Fresh vs. Faux

Settling the Home Decor Dilemma Once and For All

It’s That Time Again…

Fall is officially upon us, which means you’re going into your garage, your attic, or bravely venturing into whatever pocket dimension you stuff your boxes of seasonal decor and fishing out all of the trappings of pumpkin spice o’clock.

You’ve got your Pinterest board all curated to your favorite aesthetics, including recipes, crafts, and the perfect inspo pics.  You know exactly the look you’re going for – timeless, festive, natural but still elegant.  Something you could take the family Christmas card photograph in front of. 

You’ve bookmarked a million and one tabs on your laptop, mouse hovering over the “add to cart” button on a few of them.  You’ve even got options!  You toggle back and forth between web pages, inspecting product details, dimensions, shipping, and customer reviews. 

The trouble is, how do you choose?

On the one hand, you’re considering the usual: wreaths and garlands made of faux botanicals, with their vibrant colors and fun patterns, plastic nic-nacks and doodads for the living room, the mass produced seasonal collections from your go-to big box stores (half the fun is filling your buggy as you stroll down the aisles).

On the other hand, you managed to find something a little different: handmade centerpieces from a small business, matching wreaths and garlands made from fresh botanicals, artisanal handicrafts for your nic-nack shelf… it almost looks too good to be true. 

You’ve got choices to make.

In a world where shoppers are getting smarter, budgets are getting tighter, and quality is everything, how do you decide whether to go fresh or go faux? 

Today, we’re finally going to settle the debate so you can decorate til you drop with 100% confidence in your choices.  Let the debate begin!

A Case for Faux

There’s a time and a place for faux decor.  Like all things, there are pros and cons.

Faux Pas (Cons)

Faux decor gets a lot of hate online, and understandably so. Let’s go ahead and get the cons out of the way.

Landfill Fodder

One of the biggest drawbacks to faux decor is its global impact on the planet.

Our world is fixated on trends, obsessed with newness, and tends to prioritize quantity over quality.  This fast-paced aesthetic landscape lends itself well to waste, which doesn’t do the planet any favors.  Mass produced plastic decor comes with a certain degree of planned obsolescence, which means that the manufacturers don’t usually design products with longevity in mind. 

You might get 1-3 good years of use out of a plastic product, but ultimately, it will end up in the trash. 

Note that this is not the case for *all* faux or plastic decor; some items are absolutely well constructed and can be used for upwards of a decade if cared for properly.  When you do fund products like this, it’s a smart purchase!  But, this is simply not the case for the vast majority of plastic products. 

Cost

Up front, faux decor is easier on your wallet.  But, when you factor in needing to replace broken and deteriorating decor every other year, the expenses add up quick!  By opting for faux decorations, you are more likely to spend (waste, really) more money on decor over time. 

Once again, not all products are made poorly, so use your best judgement when choosing faux!

Aesthetic Maintenance

Plastic decor requires upkeep!  Dust shows particularly clearly, and unless you’re committed to its care while your decor is out, things start to look cheap and tacky pretty quickly. 

If tacky is your preferred aesthetic, this might be the right call for you!  But for those looking for the “timeless elegance” aesthetic, faux might not be the way to go.

Go for Faux (Pros)

That said, faux decor has a lot going for it!

Outdoor Durability

This is where high quality faux decor shines.  The elements are harsh: sun, rain, wind, cold snaps, even the first frosts and snows in some regions are all factors you have to consider when decorating your home. 

If your area is prone to intense weather, *high quality* plastic decorations are going to offer you the security you need all season-long. 

Easy Storage

Plastic products are generally less fragile than fresh products, so you won’t need to worry about each individual item having its own protective box.  This can help cut down on storage space requirements, and it’s a good fit for folks who might be working with limited space in apartments or shared homes. 

Cost

Yes, we’re putting cost in both the pros and cons list!  Faux decorations tend to be more affordable than fresh ones, which makes celebrating the season more accessible when you’re working with a snug budget. 

Our advice?  Purchase wisely, and don’t chase trends.  Prioritize durability and pieces you intend to use for at least 3-5 years to minimize your carbon footprint and get the most out of your purchase.

