Real or faux? It's one of the most debated questions in property styling. This guide breaks down when to use each, how to manage faux plant quality in your inventory, and how to make the call based on property price point, campaign duration, and client budget.
Real vs Faux Plants in Property Styling: How to Make the Right Call
Ask ten property stylists whether they use real or artificial plants and you'll get ten different answers. It's one of those genuinely contested questions in the industry — and the honest answer is that both have a place, depending on the circumstances. Here's how to think through the decision professionally.
THE CASE FOR REAL PLANTS
Real plants bring something faux plants can't replicate: genuine life. The subtle movement of leaves, the fresh scent, the organic imperfection — these elements contribute to the sensory experience of a space in ways that buyers feel even if they can't articulate. For prestige properties, real plants are almost always the right choice. Buyers at the top end of the market are attuned to quality, and a high-quality artificial plant in a $3M home reads as a cost-cutting measure. Fresh botanicals — particularly statement indoor plants like fiddle leaf figs, olive trees, or large-leafed tropicals — signal investment and care. Real plants also align with the growing buyer interest in biophilic design: the idea that connection to nature in our living spaces improves how we feel. A beautifully styled space with living plants creates a sense of wellbeing that supports buyer emotional connection.
THE CASE FOR FAUX PLANTS
For vacant properties — particularly those outside the prestige market — high-quality artificial plants are a practical and cost-effective solution. They require no maintenance, survive the duration of a campaign without wilting, and can be reused across multiple projects. The key word is high-quality. Cheap artificial plants are immediately obvious and actively detract from a property's presentation. Invest in quality faux botanicals that can withstand close inspection, and treat them as the business assets they are.
HOW TO MANAGE FAUX PLANTS IN YOUR INVENTORY
If you're building a faux plant inventory, quality management is essential:
- Invest wisely. Buy the best quality you can afford. A $150 faux fiddle leaf fig that looks real is worth far more than ten $20 plastic plants.
- Clean regularly. Dust accumulates on artificial leaves and makes them look fake. Wipe down with a damp cloth between uses.
- Store carefully. Crushed or misshapen faux plants look cheap. Store in a way that maintains their shape.
- Retire promptly. When a faux plant starts to look tired or obviously artificial, retire it. It's costing you more in presentation quality than it's saving in replacement cost.
HOW TO MAKE THE CALL
- Factor | Lean Real | Lean Faux
- Property price point | Prestige | Standard/vacant
- Campaign duration | Short (4-6 weeks) | Long (8+ weeks)
- Client budget | Higher | Lower
- Occupied vs vacant | Occupied (client can water) | Vacant
- Styling philosophy | Biophilic/wellness focus | Practical/efficient
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Should property stylists use real or fake plants?
Both have a place. Real plants are preferred for prestige properties and occupied homes where someone can maintain them. High-quality faux plants are practical for vacant properties and longer campaigns. The key is quality — cheap artificial plants actively harm a property's presentation.
What are the best indoor plants for property styling in Australia?
Fiddle leaf figs, olive trees, peace lilies, snake plants, and large-leafed tropicals like monstera are popular choices. Choose plants that suit the property's style and light conditions.
Are faux plants acceptable in property styling?
Yes, when they're high quality. The industry has moved significantly in this area — premium artificial botanicals are now convincing enough to use in most properties. The test is simple: if you have to look twice to tell it's fake, it's good enough.
How do biophilic design principles apply to plant selection in property styling?
Biophilic design recognises that connection to nature improves how we feel in a space. Real plants contribute to this more authentically than faux alternatives — they move, they breathe, they have scent. For properties where creating a genuine sense of wellbeing is a styling goal, real plants are worth the investment.
READY TO START?
If you're ready to take the first step, the IIHS Property Styling Certification is the place to start.
It's Australia's first and oldest property styling training program — built by someone who has run a large staging business, trained over 750 graduates, and spent more than a decade in this industry.
You'll learn everything you need to work professionally as a property stylist — from staging theory and buyer psychology to running your own business — in a self-paced online format that fits around your life.
Explore the IIHS Property Styling Certification: https://style.naomifindlay.com/art-of-property-styling
Comments