10 DIY Unique Dried Flower Decor Ideas

Don't know what to do with your old, wilted bouquet? Take a peak at these 10 DIY crafts!

Sydney Munroe

decor · 5 min

Flowers are one of the most common gifts to receive for nearly every celebration and holiday, and as much as we love them, what happens after a week or so? They inevitably wilt and get thrown in the trash like we never had them to begin with. In a world of single-use possessions, why not think outside the box to repurpose something so timelessly beautiful?

Here, I'll show you how to give a second life to those cherished blossoms so you can keep them longer than ever before!

10 DIY Unique Dried Flower Decor Ideas:

1. Hang Them Individually

flowers on wall — Image Source: Zublease on *Instagram*

Separating your bouquet into individual pieces of beauty not only brightens up the room with splashes of color but also makes space appear bigger than it is, which can be particularly useful for those in tinier apartment settings. You may need to trim the stem or leaves but the only materials you'll need, besides flowers, is tape! This idea makes for a super easy, cheap way to liven up your home.

2. Save For a Romantic Surprise

flower bath — Image Source: Ava Sol on *Unsplash*

Plucking off each and every flower petal may sound tedious but saving them for a romantic night will be well worth it! Sprinkle them across the floor, on your bed, couch, or even in a hot bubble bath, with some ambient lighting it'll be sure to surprise your partner. Don't have a partner? No Problem! Toss some petals, Epsom salts, and body wash into a warm bath and indulge in a mini spa night.

3. Combine With Resin

flower resin board — Image Source: NotSoDesign.co on *Instagram*

This is definitely one of the most creative outlets I've seen for utilizing dried flowers. The combination of the elegant white petals, softwood tones, and smooth resin pour deeply awakens any cottagecore fantasies you might have. The product is absolutely gorgeous and can still be used for day-to-day cutting, as long as it's washed by hand.

4. Bake With Them

flower cake — Image Source: Loria Stern on *Instagram*

Get ready to blow everybody away with stunningly original and natural cake designs. As brilliant as these cakes look, it isn't too difficult to replicate. All you need to do is place some edible flowers under a heavy book, the constant weight of the book will flatten the buds, stick them onto whatever flavor cake you've made, and voila! Instant dazzling dessert.

5. Add to Drinks

flower drink — Image Source: Ornella Binni on *Unsplash*

Adding flowers to any drink will definitely raise the spring vibes in your home, no matter what the current season is. Taking a few lilac sprigs or lavender buds and sprinkling them into cold drinks, like lemonade or iced tea, will give it that little extra something you never knew you craved. Some enchanting teas to make on your own could simply be pairing chamomile, dandelion, violet, sunflower, elderflower, or red clover with some hot water and honey!

6. Make a Body Oil

We all know healthy eating helps our bodies on the inside, but how do we help our bodies on the outside? Home-made, fragrance-free body oils are some of the most nourishing methods used to treat your skin how it deserves. Using base oils like olive, sweet almond, coconut, or black castor and infusing wholesome herbs and flowers for up to two weeks creates an organic source of deep moisturization with the added benefits of the plant ally you've chosen to infuse.

7. Braid Them Into Your Hair

flower in braids — Image Source: Melissa Mjoen on *Unsplash*

Spicing up your hair by adding adorable flowers is an absolute must, especially during spring and summer. Using flowers with thinner, more flexible stems is going to be the best option for this. One of the wonderful things about adding flowers to your hair is anyone can do it! If your hair seems too short to braid, just slide in a bobby pin to hold it in place.

8. Press and Frame Them

pressed flowers — Image Source: my.flower.peace on *Instagram*

A timeless piece of art. Encapsulating flowers between pieces of glass preserves them for years if done correctly. It's such a remarkably special thing to be able to essentially stop time in a small area, and retain all the celebration, appreciation, and beauty, for future finding. For the best minimalist yet cozy look try taking a look at local second-hand shops for antique frames.