A Case for Fresh

Going back to the reason for the season, nature has a lot to offer!

Fresh Foibles (Cons)

Natural isn’t everything.  Here are some factors worth thinking about.

Transformation

If you purchase a fresh wreath, for example, it won’t look exactly as it did when it arrived for the whole season.  Green leaves will do what green leaves do: change.  Your green wreath will dry to shades of brown over time.  This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, and a well-constructed wreath will have that transformation factored into its design, and there’s plenty you can do to keep it fresh longer.  But, if you’re married to color, this might not be the move.

It’s worth noting that hybrid solutions exist!  Some businesses offer dried or lacquered wreaths that are also made of fresh botanicals, but they’ve been specially dried or preserved in a way intended to fortify their color for longevity.

Cost

Much like with faux decor, you’ll see cost on both the pro and cons lists for fresh decor.  Up front, fresh decor can be quite a luxury purchase.  It has to be hand made, and you get what you pay for.  While these items tend to be very high quality, they’re not ideal for folks who are on a budget.

That said, you can always get creative on your own!  A pinecone you found in the local park costs you nothing, and with a little creativity and elbow grease, you can make your own gorgeous natural decor. 

Storage & Fragility

Natural products skew towards being fragile and brittle, so you’ll need to pay close attention to your storage.  Your garland will need to be handled with care, and your wreath and centerpiece will need to be in its own sturdy box.  These items often require more space for their storage, so nothing gets crushed or crumpled.

You’ll also want to be mindful of what you display outdoors for this reason.

Falling for Fresh (Pros)

When all is said and done, we’re a biiiiig fan of fresh decor! 

Environmental Sustainability

When it’s done right, fresh decor is so much better for the environment.  The main components will naturally break down over time when you finally decide to retire your decor, minimizing waste!

The harvesting process is also sustainable.  Most trees need to be pruned, and the pruned clippings are perfect for decor.    

Small Business, Big on Quality

Fresh decor usually comes from small businesses, which directly helps grow our local and national economy. 

That also means that you can count on quality being top of mind in these products.  Because they don’t have the same household name fame as your big box stores, small business products go above and beyond with quality so that you remember and trust their brand.   

Cost

As we mentioned, fresh products come at a luxury cost up front, but if you’re able to make the investment, they last.  You’ll save more in the long run. 

You can also change the look of your decor easily and affordably, instead of buying an entirely different product outright.  More on that momentarily!

Effortless Charm & The Perfect Aesthetic

You’re decorating for the changing of the seasons.  Nature is your inspiration!

Natural decor capitalizes on this, taking you back to the season’s roots.  For that reason, you’ll never be stuck chasing trend after trend.  Nature is the original aesthetic, and your decor will always look timelessly elegant.  It’s literally impossible for you to be out of style.

But, you will inevitably crave a change now and again.  Natural decor lends itself well to being tweaked with a good ol’ DIY.  That wreath that dried to a beautiful cozy brown?  You can spray paint it gold – or whatever color you want, as often as you want.  You can tuck boughs of spruce from the tree in your yard in between its leaves for a pop of refreshed green.   The world is your oyster with a little imagination.

The Verdict

In our opinion, natural, fresh decor takes the cake 9 times out of 10. 

It’s beautiful, it’s better for the environment, it’s more likely to support a small business, you’re choosing quality over quantity, and it’s the original seasonal decor.  That’s a darn good set of reasons!

Whether you make your own or choose to purchase it, we can’t recommend fresh fall home decor enough! If you’re not sure where to start, here’s how to choose the right wreath for you.

But, faux decor isn’t a bad guy here, either.  It’s a tool, like anything else. 

Maybe you can only afford to splurge on one artisanal centerpiece from a small business this year, and the rest of your decor is durable, faux, and more affordable.  Maybe you make what you can from things you forage, but you pick up some plastic elements to add to your creations. 

There is no wrong answer; there is only the answer that works best for you and your circumstances! 

No matter what you choose, make informed purchases.  Buy smart, favor things that will last and you’ll want to reuse, and always try to repair or refresh an item before throwing it away. Happy Decorating!