make something festive!

How To Incorporate Faux Greens Into Your Christmas Decor

Here are ways to use faux greens to decorate your Christmas home…

• Layer textures for a natural look. Combine different types of faux greenery, such as pine, cedar, and eucalyptus, to add depth and mimic the variety found in nature.
• Use them as table runners. Lay faux garlands down the center of a table to create a festive holiday tablescape. Add candles, ornaments, pinecones, and other items for an eye-catching look.
• Drape over mirrors or frames. Add greenery to mirrors, pictures, or frames to create a festive focal point in any room.
• Frame doorways or windows. Use faux garlands to frame doorways and archways for a classic and inviting holiday look.
• Create mini arrangements. Small sprigs of faux greens in vases, jars, or teacups add festive touches to shelves, side tables, or mantels. This is my favorite way to use faux greens.
• Tie them to chairs. For a simple holiday detail, attach small faux greenery with ribbon to the backs of dining chairs. A small wreath would also look beautiful.
• Weave greens into wreaths. Customize a plain faux wreath by adding a mix of greens, berries, and ornaments to suit your holiday style.
• Dress up stair railings by wrapping faux garlands around them and securing them with ribbon or small zip ties for a polished and festive look.
• Fill lanterns or cloches. Place sprigs of greenery inside lanterns or cloches, candles, ornaments, or fairy lights for a cozy, curated display.
• Add scent for realism. Enhance the sensory experience by tucking in scented pine sticks or spraying faux greens with a pine or cedar scent to give them a fresh, real feel.

How To Care For Artificial Greenery

• Clean your faux greenery at the end of the season. Gently swish your greens in warm, soapy water to remove dust and grime. Rinse thoroughly and let them air dry completely before storing to avoid mildew or damage.
• Protect from sunlight. Keep faux greens out of direct sunlight to prevent fading, especially for those with delicate or painted finishes.
• Straighten stems and branches. Before storing, reshape and straighten the stems and branches to be ready for use next season.
• Store thoughtfully. Group similar faux evergreens together and store them in clear plastic bins with tight-fitting lids. Choose a cool, dry location to preserve their color and quality.
• Wear gloves when handling faux greens. Light gardening gloves protect your hands while working with them. Like real branches, faux greens can be sharp and scratch your skin.

Other Helpful Ideas

Here are some helpful tips for using faux greens at Christmastime…

• Go for a light snowy touch. If you love the look of snowy Christmas greens, choose ones with a light dusting for a more natural appearance. Heavily snow-covered greens tend to look less realistic.
• Collect decorative accents. Build a collection of add-ins like red and white berries, tiny stars, pinecones (you know my love for pinecones!), antique ornaments, and more. These accents can elevate your arrangements and add a personal touch.
• Incorporate other leaves. Enhance your faux Christmas greens with additional leaves, like magnolia. Magnolia leaves are especially popular during the holiday season. I also love using velvet-like light green leaves—they pair beautifully with faux greenery for added texture and depth.
• Add string lights. Weave string lights into your greens to create a magical glow. Choose green cords to blend in with the evergreens.
• Tuck greens into other decor. Use sprigs of faux Christmas greens to accent other decorations around your home. They’re perfect for filling in gaps and tying your holiday look together.

Decorating with real greenery is quintessentially Christmas! But if you are like me and tired of the mess, live greens make, you might want to think about switching to fabulous faux! If you do… you won’t go back!

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Faux Greens