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This Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree Hack is My Best $15 Secret

    Looking for a way to add the ever-so-popular fiddle leaf fig tree to your space, without spending an arm and a leg? This super simple DIY project has your name all over it!

    faux fiddle leaf tree standing next to leather couch

    (Affiliate links are provided below for convenience. For more information see my disclosure, here.)

    Whenever I tell people that my fiddle leaf fig tree is not only faux, but also a DIY, they can’t believe it! This might possibly be the EASIEST DIY project ever, but it is one of my most asked questions when I share a photo of our living room. So I figured I’d write up a little post showing exactly how I created this faux fiddle.

    Oh and did I mention it cost less than $20?

    Yup! Keep reading 😉

    Supplies Used:

    *These stems are found in the front section of the store with all of their seasonal floral stems. However, they are not always available. I purchased my stems in the spring, but when I looked again in the fall they weren’t there. Ask your local Michael’s associates when the stems will be available if you do not see them out on the floor. (By stacking coupons & sales I was able to purchase mine for $5 each!)

    For a less frugal option, these faux branches are available at West Elm for $39. Or you can get the same look with my favorite 5′ faux fiddle leaf fig tree here.

    The stems should look something like this:

    three faux fiddle leaf fig branches

    As you can see, each stem has multiple leaves on the end.

    To create the look of a tree, start by staggering the stems at varying lengths and arranging them in a vertical line. It may be helpful to lay them out on the floor to get an idea of how it’s looking.

    There’s no right way to do this, but essentially you want to move the stems up or down creating the resemblance of a tree with one trunk.

    For reference, look at the photo below to see how the end of my stems ended up being spaced:

    fiddle leaf fig branches aligned together to form a tree
    Once your tree is looking the way you want, use electrical tape to secure them into place.

    a hand taping three fiddle leaf fig branches together

    It shouldn’t take much tape to secure the stems in place. You’ll want to use as little as possible because some of the tape will remain visible. But don’t worry, I’ve found that nobody notices it until after I’ve pointed it out.

    fiddle leaf fig branches taped together

    The next step is to find a container to put your tree in! I love the look of plants in woven baskets, so that is what I chose. (Checkout all of my favorite cute storage containers here!

    In order to support the narrow trunk inside of the wide basket, I used a gallon sized glass jug to place the end of the tree in. This gave it some support and helped it to stand up on it’s own.

    DIY faux fiddle leaf fig tree sitting in a woven basket

    I then simply covered it up with a neutral knit blanket! (Mine is from Target a few years ago, here is a similar one available on Amazon Prime.)

    faux fiddle leaf fig tree sitting in a basket with a blanket covering
    And here’s what the final product looks like:

    faux fiddle leaf fig tree standing next to a leather couch

    If you don’t love the knit blanket option, you could use an actual planter and fill it with compacted dirt to give it a more realistic look! The dirt should be able to support the base, but if not you could add some rocks at the bottom to help hold it in place.

    Another option would be to use the glass jug hack from above, and then cover it with artificial moss.

    Get creative, there’s tons of options!

    Don’t feel like DIY’ing? Checkout my favorite 5′ faux fiddle leaf fig tree here!

    Related: How to: Super Simple DIY Wall Hanging

    faux fiddle leaf fig tree in a woven basket sitting in a living room

    GET THE LOOK

    There you have it! A DIY faux fiddle leaf fig tree for under $20!

    For more home hacks, checkout how we upgraded our builder grade light fixture for FREE next!