Tips on how to Make a DIY Pretend Olive Tree for Much less Than Shopping for | Thrifty Decor Chick

Tips on how to make a synthetic olive tree for much less.

In the event you love the look of ornamental bushes in your house, however haven’t got a inexperienced thumb to maintain actual crops alive or the funds for an costly faux store-bought model, this tutorial for a fake potted olive tree is for you!

I’ve wished a tall plant for the basement for someday — we do get a very good
quantity of daylight down there, however not sufficient that I might maintain one thing
alive. 

I’ve actual fiddle leaf figs throughout our home (see my
ideas for taking good care of fiddles right here) so I wished one thing completely different. I began looking out faux olive bushes
as an alternative, however discovered they’re fairly costly. The perfect model (with good
evaluations) I discovered was $115. 
As I used to be looking out on-line, I got here throughout tutorials for faux,
do-it-yourself olive bushes. Huh. I by no means even thought-about it, but it surely
received my thoughts going. I mixed ideas for this fake olive tree undertaking
from here and one other tutorial (not on-line). 

This fake tree DIY was particularly cheap as a result of I received all of my provides at half the price. Search for
gross sales and use coupons! 

The 1st step: Determine your tree trunk

I began with the “trunk” of the tree. I might have simply gone and minimize a
thick department off of a tree. I used to be going to do this, however then I noticed how
chilly and snowy it was exterior. I actually did not wish to go forage
within the woods. 

So as an alternative I take a look at the “dried naturals” part on the craft retailer. They
had precise (skinny) wooden trunks, which cracked me up that we are able to purchase
a part of a tree on the retailer. However I wished one thing that appeared
a little bit extra pure and natural than only a straight department. 

I figured these white branches on the left can be good: 

dried naturals section with branches

This put up could comprise affiliate hyperlinks on your comfort.

I’ll earn a small fee when you make a purchase order by means of hyperlinks. 

The bundle got here with three branches (for MORE olive bushes obvs) and I used
the most important one. 

I spray painted it brown…and was stunned when it appeared
actual! You should utilize any brown paint — craft paint even. 

I counsel utilizing a matte paint end for a extra real looking look.

Step two: Connect your olive stems

I already had olive stems that I take advantage of all year long in our decor, so I
did not wish to use these. As an alternative I grabbed
bundles of olive branches
as an alternative: 

It is a approach higher bang on your buck. You will get a ton extra stems to make use of
for the value, in comparison with the one ones. 

These even have among the most real looking branches I’ve discovered. The silk lengthy leaves assist to fill it in much more and the fake olives are a practical darkish brown/purple coloration. 

You will want to chop every department off the bundle — typically you’ll be able to simply pull down
and break them off. However a wire cutter
will make fast work of this and offer you a blunt finish that’s useful: 
wire cutters to cut fake branches

Then begin including the minimize branches to your “tree” — this was loads simpler than I
thought! 

I began with just a few on the ideas of the highest branches. For these I hooked up the
olive branches with
brown floral tape. The brown blends into the tree branches very well: 

I needed to actually seek for them after I used to be executed to take this image! You
will not want a lot of the tape — I solely added just a few on the ideas, however total
these did make for a extra real looking look. 

For the remainder, I used a small drill bit and drilled tiny holes into the
branches: 

drilling holes in DIY olive tree

Then simply stick your olive department in! No glue or tape wanted. 

I did most of those at an angle so the branches would level upwards. It’s possible you’ll
want to regulate your drill bits for the dimensions of your department. 

I’d add just a few, step again and see the place it wanted extra, after which maintain
including. There is no proper or incorrect — simply will depend on the look you
need. 

I additionally added them the place the branches met for a extra real looking look: 

adding branches to DIY olive tree

Additionally, if the tip of a department was large enough, I drilled into these and caught
one in there. On these I discovered it useful so as to add a little bit of the floral tape so
it blended higher. 

Typically my drill bit went during a department — I did attempt to
keep away from that on the thinner branches as a result of I did not wish to weaken them. 

If
you’ll be able to, maintain your holes shallow, simply deep sufficient to stay the stem in.

I used to be a little bit shocked and form of tickled with how good it appeared as I used to be
going. I saved telling my household — “Look at my TREE!” It
really was turning out very well! 

After I was executed with the entire thing, I touched up any of the unique white
department that confirmed after I drilled holes. I simply sprayed the spray paint on a
paper plate and used a Q-tip to use small contact ups. 

Step three: Plant your rustic fake olive tree

After I was executed I used a block of onerous foam in a plastic planter and caught the department in
there:

using foam in planter for fake tree

It’s possible you’ll have to make a starter gap for the department — do not break it attempting
to get it in! As you’ll be able to see, I stuffed plastic baggage into the edges to make
positive my tall olive tree would not wobble. 

soft moss on top of planters

I had that available, but it surely is not costly. 

The inexperienced olive leaves are so wispy and fairly!:

real looking olive tree

It appears to be like extra real looking than plenty of the faux silk bushes I’ve seen in
shops:

DIY olive tree in foyer

I used to be nervous this DIY can be too good to be true for the value. I used to be so incorrect!:

DIY olive tree in basket

She’s so fairly! I introduced her to the entryway for higher mild for pictures — however I
actually prefer it right here! Might must make one other one. 😉 

My “trunk” has two lengthy branches, however you should use a single trunk for tight areas. 

Mine will keep within the basement front room for now: 

inexpensive DIY olive tree in basket

I might wish to discover a larger planter for it will definitely. When it will get hotter out
I will make it everlasting by pouring fast dry cement into no matter planter I
ended up with. 

Replace! I discovered a very cool product that allowed me to completely “plant” this right into a pot: 

Sika expanding foam

You break the seal between the 2 pockets to let the product combine collectively after which pour it into the planter along with your tree inside.

It expands inside seconds (really actually cool to observe) after which units up inside minutes. 

Preserve the dimensions of your planter in in thoughts when pouring it in! You’ll be able to minimize off any extra off the highest, however you don’t need it going in every single place. 

Ensure to carry your tree straight whereas it dries.

After it was dry, I positioned the moss excessive of the froth: 

expanding foam in planter
decorative trim on gray walls

You’ll be able to customise these synthetic crops so some ways! Make yours a shorter tree for a tabletop show, a smaller one for tight areas, or go even larger and wider! 

These zero upkeep bushes can be nice decor for bogs or some other house that wants a pure contact. 

Bear in mind, this DIY is for indoor use solely, though I feel it could be nice on a lined outside space like a porch or patio. 

General my tree price me lower than $35 and the size are 5 toes excessive with a few three toes width on the high. You’d spend at
least $100 to purchase that measurement. I had the planter, paint and moss already. 

I
extremely counsel gathering your provides when they’re on sale, however even when you
pay full worth it is going to be cheaper than shopping for. 

This is an inventory of the gadgets in a single spot in case you wish to do that your self!

DIY OLIVE TREE MATERIALS:

Would you strive making considered one of these synthetic bushes as an alternative of shopping for? It did not take me lengthy at
all and was form of enjoyable. However I am a little bit bizarre that approach. 🙂 

Pin this picture to avoid wasting this tutorial for later: 

DIY olive tree in basket