Methods to Make a DIY Faux Olive Tree for Much less Than Shopping for | Thrifty Decor Chick

Methods to make a synthetic olive tree for much less.

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

I’ve wished a tall plant for the basement for someday — we do get
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
suggestions for taking good care of fiddles right here) so I wished one thing totally different. I began looking out faux olive bushes
as a substitute, however discovered they’re fairly costly. The most effective model (with good
critiques) 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 of it, but it surely
acquired my thoughts going. I mixed suggestions for this fake olive tree mission
from here and one other tutorial (now not on-line). 

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

The 1st step: Work out your tree trunk

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

So as a substitute I try 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 regarded
just a little extra pure and natural than only a straight department. 

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

dried naturals section with branches

This put up might comprise affiliate hyperlinks to your comfort.

I could earn a small fee when you make a purchase order by way of hyperlinks. 

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

I spray painted it brown…and was shocked when it regarded
actual! You should use any brown paint — craft paint even. 

I counsel utilizing a matte paint end for a extra lifelike 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 a substitute I grabbed
bundles of olive branches
as a substitute: 

This can be a method higher bang to 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 lifelike 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 shade. 

You will want to chop every department off the bundle — generally you may 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 reduce branches to your “tree” — this was lots simpler than I
thought! 

I began with a couple of on the suggestions of the highest branches. For these I connected the
olive branches with
brown floral tape. The brown blends into the tree branches rather 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 a couple of on the suggestions, however general
these did make for a extra lifelike 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. You might
want to regulate your drill bits for the scale of your department. 

I might add a couple of, step again and see the place it wanted extra, after which maintain
including. There is no proper or incorrect — simply depends upon the look you
need. 

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

adding branches to DIY olive tree

Additionally, if the tip of a department was sufficiently big, 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 all through 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 may, maintain your holes shallow, simply deep sufficient to stay the stem in.

I used to be just a little shocked and type of tickled with how good it regarded as I used to be
going. I saved telling my household — “Look at my TREE!” It
truly was turning out rather 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 arduous foam in a plastic planter and caught the department in
there:

using foam in planter for fake tree

You might must make a starter gap for the department — do not break it making an attempt
to get it in! As you may see, I stuffed plastic luggage 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 seems to be extra lifelike than a variety of the faux silk bushes I’ve seen in
shops:

DIY olive tree in foyer

I used to be frightened 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 gentle for photographs — however I
actually prefer it right here! Might should 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 would wish to discover a greater 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 (truly actually cool to look at) after which units up inside minutes. 

Maintain the scale of your planter in in thoughts when pouring it in! You may reduce off any extra off the highest, however you do not need it going all over the 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 may 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 greater and wider! 

These zero upkeep bushes can be nice decor for loos or another area that wants a pure contact. 

Remember, this DIY is for indoor use solely, though I believe it could be tremendous on a coated out of doors space like a porch or patio. 

Total my tree value me lower than $35 and the scale are 5 ft excessive with a couple of three ft width on the prime. You’d spend at
least $100 to purchase that dimension. 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 value will probably be cheaper than shopping for. 

Here is a listing of the gadgets in a single spot in case you wish to do this your self!

DIY OLIVE TREE MATERIALS:

Would you strive making one in every of these synthetic bushes as a substitute of shopping for? It did not take me lengthy at
all and was type of enjoyable. However I am just a little bizarre that method. 🙂 

Pin this picture to save lots of this tutorial for later: 

DIY olive tree in basket