Plants can completely change the feel of a workspace. Even a small amount of greenery on a desk or shelf helps soften the space, creating a calmer, more comfortable environment that feels far more enjoyable to spend the workday in.
For pet owners, however, styling with indoor plants often comes with an added layer of stress, as many of the most popular office and desk plants are toxic to cats and dogs if chewed or ingested.
While switching to artificial greenery may seem like the obvious solution for pet-friendly homes, not all faux options are created equally, with some lower-quality products containing potentially harmful materials. Understanding what to look for when choosing artificial desk plants is an important part of creating a safer pet-friendly workspace.
What to Consider Before Buying Artificial Plants
Lower-quality faux plants are often manufactured using cheaper plastics, synthetic dyes and adhesives that may contain substances such as heavy metals, phthalates or volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In some cases, these materials can release fumes into indoor spaces over time or become problematic if pets chew on leaves, stems or decorative components.
This becomes particularly important in home offices where pets naturally spend more time nearby throughout the day. Cats are often drawn to trailing foliage and textured leaves as something to bat, chew or play with, while dogs may investigate desk plants out of curiosity or boredom.
Choosing high-quality artificial greenery helps minimise these concerns while still allowing you to bring the softness and atmosphere of plants into your workspace.
Safe Faux Swaps for Toxic Desk Plants
So which popular desk plants should pet owners be more cautious of and where can artificial greenery offer a safer alternative? Here are some of the most common indoor plants that are worth swapping for high-quality, pet-friendly faux versions.
Monstera
Smaller monstera plants and cut monstera leaf arrangements have become increasingly popular in desk and office styling thanks to their dramatic split leaves and tropical appearance. They work beautifully in offices, instantly making an impact and creating a more elevated, design-focused feel within the workspace.
The problem is that monstera contains calcium oxalate crystals, which can irritate a pet’s mouth and digestive system if chewed. A high-quality, realistic artificial monstera or vase of arranged faux faux monstera leaves gives you the same sculptural foliage and bold, glossy greenery without the risk.
Devil’s Ivy (Pothos)
Common on desks and shelves throughout Australia, the pothos plant is favoured for its trailing vines and ability to suit almost any interior style. It’s especially popular in home offices, where it helps break up hard lines around shelving and cabinetry while adding a more relaxed feel to the space.
Unfortunately, pothos is toxic to both cats and dogs and can cause mouth irritation, vomiting and difficulty swallowing. Our hyper-realistic artificial trailing pothos offers the same relaxed, cascading look while being a far safer option for pet-friendly homes.
Peace Lily
A perennial favourite in homes and offices for decades, peace lilies remain one of the most popular indoor plants for desks thanks to their elegant leaves and soft white flowers. However, despite the reassuring name, peace lilies are not considered pet safe and can cause irritation and gastrointestinal upset if ingested.
While you may be unconvinced about making this faux swap thanks to the obviously fake peace lilies of decades gone by, today’s more realistic versions offer a far more natural and refined alternative for pet-friendly spaces.
Philodendron Birkin
With its compact shape and distinctive striped foliage, the philodendron birkin has become a favourite for desks and smaller office spaces. It adds a softer, more decorative layer of greenery without overwhelming the workspace, making it particularly popular in modern home offices.
Like other philodendron varieties though, birkins are not considered pet safe and can cause irritation if chewed or ingested. Choosing an artificial birkin makes it easier to enjoy this more detailed foliage style in pet-friendly spaces, especially around curious cats and dogs.
Wandering Dude
With its striped purple and green foliage, wandering dude adds a little more colour and movement than many other traditional desk plants. It’s often used to bring life to shelving, bookcases and smaller desk spaces where the trailing leaves can spill naturally over the edges.
However, wandering dude can be problematic in pet-friendly homes, with chewing potentially causing upset stomachs while even brushing against the plant may trigger skin irritation in cats and dogs.
Opting for a faux alternative makes it possible to enjoy the same relaxed, cascading style without the extra concern in home office environments.
Added Benefits of Switching to Artificial Desk Plants
Aside from pet safety, artificial desk plants also solve many of the practical challenges that come with live office greenery.
They Don’t Need Sunlight
Many desks and office spaces simply don’t receive enough natural light to keep indoor plants thriving. Artificial greenery maintains its appearance regardless of where it’s placed.
No Watering or Maintenance
There’s no worrying about watering schedules, pests or replacing struggling plants after busy work periods or travel. Neither you nor your pets can accidentally kill it.
Cleaner for Small Workspaces
Artificial plants also avoid many of the messier aspects of live greenery, with no soil for pets to dig through and no fallen leaves around desks, electronics and shelving.
Year Round Enjoyment
Premium faux greenery keeps the same fresh appearance throughout the year, helping workspaces feel calm, inviting and well put together regardless of the season.
A Safer Way to Enjoy Office Greenery
If you have a treasured furry family member, artificial plants offer a far less stressful way to style your workspace with greenery, especially when so many popular indoor plants aren’t considered pet safe.
Realistic faux desk plants allow you to enjoy the same layered, calming feel that greenery brings to a space without worrying about toxicity, mess or struggling plants around curious cats and dogs.
Explore our premium range of desk plants to discover realistic, pet-friendly artificial greenery designed to bring texture, softness and personality into your workspace.
