The Fiji Times

Artificial plants

- By ANA MADIGIBULI By ANA MADIGIBULI

NOT a fan of looking after potted plants but have an obsession of it filling your home or office space? It's a good thing to have a lot of plants fill your home because not only does it add a lovely décor to your home setting it also improves air quality, reduces stress and improves your sense of well-being.

But if you're not a big fan of taking care of plants like watering them, trimming them and repotting if they are overgrown, then it might not be a good thing to get real plants.

You must remember that plants are living things and they need your attention, especially when you want them placed indoors.

HOW many times have you carefully come out of the bathroom only to slip on the wet floor while trying to hold onto something so you don't fall and hurt yourself? As much as we like our bath sessions, dealing with slippery bathroom floors can be a bother.

Trying to find balance while in your bath towel or robe can be an ordeal as you can easily hurt yourself.

Here eHow (www.ehow.com) gives some tips on getting a bath mat that can save your life from easy slip-ups and make your bathroom look incredible.

What to consider when purchasing a bath mat:

Size

Things they cannot live without is water and sun, so if you have a busy schedule and cannot water plants when they need to be watered then you need an alternativ­e solution to your plant obsession.

One thing you can get is an artificial plant. Good news about fake plants sold today is that they look so realistic that you can't even tell if they are real or not until you have a closer look at it.

From detailed leaf structure to a perfect blend of colour, fake plants sold today are lifelike.

So if you have an interest of getting some artificial plants, follow these simple tips from eHow (www.ehow.com) to help guide you in getting a good fake plant.

The size of your bath mat matters. If the bath mat is too small, it won't cover enough square footage to keep the floor dry and prevent slippage.

Material

Shape and Colour

Dusting

If it's too big, it could take up too much space and your entire bathroom floor could be a bath mat. The right size will cover the whole area where you step out.

Consider measuring the area outside of your shower and bath tub to make sure you purchase the correct size. Bath mats come in different sizes and shapes, so perhaps a circular bath mat or a runner would work better in your space than the classic rectangle.

The most common bath rug materials include microfiber, cotton, and polyester and memory foam. Microfiber is a great option if you have kids who take baths or if your floors tend to get pretty wet after a shower, as its super absorbent, dries quickly, has a velvety feel and can hold more water than cotton.

Cotton is usually more absorbent than polyester, but polyester dries quicker and doesn't shrink in the dryer. Memory foam is the most comfortabl­e to stand on, as it provides the

Care

Left: A fake fern plant that looks real.

What to Consider When Buying Fake Plants

If an artificial plant is a little too perfect, it will scream "look at me — I'm fake" It shouldn't be too glossy, too symmetrica­l or too flawlessly green.

Variation in shape and hue, like variegated and budding leaves is key.

Some artificial plants come with wires, so you can bend the stems to a more lifelike shape.

While fake plants require much less maintenanc­e than live ones — no water, no repotting, no fertiliser, just don't let them get caught with a layer of dust.

Non-slip grip

That goes for your real plants too. Dust blocks their pores, depriving them of the sunlight needed to create the food that allows them to grow.

A quick swipe of the leaves once in a while will ensure they look as real as possible and not like an afterthoug­ht.

Pot

Do the fake plants you're considerin­g already come in a pot?

If not, you'll want to buy one of those too. You aren't limited to ones with drainage holes either—hooray.

Consider topping your faux plants with dirt or moss to make the environmen­t of your artificial plants as real as possible too. most cushion. Wood, bamboo and stone bath mats are also a popular option as they look and feel like you're in a spa and they don't require much as far as upkeep. They do, however, tend to be more expensive.

An important feature on a bath mat is non-slip backing. A grip bottom can prevent the bath mat from moving around when stepped on, causing you to slip, ultimately defeating the purpose of having a bath mat to begin with. An anti-skid backing can be made of rubber, latex or thermoplas­tic, all of which provide effective slip resistance and can also protect your floors from water damage.

Most shower mats made of fabric are machine washable, but some require hand-washing or spot cleaning. The most low-maintenanc­e bathroom rugs can be machine-washed and dried, so if that's important to you, be sure to check the care instructio­ns before making your purchase.

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Picture: WWW.COUNTRYLIV­ING.COM An artificial lemon tree.
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COM ?? Bath mats can be used in any part of the bathroom as long as it prevents slips.
Left: A fluffy bath mat absorbs all that water after a shower.
Picture: WWW. AMAZON.COM Picture: WWW.AMAZON. COM Bath mats can be used in any part of the bathroom as long as it prevents slips. Left: A fluffy bath mat absorbs all that water after a shower.
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