If you’ve ever stood in a finished nursery (or any other room) and felt like something was missing, there’s a good chance it’s greenery. Whenever I design a nursery or kid’s room, I try to bring in at least one faux plant to elevate the space. Adding greenery is one of the easiest ways to add warmth and a natural touch to a room, even if it’s artificial. Keep scrolling for how to achieve this effect, the best faux trees and plants I use over and over, plus a few safety tips to keep in mind when using in nurseries and kid’s rooms.
Why use faux trees and plants in the nursery?
Faux trees help fill awkward corners and spaces.
Almost every nursery has at least one awkward corner. It’s a spot that’s not quite big enough for furniture, but still feels a little empty and unfinished. It’s usually between crib and dresser on adjacent walls, like in the image below. A faux tree is one of my favorite ways to fill that dead space. It draws the eye upward, adds some height and dimension to the room, and gives a blank corner a sense of purpose. It’s a simple addition, but it’s often the detail that makes a room feel complete.
In the nursery above, you can see how the faux fiddle leaf fig tree helps to fill an otherwise awkward corner. See the full reveal and all the sources from this nursery here.
Designer Tip: When using a faux tree or plant in the corner of a nursery, it often works best to pair it with a storage bin or large stuffed animal to give the corner more dimension and function.
Faux trees and plants make a space feel warmer.
Greenery is one of the only elements in a room that has an organic and natural feel, and that’s exactly why it makes such a difference. Our brains are wired to appreciate nature, so including it in a nursery makes the whole space feel more cozy and inviting. If a room ever feels a little flat or sterile to me, greenery is usually the first thing I reach for. It makes the whole space feel lived-in and welcoming. Keep scrolling to the very bottom of this post for the full list of the best faux trees and plants!
Faux plants quickly and affordably elevate your space.
If you look at any professionally designed space in a magazine or on Instagram, it’s likely that it includes some type of greenery or floral. Using expensive floral arrangements doesn’t really make sense in a nursery or kid’s room, but adding either a faux plant, larger faux tree or even a small faux floral arrangement adds instant sophistication to the space. If you don’t have space for a floor tree, try a smaller faux plant on the side table, dresser or shelf.
In the nursery above, we used a faux olive tree to help fill out the corner and paired it with a small storage bin. Then on the dresser, we also used a gorgeous pink faux peony arrangement to add sophistication to the space. See the full details of this pretty floral blush nursery here. These particular faux peonies are by far the most stunning faux florals I’ve ever used! They are pricier, but will last forever and can be used in any room.
Why use faux plants instead of real ones?
There are several good reasons I almost always recommend faux plants over real ones in a nursery or young child’s space:
Light. Most nurseries have blackout curtains or blackout shades to help baby sleep. Real plants need real light to survive, and a room that’s dark for daytime naps just doesn’t give them what they need. Unless you’re a plant wizard, it’s likely that a real plant will die without natural light.
Maintenance. Let’s be real, any extra maintenance while you’re caring for a newborn is a burden. Paying attention to real plants, watering them and pruning them isn’t something you need to deal with if you have a new baby at home.
Safety. Real plants come with soil and potentially toxic leaves, which can be a hazard for both children and pets. If you have a crawling or exploring child, they can try to get their hands into the soil or even put the leaves in their mouth. Real plants are just not something you want within arm’s reach of your little one. Faux plants let you get all the visual benefits of greenery with none of these concerns. See more safety tips below!
Are faux plants safe for babies and kids?
Faux plants are much safer than real ones, but they’re not entirely risk-free, so there are a few things to keep in mind.
Once your baby is mobile and crawling or pulling up on furniture, a larger faux tree can become something they’re curious about. Older babies and toddlers are strong enough to knock over a top-heavy floor plant. I always recommend keeping an eye on how your baby interacts with it as they grow. If you notice them starting to reach for the leaves or use the planter to pull themselves up, it may be time to move it out of their room. Another great thing about faux trees and plants is that you can move them anywhere in your home without considering the light changes!
As with anything in a nursery, this comes down to monitoring your baby’s behavior and adjusting the space as they grow. Use a good baby monitor and pay attention to their changing interests.
More Tips for Using Faux Trees & Plants:
Using a pot or a planter with your faux tree:
Most likely, you will need a planter or pot since most faux trees only come with a small plastic pot. For a nursery or kid’s space, you’ll want something larger and sturdier to hold the plant in place, and to add style! I generally recommend a pot that’s at least 10 inches wide, but you may want to go larger if your faux tree is over 6 foot tall. Ceramic or stone is best to add weight so it’s harder to knock over. Some retailers do sell pre-potted faux trees as well, so just read the description carefully before buying.
The best placement for a faux tree:
For a faux tree, an empty corner is usually the best spot since it fills dead space and doesn’t interfere with furniture placement or walkways. Just make sure it’s not within easy reach of the crib or any spot where baby will be crawling or pulling up once they’re mobile. For smaller faux plants, you can place those on any surface like a table, dresser or bookcase.
How to find realistic faux trees and plants:
To find the most realistic faux trees and plants, check the size of the leaves. A faux olive tree is going to have tiny leaves while a faux fiddle leaf fig tree will have large flat leaves. A general rule is that the larger the leaves, the more risk of a plant looking fake. That’s why I stick with smaller or thinner leaf trees like a faux olive tree, faux palm tree or faux eucalyptus tree. The other benefit of small leaves is that you can trim them! That doesn’t mean that a fiddle leaf or other larger leaf plant won’t look good in person, it can just be harder to tell online.
The best size for a faux tree:
It depends on your ceiling height and the size of the corner, but a 5-6 foot faux tree works well in most standard nurseries. For a smaller space, you can go down to a 4 foot size, and for spaces with high ceilings, you can even go up to a 7 foot height.
In the nursery above, we had a higher ceiling to work with so we added a taller faux olive tree in the corner (this one is 6 foot). The smaller faux plant on the side table balances the greenery in the space. See the full reveal of this nursery here.
The Best Faux Trees & Plants Nurseries & Kids:
Image 1: Faux Trees
1. Faux Olive Tree
2. Faux Kentia Palm Tree
3. Faux Eucalyptus Tree in White Pot
4. Potted Faux Shady lady tree
5. Faux Rubber Tree
6. Faux Silk Dracaena Tree
7. Faux Double Yucca Tree
8. Faux Japanese Quince Tree
Image 2: Small Faux Plants
1. Faux Hanging Pothos Plant
2. Faux Potted Pothos Plant
3. Potted Faux Orchid
4. Faux Leaf Plant in Pot
5. Faux Monstera Plant
6. Small Faux Peperomia Plant
7. Faux Trailing Leaf Plant in Pot
8. White Faux Hydrangea Arrangement
9. Small Faux Olive Potted Plant
10. Faux Pink Peony Arrangement
Designing a nursery requires so much thought and attention to detail for every single item in the space. If you need help with your own nursery or kid’s room design, check out our Virtual Design services. Also, check out our other popular nursery decor guides:
The Best Nursery Side Tables With Storage
The Ultimate Guide to Blackout Curtains
Best Mirrors for the Nursery with Tips and Safety
*This post may contain affiliate links, but don’t worry, I only link items that I 100% recommend! You can view our Disclaimer here.
