Faux olive tree size guide —
which height is right?
We get this question every day: which size olive tree should I get? It sounds simple but gets the answer wrong surprisingly often — people tend to go smaller than their space needs, and the result is a tree that looks underwhelming rather than considered. This guide settles it once and for all, with specific recommendations for every ceiling height and room type.
The one rule that fixes everything
Before the specifics, there's a single rule that will never steer you wrong:
With that rule in mind, here's the full breakdown for every size we carry:
90cm — The compact
Surface placementAt 90cm, this isn't a floor plant — it's a surface plant. Dining table, kitchen bench, bathroom vanity, bookshelf, desk. The 90cm real-touch version has premium soft-touch foliage that makes it extraordinary for tabletop placement where guests get close.
120cm — The beside-furniture
Beside furniture120cm is the size that works beautifully beside furniture rather than standing alone. It has genuine presence without being a statement piece. The real-touch 120cm has premium soft foliage; the standard 120cm has lighter green and silver leaves — a fresher, airier palette perfect for coastal and Hamptons interiors.
160cm — The apartment size
Apartment & smaller rooms160cm is the overlooked middle size — often skipped in favour of 180cm, but genuinely the best choice for smaller living rooms, apartments and rooms where 180cm would feel slightly too much. Adds real presence without dominating.
180cm — The Australian living room standard
Most popular · Best sellerThis is the size we sell most of — and for good reason. 180cm is the perfect height for the standard 2.4m Australian ceiling. It's tall enough to be a genuine statement, compact enough not to overwhelm the space. Within 180cm we carry the widest range of styles: standard, multi-branch, real wood trunk, Luxe & Lush real-touch, Shady Lady dark, tall upright, and more.
210cm — The statement
High ceilings · Commercial210cm is for spaces with genuine ceiling height to spare — 2.7m minimum, ideally 3m+. At this scale the tree becomes architectural — part statement piece, part design element. In a standard 2.4m ceiling it will feel cramped and touch the ceiling uncomfortably. In the right space it's extraordinary.
The quick reference table
Which size for your ceiling?
| Ceiling height | Best tree height | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 2.2m or lower | 120–150cm | Anything taller feels cramped and ceiling-heavy |
| 2.4m (Australian standard) | 180cm | The sweet spot — 75% of ceiling height |
| 2.7m | 180–200cm | 180cm works well, 210cm if you want to fill the space |
| 3.0m+ | 210cm+ | Anything under 180cm will look like a shrub in this space |
Style choice within a height
Once you've chosen the right height, the style choice within that height depends on the look you want:
Single trunk, upright — classic, elegant, works everywhere. The most versatile choice.
Multi-branch — fuller, wider, more organic feel. Better for larger rooms where the spread can be appreciated.
Real wood trunk — for the highest realism. The trunk passes the up-close test. Worth the premium if guests will be near it.
Real-touch foliage — for the highest tactile realism. Leaves feel lifelike. Best where people will touch or sit near the tree.
Dark leaf variety (Shady Lady / Black Olive) — for moody, contemporary or bold interiors. Not the standard olive look — a deliberate design choice.
Browse the full olive tree range
Every height, every style — from compact 90cm real-touch to grand 210cm statement trees.
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