The Evergreen Era: Five Reasons Why Interior Designers Are Switching To Artificial Plants

Safety, sustainability and endless creativity are just a few reasons why interior designers are ditching natural foliages for their faux counterparts

Back in the 80s and 90s artificial plants and flowers gained a bit of bad rep, typecasted as tacky imitations that couldn’t possibly mimic nature’s true beauty. Since then, however, they’ve come a long, long way. With the introduction of more sophisticated materials and methods of manufacturing into the market, artificial plants can now almost indistinguishably replicate nature’s finest foliages, whilst providing additional benefits where their real-life counterparts fall short.

We’ve noticed a global shift towards human-centric design, which has provoked architects and interior designers to prioritise safety, sustainability and longevity in the spaces they create – this is exactly why many are making the decision to forgo real plants in lieu of artificial ones.

With the potential to enhance creativity, reduce hassle, protect occupant safety and minimise environmental impact, the real question I believe all interior designs should ask themselves is: why not use artificial plants for every project?

Let’s take a look at five reasons why faux foliage is on the rise amongst interior designers and decorators.

1- Low Maintenance
Real plants require careful conditions to thrive – from exactly enough water to the optimal amount of sunlight. For those who lack a green thumb, love to travel, or can be a little forgetful, constant care simply isn’t feasible. Artificial plants, on the other hand, require nothing more than the occasional light dusting. They arrive at your doorstep fully grown and ready to go, giving occupants the aesthetic they seek with zero maintenance required all year around. And it’s not just hassle that they free themselves from, but guilt too. Since artificial plants require no water, they can be considered a more environmentally friendly choice than their natural counterparts.

2- Timeless
Speaking of year-round greenery, another upside of artificial plants is their ability to provide interiors with an everlasting lush aesthetic. In the Middle East, where hot summers can stifle the growth of the greenery, artificial plants can be used year-round and for years to come. It’s essentially a one time purchase that saves time and money by eliminating the need to replace plants if they don’t survive. Interior designers and occupants can use artificial plants when needed, easily placing them in storage and switching them out to match the natural foliages or décor of the season.

3- Limitless Creativity
Unbound by the confines of availability or price, artificial plants give designers the opportunity to create bespoke solutions that would have otherwise been inaccessible. For example, if a client wants a green wall made from a variety of natural plants, this would require sourcing multiple plants from around the world, using copious amounts of water to keep it irrigated and a healthy budget to create and maintain it. However, artificial options can replicate natural foliages at a fraction of the price. They can also be designed and combined to deliver the desired aesthetic for any project at hand.

4- Sustainability
Yes, that’s right. Artificial plants can actually deliver a number of sustainability benefits over their natural equivalents. Firstly, they help to curb the over-extraction of groundwater reserves by eliminating the need for irrigation. Did you know that 70% of the UAE’s total water consumption goes towards irrigation? In large part, this is due to the use of plants that are ill-suited to the region’s arid climate. These plants demand frequent watering, which the surrounding land simply cannot provide naturally. As a result, groundwater is over-extracted and depleted. Secondly, a huge variety of exotic plants do not grow naturally in the Middle East. Unlike artificial plants which can be manufactured locally, natural plants tend to be imported, leading to a much higher carbon footprint as a result of transportation by air freight and refrigerated trucks.

5- Fire Safety
It’s worth noting that all artificial plants do not necessarily contribute to fire safety. However, there are specifically designed fire retardant (FR) options that resist ignition and even self-extinguish. FR artificial plants can help curb the spread of fire to facilitate evacuation and minimise property damage in emergency situations. These plants undergo rigorous tests to ensure they will stop burning within two seconds after exposure to a flame. But even when it comes to FR artificial plants, not all are created equally. Some are sprayed or dipped with FR chemicals, which forms a greasy film on the plant’s surface that collects dust and decreases its realistic appearance. The surface-level coating wears away over time, especially when exposed to the humid climates. Then there’s inherently fire retardant (IFR) artificial plants, which provide protection for the entire lifecycle of the product. In IFR artificial plants, flame-resistant materials are mixed in with the raw materials itself, ensuring the plant is protected through and through, without compromising on its realistic aesthetic.

With a surge of artificial plant manufacturers across the market, it’s more important than ever to opt for high-quality providers who maximise the potential of artificial plants and flowers to deliver all the benefits mentioned above. In my experience with TreeLocate Foliages, a high degree of expertise and experience is valuable in bringing projects to life, particularly large-scale and commercial ones. We are specialists in artificial plants, flowers and trees in the UAE with a comprehensive range of hyper realistic solutions. We’ve even developed their own line of commercial-grade IFR plants known as FireSilx, backed by a lifetime guarantee and accompanied by internationally compliant certifications.

Switching to artificial plants is the first step in adopting safer and more sustainable solutions to achieve a gorgeous green aesthetic, but just as important is selecting professional, high-quality providers that provide interior designers the peace of mind and creative freedom to bring the beauty of nature into their space.

