How to DIY a Faux Tree
When I couldn't find an affordable large faux tree for a corner of our living room that gets no natural light, I decided DIY one! It all started a couple of weeks ago as we were in the midst of completely decluttering and organizing our garage, I found a large planter that was in great shape but the color and texture were no longer my style. Since I already had the pot, I decided to try my hand at giving it a makeover and see if I could make it into something I could use in our living room.
My inspiration:
After giving the pot a good cleaning, I gave it a couple of coats of primer. I made sure to paint a couple of inches below the inside rim in case anything should show once I got the artificial tree in there.
First coat
Second coat
The next step is where I started to have some fun. Using paint that I already had on hand, I started mixing paint colors. I wanted the pot to be on the lighter side but didn't want it to be stark white. I mixed white and taupe until I got a color that I was happy with. I gave the pot a coat and let it dry for 30-45 minutes.
Once dry, I gave the pot a second coat and only let the paint dry for 15 minutes. Using some of my kids sandbox sand mixed with a little water and while the paint was still a little wet, I rubbed the sand all over the pot. I did this a couple of times letting the sand dry on the paint for a few minutes in between. If a spot that I wanted to fill with sand was dry. I simply put a little paint on the area, let it dry for 15 min and then rubbed the sand in. I kept repeating these steps until I was satisfied with the texture and color.
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First coat of sand
Second coat of sand
Let it dry overnight and done!
Now it's time to build your tree. I purchased this faux Ficus tree off Facebook Marketplace for $25. In its current state, it's not really my style but the bones of it are really good so I decided to go for it.
First step was slowly taking it apart to see where it stands. Taking some of the "bulk" off, I removed the smaller branch. I also removed the branch that twisted around the entire trunk. Now it was starting to look like something I would like. But what really made the most difference was when I removed the basket and put it in my newly made over pot.
The last few steps were all about making the tree look a little more real. I added brown moss from Dollar Tree to fill in the bottom. Then, using wire cutters, I removed some stems to make the tree look more realistic and less overfilled with leaves.
Not bad, right? All in all, this entire makeover cost me $25 for just the price of the faux tree. All the other materials I already had on hand.
I’m a mom of two and wife to a seriously supportive hubby, living our best life in our forever house by the preserve! I'm all about helping you create a stylish, Pinterest-worthy home on a budget. Let's obsess over interior design, home decor, DIY, and home improvement projects to help you create your best home. Follow along and say hello! I love hearing from you.
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