Dried flower arranging – everything you need to know

Everybody loves a good floral arrangement, and we are all familiar with arrangements with fresh flowers brought forth by spring showers. Still, the saddest part of using fresh flowers for decoration is probably having to watch your favorite blossoms gradually wither away. Throughout the 1980s, dried flowers remained extremely popular, but fell out of fashion from the 90s onwards. But they have started to gain popularity in recent times once again. With this rising vogue of dried flower arrangements, you can make some exquisite floral decor for celebrations or for your home with them. Dried flowers require very less maintenance and can be arranged to fit your personal preferences, and they go well with the aesthetic of fall.

Dried flowers are typically dehydrated and are perfect as evening decor for fall due to their earthy tones. They are delicate, give a rustic touch and have a coarse texture, and a soft tone. When the flower is dehydrated, it removes all moisture from it and the color can fade slightly. These flowers might undergo a re-coloring and setting procedure when they are totally dried to bring back some of the initial hues.

Flowers best for dried flower arrangement

Although most flowers could be dried, some are more delicate than others. When certain types of flowers dry, they become highly sensitive and the petals can easily fall off. Because of this, drying the appropriate flowers is important. This will help you to preserve your blooms and keep them intact for several months. Some grasses and flowers that are perfect for drying include:

• Roses
• Hydrangeas
• Amaranth Flowers
• Palm Spears
• Statice Flowers
• Gypsophila Blooms
• Pampas Grasses
• Larkspur Flowers
• Eucalyptus Leaves
• Celosia flowers
• Sea Holly Flowers

Drying flowers by yourself

You can easily get dried flowers by allowing them to air dry or dry naturally. For this, hang them for a couple of days in a dry area upside down and let them completely dehydrate. You can also dry flowers using a press. Some people also use heavy objects like books to press them dry. This method works best for flowers that can lie flat like California poppies, hibiscus, pansies, or cosmos. Place your flowers gently on some pages around the book’s middle, giving each one plenty of room. After that, shut it and place several larger books atop it. Over time the flowers will dry and flatten out.

Dried flowers last at least a year or even longer when stored in a dry area away from direct sunlight. This might even go up to 10 years when kept in sealed boxes or jars.

Tips to make dried flower arrangements

You can make a unique and vibrant dried floral arrangement using a few materials and some simple steps. The steps include:

Prep your flowers

Prior to beginning your flower arrangement, make sure to pick up an assortment of dried grasses and flowers. You can either buy them online or from local stores, or you can dry them yourself at home. Picking annual flowers, which sprout, grow, bloom, set seeds, and decay all in one season, like cosmos, pansies, primrose, begonia, chrysanthemum, and petunia is a good option. After you’ve assembled your supplies, apply your regular hairspray all over the dry grass plumes to help stop shedding. Using floral spray paint can also add some color to the arrangement.

Prep your vase

Pick out a vase that complements the color scheme and height of the dried flowers. If you are looking to create a fuller arrangement, ensure that the vase has a wide aperture at its top. Then, cover the top with transparent tape in a grid-like pattern. This will guarantee that every stem remains in its intended location in the vase.

Arrange your flowers

When styling the flowers, you can follow some common practices to get the best visual effect. The vase height should be around one-third of the height of your arrangement. Begin with the florals that complement the color palette you selected. You can either choose flowers with different shades of the same color or mix and match different hues. But it is crucial to start with a focus flower. Make sure to place the biggest stems along the back. Add the smaller stems in front to give it a layered look. After you are finished with your layers, make sure to add some accent grasses and smaller blooms to beautify the arrangement.

Conclusion

Dried flower bouquets and arrangements can offer a touch of elegance to your house as well as celebrations. It also vibes well with the fall aesthetic, last longer, and can be preserved as a memento or keepsake.

Flower stock photos provided by Dreamstime.com