Have you fallen for the dried flower trend and want to learn how to make a bouquet with them? Are you looking for a simple technique to create a beautiful arrangement that lasts?
You’ve come to the right place.
As a florist, plants are my raw materials for creating unique designs. Lately, dried flowers have become very popular, inspiring me every day to create sustainable and delicate bouquets.
Today, I’m sharing my professional experience to help you create a beautiful dried flower bouquet on your own.
Whether you’re using flowers you dried yourself or ones you purchased, it’s quite easy to showcase them by creating a bouquet. Start by arranging the stems while twisting them in the same direction to form a semi-spherical shape. As you work on your bouquet, make sure to regularly check that the flowers are positioned as you want them, and keep in mind the size and shape of the container you plan to use. At the end, simply trim any excess stems, and place your creation in a vase, whether you choose to secure it or not. You might even consider giving it as a gift to someone special!
Want more details? Keep reading to discover:
- Where to find dried flowers for creating a bouquet,
- A method that works for drying your own plants,
- How to make a bouquet, step by step, with tips from a florist,
- Some examples of vases to enhance and showcase your bouquet,
- And plenty of other floral creation ideas!
How to Obtain Dried Flowers?
Back in the spotlight for the past few years, dried flowers allow you to create beautiful bouquets or home decorations. If you’d like to try your hand at creating floral arrangements with these, here’s what you need to know to get started.
At a Florist
Many florists now offer a selection of cut flowers. Typically sold by the bunch, these can be purchased either already arranged (in bouquets, under glass domes, etc.) or loose.
If your florist doesn’t offer dried flowers for self-service in their shop, don’t hesitate to ask if you can place an order. They can then advise you and may be able to find uncommon varieties or rare dyed flowers.
In Some Home Decor Stores
Many specialty shops that sell affordable decorations now offer dried flowers. These flowers can also be purchased by the bunch. You can also find them in craft stores.
You will find the main varieties here: for a specific request, it’s best to consult a florist.
Drying Them Yourself
Finally, this could be the start of your creative journey. It is definitely possible to dry your own flowers at home. Whether you picked them yourself or bought them from a store, you’ll feel the satisfaction of being able to choose your flowers, watching them evolve, and creating your bouquet from start to finish.
How to Dry Your Flowers for a Beautiful Bouquet
Drying flowers is not a complicated process: you just need to choose varieties that preserve well this way and have an effective drying method. I’ll share more information about this in the following lines. 😉
Some Flower and Foliage Varieties That Dry Well
Not all flowers are meant to be dried. Here’s a short list of varieties that will yield great results in this process:
- Statice,
- Limonium,
- Lavender,
- Dried Everlasting Flowers,
- Baby’s Breath,
- Roses (but they tend to lose their color fairly quickly),
- Hydrangeas,
- Cereal grains and grasses (Wheat, Setaria, Panicum…),
- Craspedia,
- Thistles,
- Pampas Grass,
- Poppies,
- Phalaris,
- Yarrow.
🌿 Among the foliage, the Eucalyptus dries quite well and retains its color for a long time!
Statice / Baby’s Breath / Eucalyptus
An Effective Drying Technique
The easiest method for drying plants is to hang them upside down in a dark room that isn’t too humid. A garage or an attic works perfectly for this.
Before hanging your flowers, wait until they have started to bloom. They should also not show any signs of wilting to avoid the risk of rot.
The drying time depends on the varieties: your flowers are ready to be assembled when they are no longer damp at all and when the stems are brittle.
👉 To learn more about this process, check out our article dedicated to the topic!
How to Make a Dried Flower Bouquet?
Once your flowers are dried, it’s time to get creative! The simplest project to start with is to make a beautiful decorative bouquet, which you can keep to add a touch of nature to your home or give as a gift to someone special.
