How To Know If Your Fall Foliage Looks Cheap

One of the loveliest parts of fall is undoubtedly all the fall foliage. From deep reds and rich purples to bright oranges and yellows, nothing sparks joy quite like bringing that autumnal beauty indoors and incorporating it in your seasonal decorations. However, if you're filling vases, hanging wreaths, and stringing garlands adorned with fake plastic leaves, your fall decor may be exuding a cheap and gaudy look — which is likely the opposite of what you're going for in your home decor. So what is it about fake fall foliage that's simply so cringe? Unsurprisingly, the cheap-looking kind also tends to be made of materials that are cheap and mass-produced, such as vinyl or low-grade plastic. 

Unlike their real-life counterparts, fake foliage that gives off a gaudy vibe is often overly uniform and cookie-cutter in appearance, lacking the unique imperfections and differences between leaves and branches that you would ordinarily find in nature. And unlike real foliage that gives off a heavenly woodsy fragrance, foliage that falls under the "cheap" category tends to give off that unpleasant chemical aroma that not only smells bad, it can be hazardous to your health, too. But that doesn't mean you need to ditch the fall foliage look entirely. While throwing out (or recycling!) any garish plastic decor is probably the best first step to bring cozy ambiance back to your home, there are plenty of alternatives — both real and tastefully fake — that you can replace it with to keep the fall foliage look intact.

Using natural elements and accessories is one of our favorite fall home decor trends to embrace, so try swapping out the fake plastic stuff for the genuine article. For an easy way to decorate that won't cost you a thing, make a stunning fall wreath using foraged items from your own yard. By taking the DIY approach, you'll experience that sense of accomplishment and pride that comes making something beautiful with your own hands. (And besides, who doesn't want an excuse to spend more time outdoors enjoying all the gorgeous colors this season has to offer?) For a cohesive look that compliments your existing home decor, decide in advance what color scheme you're going for. For example, try going on the hunt for bright yellow and orange foliage, or deep burgundies and reds — then accent either with other little finds, such as acorns or pinecones.

If you live in a warmer climate where the leaves don't change color and blanket backyards with free craft materials, you can still acquire some of that genuine autumnal vegetation at either brick-and-mortar stores and online. Or, you can even skip the crafting step entirely and go straight for some handmade wreaths, garlands, and bouquets. Etsy, for example, has plenty of lovely handmade options to choose from, made with natural, dried flowers, greenery, and branches such as eucalyptus, cedar branches, orange blossoms and berries.

Don't get us wrong; fake foliage certainly has its advantages. If you have allergies, faux leaves and branches can save you from all the sneezing, coughing and runny nose that can accompany real greenery. And if you were hoping to get more than one fall season out of your decor, the fake stuff is likely to hold up a lot longer and better than dried foliage, which becomes more brittle and delicate as it ages and needs special care and preservation to last for more than a year. So, if you are committed to making fake foliage work with your fall decor, you'll just want to keep a few tips in mind to prevent it from looking tacky.

The beauty of nature is all about being perfectly-imperfect, so go for faux foliage that embraces asymmetry and different shapes with nothing too uniform. You can also make faux fall stems look like the real deal with a brilliant TikTok hack. Simply cut the individual stems of your faux foliage and customize different heights to fit your vase of choice for a bespoke look that mimics the more natural, rugged look of a genuine bouquet. And the old adage that "you get what you pay for" unfortunately does apply here. Typically, faux foliage that doesn't look overtly fake with obviously-plastic veins and garishly shiny leaves does tend to cost a bit more, but can be a worthy investment if you're on the hunt for something realistic that will last for years. So don't be afraid to spend a bit extra on high-quality materials, such as silk leaves or flexible wire stems, if a realistic-looking decor is important to you.