Before and After: How Trees, Decor and Tableware Transform a Space

You do not need a renovation to change how a space feels. The walls, floors and furniture can stay exactly the same. What changes the mood is everything layered on top: trees and greenery, warm light, textiles, art and the way the tables are set. These five before-and-after transformations show how far you can go with plants, decor and tableware alone.

Drag the slider on each photo to compare before and after. The after images are design visualizations created to show the idea.

1. An industrial cafe becomes a warm Mediterranean bistro

Before: gray brick, bare wood tables, cool light and graphic prints. Clean and functional, but cold.

After: olive trees in stone urns frame the brick wall, a full ficus softens the bar corner and potted palms and herbs line the window ledge. Linen runners, sage ceramic bowls, wine glasses and pillows on the banquette make every table feel set for a long dinner, and botanical art replaces the graphic prints.

Why it works: the trees add height and green against the gray wall, and the warm, natural tableware changes the cafe from a quick stop into a place to stay.

Recreate the look: olive tree with a real wood trunk · areca palm · fig tree

2. A dark noodle bar becomes an inviting dining room

Before: black and white furniture, spotlights and hard surfaces. The room feels like a canteen.

After: olive trees in textured planters line the aisle and walls, trailing greenery spills from the upper shelves and palms soften the back of the room. Candles, sage bowls and woven placemats add warmth to every table, and the lighting shifts from cold to golden.

Why it works: repeating one tree type along the room creates rhythm and a sense of depth, while greenery at different heights hides the hard lines of the ceiling and shelving.

Recreate the look: artificial olive trees · palm trees

3. A classic tavern gets a fresh, lived-in feel

Before: beautiful wood paneling, but bare tables and a heavy, brown palette.

After: slim olive trees in white planters stand between the windows, a palm fills the corner and small pots line the windowsills. Cushions on the bench, linen napkins, sage plates, candles and olive branches in white vases lighten the wood and make the room feel welcoming.

Why it works: silver-green leaves and white ceramics balance the warm wood, so the room keeps its character but feels lighter and more current.

Recreate the look: classic olive tree · Y-shaped olive tree

4. A bare restaurant patio becomes an evening destination

Before: a metal pavilion with string lights and simple tables. Busy, but nothing on the patio itself invites guests to linger.

After: tall olive trees in large stone planters stand along the edge and between the posts, palms soften the back wall, trailing greenery climbs the columns and spills from low planters, and uplights at the base of each tree make the foliage glow. Candles and glassware on every table finish the look.

Why it works: trees along the perimeter turn an open pavilion into an outdoor room, and lighting the trees from below doubles the evening atmosphere without a single new fixture overhead.

Recreate the look: olive tree with a real wood trunk · palm trees · outdoor artificial trees

5. A plain rooftop becomes an event terrace

Before: a wooden pergola, a long table and open sky. A good structure with nothing that makes it memorable.

After: climbing greenery and white flowers wrap the pergola posts, olive trees in large planters frame the seating, rattan pendants hang above the table and lanterns with candles line the floor. The table is set with linen, candles and white flowers.

Why it works: greenery on the vertical posts turns a bare frame into a garden room, and trees at the corners make the terrace feel enclosed and intimate.

Recreate the look: outdoor artificial trees · flowering trees · trees for weddings and events

What every transformation has in common

• Trees first. Height is what changes a space the most. Start with trees, then add smaller plants.
• Two or three species, repeated. Olives plus one accent tree look designed; many different plants look random.
• Natural planters. Stone, terracotta and woven baskets instead of plastic.
• Tableware does half the work. Linen, ceramic plates in soft colors, glassware and candles change how guests see the whole room.
• Warm light. Golden light, candles and uplights make greenery and textures glow.

Plan your transformation

Restaurants, cafes, hotels and venues can email support@ojadecor.com with photos of the space, and we will help choose trees, sizes and quantities. Start with our guides to the best trees for restaurants and cafes, outdoor palm trees and hotel lobbies.