How to choose a large artificial tree for a professional project

Content reviewed and updated on 4 August 2026.

Choosing a large artificial tree for a professional project involves more than finding the tallest option. Consider its scale and proportions, its exact placement, how the area will be used and whether it will be indoors, in a covered area or outdoors.

Define the role it will play in the project

Before opening the catalogue, define the tree’s visual function. Should it act as a focal point? Will it mark a transition, accompany a waiting area or give presence to a tall space? Will it be seen close up, from another floor or at the end of a route?

The answer changes the selection. A tree that organises a lobby is assessed differently from one beside a seating area or within a composition. Defining its role prevents a choice based only on appearance and provides a common basis for comparing options.

Consider the full scale, not just the height

Height is essential information, but it does not explain on its own how the tree will be perceived. Relate it to the clear height, available width, normal viewing distance and the volume of nearby elements.

In a tall, wide space, a small crown may lack presence. Where the available width is limited, a broad crown may compete with circulation, furniture or signage. Work from checked plans, elevations, photographs and measurements.

Check the proportions of the crown, trunk and base

Two trees of a similar height can produce very different effects. The width and visual density of the crown, the visible length of the trunk and the proportions of the base determine the silhouette.

If the project calls for a clear vertical presence, a raised crown may be appropriate. If the aim is to fill a visual void, a broader shape may work better. In both cases, check that the volume does not intrude on circulation, access, lighting or other design elements.

The base and planter also form part of the result. Confirm their dimensions and finish and how they relate to the floor, furniture and nearby elements. Fixing, installation and safety requirements must be resolved using documentation; they cannot be inferred from an image.

Indoors, in a covered area or outdoors: check the specific product

Searches for large artificial trees often include outdoor applications, but that search intent does not prove that every product is suitable for outdoor use.

Define whether the tree will be indoors, in a covered area or outdoors, and specify its exact location: entrance, lobby, seating area or circulation route. Then check the product information. Fire performance, UV resistance, materials and fixing requirements should only be included when they are documented.

This check prevents a characteristic of one product from being applied to the entire range and helps ensure that the specification is consistent with the location and its indoor, covered or outdoor conditions.

Adapt the choice to the use and scale of the area

In hospitality settings, a large-format tree can contribute to the way a lobby, restaurant or meeting area is read. Consider its relationship with the principal sightlines, furniture and circulation flows.

In retail environments, product visibility, shop windows, signage and possible changes to displays or layouts matter alongside scale. In shopping centres and communal areas, the piece may be viewed from several heights and distances, making the crown and overall silhouette particularly important.

Large artificial palm trees demonstrate this principle clearly: two options of a similar height can have a different presence because of the relationship between trunk and crown. The same method can be used to compare other families without reducing the decision to a single measurement.

The same solution should not be applied automatically to a lobby, shop or communal area. Measure the location, understand how the area is used, compare proportions and confirm the details of the chosen option.

What to prepare before consulting the catalogue

An initial selection will be more useful if the team provides:

• the project type and how the space will be used;
• the intended environment: indoors, in a covered area or outdoors;
• the exact placement within the space;
• the clear height and available width;
• the main viewing distances and viewpoints;
• circulation routes, access and delivery constraints;
• the visual function the tree must fulfil;
• any technical requirements that must be documented;
• the proposed base or planter within the composition.

With this information, the catalogue becomes more than a sequence of images: it becomes a tool for comparing families and silhouettes against the project criteria.

Frequently asked questions

Choose with the actual space in mind

First define the placement, its relationship with the architecture, the proportions, whether it is indoors, covered or outdoors, and the project requirements. Then use the catalogue to compare the families that fit that brief.