Making dried flower decorations is a fun pastime that many people should take up as a successful attempt to decorate their homes beautifully, in a way that is quite special and lasts for a long time. Thus, if you want to capture a sentimental moment, or if you are a fan of the look of dried flowers, making floral compositions yourself is quite inspiring. If you want to try your hand at making your Dried Flower Arrangements, below is the detailed procedure to do it.
1. Selecting the Right Flower
So, the following are the processes of making beautiful dry flower decorations. The first process involves selecting the flowers. Some flowers do not dry well, and therefore you have to use species that are prone to air drying with good structure. Some popular choices include:
Roses: do not lose their shape easily and wilt easily.
Lavender: It is appreciated for both fragrance and color stability.
Statice: Colors and shapes brilliantly.
Baby's Breath: Creates a very fine, light foam.
Hydrangea: Dried looking and your typical pristine light.
Eucalyptus: Famous for its fragrant leaves and papery rhizomes.
Choose flowers that have just started to bloom or are at the peak of bloom. Flowers that aren't as fresh may not dry as well.
2. Ways to Dried Flowers
There are several ways to dry flowers, depending on what kind of effect you want to achieve. Here are three popular techniques:
Air Drying
There are five main drying methods; air drying is the oldest and simplest method of drying. Follow these steps:
Gather flowers into small bunches: Gather the stems together and separate them using rubber bands or thread.
Hang upside down: It is desirable to keep the flowers in a fresh, unheated room where there isn't too much humidity. Any place where it is possible to put a door and a small window can work - for example, a closet or attic.
Wait: The flowers should be left to dry for 2-3 weeks. You should check them from time to time to confirm that they are drying properly and that they are not getting moldy.
Pressing
This is desirable when creating floral designs where the flowers have to be laid flat or when making crafts using preserved flowers. Here's how:
Choose your flowers: It is also advisable not to get flowers that are too thick.
Arrange on parchment paper: Arrange the flowers between two pieces of parchment paper.
Press: Place the flowers wrapped in parchment paper under a heavy book or a stack of books.
Wait: Press them for about 2-4 weeks and you are done.
Using Silica Gel
It has been observed that silica gel retains the color and shape of flowers better than water. Here is the process:
Fill a container: It is essential to pour a layer of silica gel in an airtight container.
Place the flowers: Make sure the flowers are facing upwards on the gel.
Cover completely: Pour a generous amount of silica gel on the flowers so that the flowers do not get disturbed too much.
Seal and wait: Close the lid of the container and let it sit for about 1 – 2 weeks.
3. Preparing Your Dried Flowers
Once your flowers are dried, they require a little more preparation before you can decorate them. Tap them off to remove any dust or any other particles left to fall off the slide. If they get dirty you can gently clean them using a soft brush. Cut the stems to the required size and remove any leaves that may be unattractive to the design.
4. Choosing a Vase or Container
The vase or container used to display the dried flowers also plays an important role in the beauty of the dried flower arrangement. Consider the following options:
Ceramic vases: are a bit more classy and are available in various forms and can be small or large.
Metal vases: give a modern industrial style and can look quite spectacular with dried flowers.
Glass jars: give a touch of Provencal and are best suited for showcasing the stems.
5. Arranging Your Dried Flowers
Dried flower arrangements are similar to fresh flowers, but the materials used are different hence the difference. Here are some tips:
Start with the base
Start by deciding on a green color like eucalyptus or Dried Lavender to create the framework of the structure. This will help give it a specific idea of how to shape the arrangement.
Add the focal flower
Next, you should place your focal flower. These are usually large and showy flowers- common flowers include roses and hydrangeas. Place them at different heights to create more than one plane and not look boring.
Fill in with smaller flowers
In areas of the bouquet where there are fewer flowers, you can use filler flowers like baby's breath or statice. These add extra vivacity and thickness to the overall look without making the plan feel crowded.
Balance and symmetry
Take time to look at your arrangement from multiple perspectives as a collection of objects. The appearance tends to be symmetrical to maintain balance as needed.
6. Creative Ideas for Using Dried Flowers
With preserved flowers, flowers can be used for many purposes other than floral design. Here are some ideas:
Wreaths - To create a great wreath, you have to stick dried flowers around the wreath. This can be a very cute addition to doors or walls.
Potpourri - Grind dried flower petals and mix them with other essential oils and aromatic components to make a great potpourri.
Framed Art - You can frame dried flowers between two pieces of glass or in a shadow box to keep them as regular art pieces.
7. Benefits of Dried Flower Arrangements
Dried flower arrangements offer several benefits over fresh flowers:
Longevity: Psychedelic flowers and bicolor petals have low water content and can last for months or years.
Low Maintenance: It does not need watering or frequent pruning like some plants.
Eco-Friendly: They stay preserved and can be used for a long time, so they work well in the aspect of reducing the frequency of buying fresh flowers.
Conclusion
Creating your own dried flower arrangements is a fun do-it-yourself project and will leave you satisfied too. If the flowers are selected and dried correctly and if you think about arranging them correctly you can have great flowers to decorate your home and give it a vintage touch of beauty. With dried flowers and arrangements, it doesn’t matter if you are a professional DIYer or a first-timer; there are certainly many ways through which you can make your voice heard in showcasing your uniqueness.
So, now, after reading the steps and tips mentioned above, you must have got some clues on how to master the field of dry flowers. It is essential to enjoy the process and appreciate the benefits that dried flowers provide to homeowners.
