Does Your Home Have What It Takes To Pull Off the Dried Flowers Trend?

Getty Images

You’re not imagining it. Dried flowers are just about everywhere these days—from shop windows to home decor catalogs and maybe even tucked into vases around your own home.

And while a dried bouquet can certainly add a certain je ne sais quoi to an otherwise neutral interior, it isn’t necessarily a trend for everyone.

So where did the dried flowers trend originate, and how can you incorporate it into your own home decor? We spoke to several designers to get the scoop on this latest look that’s having a major moment.

Why are dried flowers in vogue?

The idea of decorating with large bouquets of dried blooms isn’t anything new. In fact, it’s something that was seen far and wide in the mauve-rich, feather-obsessed 1980s. And now the dried flowers fad is having its latest renaissance.

“The trend has been percolating for a while now—along with everything else that is the ’80s—including rounded, overstuffed furniture, brass, and wallpaper galore,” says interior designer Tanya Lacourse, of Violet Marsh Interiors. “Dried florals are a more cost-effective and zero-maintenance way to bring texture and color into any space. The arrangements can range from simple and earthy to colorful and dramatic.”

Besides being part of an overall ‘80s revival, dried flowers have one particularly practical quality: They’re basically eternal.

“Dried flowers can last upward of a year, with careful handling,” says designer Jen Stark, of Happy DIY Home. “Not only does this outstrip fresh flowers by months, but you can easily reuse them in a variety of arrangements. For example, you can break down the original bouquet and use the flowers in new designs—like as a centerpiece or in a vase.”

If you want to hop on the dried flowers bandwagon, there are a few things to keep in mind.

Dry them the right way

Not all flowers preserve equally well.

“Some of the best dried flowers to have in your home are hydrangeas, xeranthemum, cornflowers, pompom-headed daisies, grasses, and salvias,” says Stark. “Many of these plants dry out naturally at the end of their life cycle, and this makes it easy to use them.”

While the process is natural, it’s still helpful to know how to dry each kind of flower you plan on using. Some flowers can simply be hung upside down to dry, and others (notably, hydrangeas) actually preserve best when dried in water.

Store dried blooms in a safe spot

Many dried flowers are extremely delicate. While you can certainly do things to fortify them (such as using a fixative such as hair spray on the arrangement), they ultimately will last longer if placed in an area with minimal traffic and low airflow (e.g., not under your ceiling fan).

And never place dried flowers next to your cat’s favorite perch.

“People with cats or other pets may not want to display dried flowers in their home,” cautions interior designer Ana Cummings, of ANA Interiors Ltd. “While they are beautiful to behold, a naughty feline might have fun destroying the arrangement—resulting in a major cleanup. Not to mention, the flowers could be poisonous to them.”

Pair them wisely

While dried blooms hypothetically can work with any style of decor, there are a few places where they make more sense— think transitional and “Japandi” spaces and those dominated by rich earthy tones.

“In transitional-styled rooms, peacock feathers have a magical way of inspiring the color palette for surrounding accent colors, all the while connecting with the variety of colors found in the houseplants,” says designer Devin Shaffer, of Decorilla. “In Japandi-styled rooms, florals such as dried cherry blossom twigs, orchids, and pampas grass all aid in creating a lived-in look and adding dimension.”

Get creative with the vase

Don’t forget to choose a standout vase that matches the style of the blooms. While dried roses might look perfectly fine in a crystal vase, more rustic blooms should be paired accordingly in simpler vessels.

“Dried florals look great in rustic vases, which are also so popular in design right now,” says Cumming. “You wouldn’t necessarily put a bird of paradise into a rough-glazed ceramic urn. But a handful of twigs, grasses, and thistles? Yes, for sure!”

The post Does Your Home Have What It Takes To Pull Off the Dried Flowers Trend? appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.