Equipment to Prepare
Before you start putting together your bouquet, make sure you have the following:
- a clean and clear work surface,
- a pair of scissors that cut well,
- a tie (string, ribbon) to secure your bouquet,
- a pruner to trim any excess stems,
- a container, if you want to put your bouquet in a vase,
- something to wrap your bouquet if you want to give it as a gift.
Prepare Your Plants
Before you start assembling your bouquet, sort your plants by grouping them according to variety. If you haven’t done so yet, remove the leaves from the lower two-thirds of the stems to keep them clean and tidy.
Master the Spinning Technique
Here are the details of the technique used by florists to create beautiful, balanced, and symmetrical bouquets:
➡️ Start by holding a flower in your left hand.
➡️ Then, add another flower on top, diagonally, with the flower head pointing up and to the left.
➡️ Continue in the same way, always placing the flowers in the same direction and alternating the varieties, while adding foliage if you have any.
➡️ Rotate the bouquet in your hand as it begins to take shape. Take this opportunity to examine it and ensure that it’s symmetrical. Adjust the stems of the flowers to align them if necessary.
➡️ Your bouquet should gradually take on the shape of a half-sphere.
Here’s a video that illustrates these explanations:
👉 The process is explained here from the perspective of a right-handed person. If you’re left-handed, just switch right and left in the previous lines! 😊
Secure Your Bouquet
Once your bouquet is finished, place it on your work surface, making sure not to disassemble it. Then, tie it with string or ribbon.
Then trim the stems about 10 centimeters below the tie to even them out.
Your bouquet is ready to be placed in a vase! You can leave it tied together or rearrange the stems for a fuller, more natural look.
👉 Would you like to wrap your bouquet to give it as a gift? To help you out, I’ve written this article that explains how to do it!
How to Showcase Your Dried Flower Bouquet?
dried flowers are known for their delicate and elegant appearance, which means they don’t suit every type of vase. To showcase them beautifully, consider placing them in a glass vase, whether colored or clear. The translucent quality of the glass will perfectly complement the lightness of your flowers and create a charming, rustic display.
You can also choose to create several small bouquets that you can display in small vases. This is ideal if you have multiple gifts to give or if you’re looking for decor for a long space (like an entryway dresser, mantel, etc.).
👉 To make it last longer, avoid placing your dried flower bouquet in a damp room like a bathroom or kitchen.
What Else Can You Do with Dried Flowers?
When you have dried flowers, creating a bouquet is often the first project you think of, as it’s quick and allows you to make a beautiful decor piece in no time. However, there are plenty of other options! Here are a few of them.
A Floral Hoop or Bell
Because they don’t need water, dried flowers can be used as long-lasting decorative items.
You can create beautiful decorations with floral hoops. All you need is a wooden or metal hoop and some flowers, which you can attach to the hoop using string. Here’s a tutorial that explains how to do it:
You can also place them under a glass dome, which will protect them while creating a beautiful decorative display.
🌹 Want to own or gift a flower preserved in time? Like dried flowers, eternal roses are real flowers, but they maintain the fresh appearance for a long time, thanks to a natural preservative called glycerin. Are these flowers intriguing to you? Discover our original creations!
A Hair Accessory Adorned with Flowers
Stars of boho-chic weddings, floral accessories elevate a festive outfit and add a rustic charm to your ceremony. They can be made by a professional, by request. However, if you’re feeling adventurous, you can definitely try making them yourself using the right techniques.
To find out how to proceed, I invite you to check out this tutorial article that I wrote on the blog, which explains step by step how to create your flower crown.
A Candle
For those who love making cosmetics and candles, dried flowers are a wonderful material to work with. When pouring your candle, before it fully hardens, you can place a few dried flowers on the surface to create a beautiful pattern. To prevent any risk of burning later on, make sure the flowers do not stick out above the candle and that it is poured into a container with high enough sides.
I hope this article has inspired you to create with dried flowers, whether it’s a bouquet, hoops, or accessories.
Do you love flowers and floral gifts? Check out our online shop dedicated to this wonderful world, featuring carefully selected items for their uniqueness and durability!