Back in the 80s and 90s artificial plants and flowers gained a bit of bad rep, typecasted as tacky imitations that couldn’t possibly mimic nature’s true beauty. Since then, however, they’ve come a long, long way. With the introduction of more sophisticated materials and methods of manufacturing into the market, artificial plants can now almost indistinguishably replicate nature’s finest foliages, whilst providing additional benefits where their real-life counterparts fall short.

We’ve noticed a global shift towards human-centric design, which has provoked architects and interior designers to prioritise safety, sustainability and longevity in the spaces they create – this is exactly why many are making the decision to forgo real plants in lieu of artificial ones.

With the potential to enhance creativity, reduce hassle, protect occupant safety and minimise environmental impact, the real question I believe all interior designs should ask themselves is: why not use artificial plants for every project?

Let’s take a look at five reasons why faux foliage is on the rise amongst interior designers and decorators.

1- Low Maintenance
Real plants require careful conditions to thrive – from exactly enough water to the optimal amount of sunlight. For those who lack a green thumb, love to travel, or can be a little forgetful, constant care simply isn’t feasible. Artificial plants, on the other hand, require nothing more than the occasional light dusting. They arrive at your doorstep fully grown and ready to go, giving occupants the aesthetic they seek with zero maintenance required all year around. And it’s not just hassle that they free themselves from, but guilt too. Since artificial plants require no water, they can be considered a more environmentally friendly choice than their natural counterparts.

2- Timeless
Speaking of year-round greenery, another upside of artificial plants is their ability to provide interiors with an everlasting lush aesthetic. In the Middle East, where hot summers can stifle the growth of the greenery, artificial plants can be used year-round and for years to come. It’s essentially a one time purchase that saves time and money by eliminating the need to replace plants if they don’t survive. Interior designers and occupants can use artificial plants when needed, easily placing them in storage and switching them out to match the natural foliages or décor of the season.

3- Limitless Creativity
Unbound by the confines of availability or price, artificial plants give designers the opportunity to create bespoke solutions that would have otherwise been inaccessible. For example, if a client wants a green wall made from a variety of natural plants, this would require sourcing multiple plants from around the world, using copious amounts of water to keep it irrigated and a healthy budget to create and maintain it. However, artificial options can replicate natural foliages at a fraction of the price. They can also be designed and combined to deliver the desired aesthetic for any project at hand.

4- Sustainability
Yes, that’s right. Artificial plants can actually deliver a number of sustainability benefits over their natural equivalents. Firstly, they help to curb the over-extraction of groundwater reserves by eliminating the need for irrigation. Did you know that 70% of the UAE’s total water consumption goes towards irrigation? In large part, this is due to the use of plants that are ill-suited to the region’s arid climate. These plants demand frequent watering, which the surrounding land simply cannot provide naturally. As a result, groundwater is over-extracted and depleted. Secondly, a huge variety of exotic plants do not grow naturally in the Middle East. Unlike artificial plants which can be manufactured locally, natural plants tend to be imported, leading to a much higher carbon footprint as a result of transportation by air freight and refrigerated trucks.

5- Fire Safety
It’s worth noting that all artificial plants do not necessarily contribute to fire safety. However, there are specifically designed fire retardant (FR) options that resist ignition and even self-extinguish. FR artificial plants can help curb the spread of fire to facilitate evacuation and minimise property damage in emergency situations. These plants undergo rigorous tests to ensure they will stop burning within two seconds after exposure to a flame. But even when it comes to FR artificial plants, not all are created equally. Some are sprayed or dipped with FR chemicals, which forms a greasy film on the plant’s surface that collects dust and decreases its realistic appearance. The surface-level coating wears away over time, especially when exposed to the humid climates. Then there’s inherently fire retardant (IFR) artificial plants, which provide protection for the entire lifecycle of the product. In IFR artificial plants, flame-resistant materials are mixed in with the raw materials itself, ensuring the plant is protected through and through, without compromising on its realistic aesthetic.

With a surge of artificial plant manufacturers across the market, it’s more important than ever to opt for high-quality providers who maximise the potential of artificial plants and flowers to deliver all the benefits mentioned above. In my experience with TreeLocate Foliages, a high degree of expertise and experience is valuable in bringing projects to life, particularly large-scale and commercial ones. We are specialists in artificial plants, flowers and trees in the UAE with a comprehensive range of hyper realistic solutions. We’ve even developed their own line of commercial-grade IFR plants known as FireSilx, backed by a lifetime guarantee and accompanied by internationally compliant certifications.

Switching to artificial plants is the first step in adopting safer and more sustainable solutions to achieve a gorgeous green aesthetic, but just as important is selecting professional, high-quality providers that provide interior designers the peace of mind and creative freedom to bring the beauty of nature into their space.