Dried Flowers: How to Turn Dried Flowers Into Modern Decorations

They don’t need water, they don’t wilt after a week, and they still bring a touch of nature into your home: dried flowers have long since shed their outdated image. Today, they’re displayed in minimalist vases, arranged into wreaths, or showcased as single blooms. The best part is that you can easily dry many flowers yourself.

Dried flowers are back—though they’re much more modern than they used to be. Instead of lavish arrangements, today’s trends feature single branches, loose bouquets, and natural colors. Pampas grass meets eucalyptus, gypsophila meets thistles, and hydrangeas meet grasses. Bold colors are also welcome.

The appeal isn’t just visual: dried flowers last a long time, require almost no care, and preserve a little piece of summer well beyond the gardening season.

What are dried flowers?

Dried flowers are blossoms, grasses, leaves, or seed heads from which moisture has been removed after cutting. This largely halts the natural wilting process.

Many plants retain a surprising amount of color when dried properly. Hydrangeas, for example, often develop particularly beautiful, muted hues.

Classic dried flowers should not be confused with preserved flowers. In preserved flowers, the plant’s natural moisture is replaced with a preservative solution, which can make them appear softer and fresher.

How do you decorate with dried flowers?

When it comes to dried flowers, less is often more. A single hydrangea in a small vase can make a stronger impression than a large bouquet. Tall grasses look best in simple floor vases, while poppy capsules or thistles look best in small ceramic containers.

If you prefer a calm look, stick to cream, sand, beige, and muted greens. These tones pair especially well with wood, linen, and natural stone. Individual colorful blooms or dark twigs add more visual interest.

There are also plenty of options beyond the vase: dried flowers can be arranged into door and wall wreaths, table centerpieces, or garlands. Pressed flowers can be framed to create botanical wall art.

How can you make your own dried flowers?

The simplest method is air-drying. To do this, remove the lower leaves and tie the flowers into small bunches. Then hang them upside down in a dry, well-ventilated, and preferably dark place. Avoid direct sunlight, as it can cause the colors to fade.

Important: Don’t tie the bouquets too tightly. The better the air can circulate, the lower the risk of mold. After about two to three weeks, many flowers will be completely dry.

Smaller blooms can also be pressed. If you want to preserve as much of the original shape as possible with roses or peonies, you can use silica gel.

Which flowers are suitable for drying?

Strawflowers, sea lavender, yarrow, grasses, poppy capsules, and thistles are particularly easy to dry. Hydrangeas, lavender, gypsophila, roses, and eucalyptus are also good choices.

It’s best to dry flowers while they’re still fresh and beautiful. Seed heads, herbs, and twigs from your own garden can also look very decorative later on.

How long do dried flowers last?

Depending on the plant species and location, dried flowers can remain decorative for many months, and in some cases even years. Over time, however, they usually lose some of their color and become more brittle.

To keep them looking their best for as long as possible, they should be protected from direct sunlight and moisture. Therefore, despite all its decorative potential, the bathroom is usually not an ideal place for them.

How do you properly care for dried flowers?

Dried flowers don’t need water—and shouldn’t be sprayed with it either.

Dust is best removed gently with a soft brush or with a hair dryer set to a low setting and held at a safe distance. Otherwise, the rule is: handle them as little as possible, because dried flowers can break easily.

Where can you buy dried flowers in Vienna?

If you’d rather not dry your clothes yourself, there are also some great places in Vienna.

The FlowerCompany at Pilgramgasse 4 in the 5th district offers ready-made dried flower bouquets as well as individual flowers, grasses, and twigs for creating your own arrangements.

At We Are Flowergirls at Lange Gasse 70 in the 8th district, wreaths and arrangements are created using dried and preserved flowers. They also offer workshops where you can design your own dried-flower decorations.

Also Bloomery Vienna at Seilergasse 19 in the 1st district carries dried flowers and creates bouquets based on your preferred color scheme.

Whether store-bought or dried at home, dried flowers usually look their best these days when you let them retain their natural character. A crooked stem or a faded bloom isn’t a flaw—it’s exactly what gives them their charm.

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