If you’re someone who dreams of having a lush, green outdoor escape at home but lives in an apartment, ideas for balcony plants and how to effectively use them may be high on your radar.
Yet while using plants on your balcony can indeed bring a much-needed touch of nature to your urban home, the care, maintenance and cost of keeping them alive can be equally off putting.
The solution? Artificial plants.
With a range of artificial plants specially crafted to withstand the weather and designed to look as close to the real thing as possible, we make it possible to have the best of both worlds. In this article, we’ll explore the benefits of using faux plants on balconies, tips for selecting the right ones and provide ideas on how to arrange them to create a beautiful outdoor space.
Why Go Faux For Your Balcony?
Using artificial plants for your balcony offers several advantages over live ones, these include:
Maintenance
One of the most significant benefits of using faux plants is that they require minimal maintenance. Unlike real plants, they do not need watering, pruning, or fertilising. Additionally, artificial outdoor plants can withstand all weather conditions, making them ideal for balconies exposed to varying sunlight or temperatures.
Longevity
Made from durable materials like plastic, silk, or UV-resistant fabrics, artificial plants are made to endure the elements without fading or deteriorating. This longevity ensures that your balcony remains looking lush and green regardless of the season.
Health & Safety
If you’re someone who struggles with allergies, artificial plants are an excellent alternative to real plants as they won’t produce pollen or attract insects. Likewise, should you own pets that may chew on or spend time close to the plants on your balcony, choosing faux means zero risk of them ingesting something toxic or having skin reactions.
Cost
Although faux plants may have a higher upfront cost compared to real plants, they are a seriously cost-effective investment in the long run. With no need for ongoing care, replacement, or seasonal replanting they can save you quite a lot of money over time.
Selecting Faux Plants for Your Balcony - Our Top Tips
1. Choose Carefully
While many artificial plants are resistant to weather conditions, it's best to choose high-quality ones specifically designed for outdoor use. Look for those made using UV-resistant materials that won't fade or degrade in the sun and are durable enough to withstand wind and rain.
2. Select Based On Your Style
To create a lovely flow-through feel between the indoors and outdoors, we suggest choosing plants that work with your aesthetic. Whether it's a tropical oasis filled with outdoor palms, a classic garden with a potted buxus hedge or boho retreat filled with feather bush, you should opt for plants that best align with your style.
3. Mix, Match & Layer
Depending on the look you prefer, you may also like to try mixing different types of plants. By combining plants with various textures, sizes, and colours you can create a more natural, layered appearance for your balcony. For instance, pairing tall potted palms with hanging geranium plants and vines like ivy will add greater dimension and interest while also increasing privacy.
4. Consider The Space
Lastly, before bringing home any new plants take time to properly consider the size and layout of your balcony. Larger plants can make a small balcony feel cramped, while too many small plants may create a cluttered appearance. If your space is small or narrow, a great apartment balcony plant idea to try is to create a vertical garden with hanging ruscus plants or use a laurel trellis to save floor space.
Ideas For Arranging Plants On Your Balcony
Once you’ve decided on your preferred type of plants, it's time to arrange and style them. Below are some great balcony decoration ideas with plants and other elements that you may like to try at your home.
Create Focal Points
Using larger plants, create focal points to anchor your design and establish a sense of structure. You can do this by placing them in prominent spots such as the corners of the balcony or near seating. To create a layered, interesting look, build around these focal points with smaller plants – this might look like a tall palm tree with potted ferns or flowers arranged around its base.
Pick The Right Planters & Pots
The right planters and pots can go a long way towards creating the look you want and elevating the overall effectiveness of your balcony plant design. Choose containers that match your décor style, whether it's sleek and modern, rustic, or bohemian and use a mix of sizes and shapes to add variety and interest. Wall planters and hanging baskets can also be a great addition adding dimension and allowing you to utilise any extra space.
Leverage Lighting
Outdoor lighting is not just for traditional gardens, when used on your balcony, it can highlight the colours and textures of your plants and create ambience. String lights, lanterns, or fairy lights can be woven through railings alongside golden pothos vines and solar-powered uplights can be used to highlight specific plants or features for dramatic effect.
Introduce Real Elements
For a more realistic, natural look, we recommend introducing some real elements alongside your artificial outdoor plants. Placing stones or pebbles, bark or even real soil around the base of your plants once potted is a great way to achieve this. Adding authenticity to your balcony plants and decor, this idea will certainly keep your guests guessing about whether your plants are real or not.
Let Us Help You With Your Balcony Plants Project
With a range of high-quality, purpose-made and incredibly lifelike outdoor plant options available, we’re confident we’ve got the perfect greenery to transform your balcony.
Paired with one of our beautiful pots or planters and with some careful placement and lighting, you can create a truly inviting and tranquil outdoor living area no matter the size of your space.
Shop our range of outdoor plants and curated collection of pots and planters and start your balcony transformation today.