9. Make a Simmer Pot

Pluck the petals from your bouquet, then add them into a pot of water, and allow it to simmer for a few hours on your stovetop. The combination of opening up some windows to generate a gentle breeze through the house while simmering the flowers will relax and de-stress your mind like no other.

10. Crush Them Into Your Garden

lady gardening — Image Source: chestnutschoolherbs on *Instagram*

If you don't connect with any of the ideas so far, the next best route is to give them back to the earth. Chop up the bouquet and mix it into a compost bin or churn it into the soil beneath your plants. If you don't have an outside garden you can also add the mixture to inside potted plants.

If you're deciding to ingest flowers or use them topically always make sure they haven't been sprayed with pesticides or preservatives to keep them looking fresh. In conjunction with using organic, non-sprayed plants, research what flower they are and the best way to use them. Testing to see if you have any allergies to any specific flower group is another great tip to keep in mind before creating any pastries, drinks, or oils.

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Opinions and Perspectives

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ZinniaJ 3 years ago

The hot bath with petals is so relaxing! I add some dried lavender and chamomile too for extra calm vibes.

CelestialPulse 3 years ago

Love turning dried flowers into bookmarks. They make reading even more special.

LostAstronaut 3 years ago

Does anyone know if these preservation methods work with all types of flowers? My orchids always seem to fall apart when drying.

PhantomCipher 3 years ago

I appreciate how these suggestions help reduce waste while creating something beautiful.

Kelsey-Fleming 3 years ago

Never would have thought of the cutting board idea. It's like functional art for your kitchen.

Aspen_Starlit 3 years ago

These ideas are great but remember some flowers dry better than others. Roses and lavender are usually foolproof.

AvaMarie_07 3 years ago

Tried the hair braiding technique for a festival. Felt like a woodland fairy all day!

Earth-To-Table_01 3 years ago

The framing idea is lovely but make sure to use UV-protected glass or the colors will fade quickly.

LilithM 3 years ago

Started using dried flowers in my art projects. They add such a unique organic element to paintings.

CelesteBishop 3 years ago

I find the pressing method works best with smaller, delicate flowers. Larger blooms can get moldy if you're not careful.

Riley_Joyful 3 years ago

People really underestimate how long dried flowers can last. I have some that are still beautiful after 5 years.

Miranda-Gomez 3 years ago

Made those flower petal bath salts as gifts last Christmas. Everyone loved them!

Bernstein_Bulletin 3 years ago

Loving how these ideas range from simple to complex. There's something for everyone regardless of skill level.

ElowenH 3 years ago

The drink garnishing idea is perfect for summer parties! My guests always ask about the flowers in their cocktails.

SolarNova 3 years ago

These ideas are great for wedding mementos. Wish I had known about them when I got married.

LydiaRussell 3 years ago

Has anyone tried preserving whole bouquets? Individual flowers are nice but I'd love to keep entire arrangements.

PlantBasedJoy 3 years ago

Just be careful with the simmer pot idea. I forgot about mine once and nearly started a fire.

DylanR 3 years ago

The resin projects look amazing but the materials are so expensive. Wish there was a more affordable alternative.

Lang_Ledger 3 years ago

Never thought about crushing them into garden soil. That's brilliantly simple!

LorelaiS 3 years ago

I mix dried flower petals into homemade candles. They look beautiful when the wax is clear.

Sarah 3 years ago

Anyone else find it therapeutic to dry and preserve flowers? It's become my favorite weekend activity.

Emily 3 years ago

The bath petal idea is so luxurious! I treated myself to this and felt like royalty.

EllaMarie 3 years ago

Started pressing flowers from every special occasion. Now I have this amazing collection of memories in frames.

Angelina_Sunlight 3 years ago

What about allergies though? Some of these ideas might not work for everyone.

CodeBreak3r 3 years ago

The natural drying process retains such beautiful colors. My hydrangeas turned these amazing vintage shades of blue and purple.

McNary_Musings 3 years ago

These are beautiful ideas but please research flower types carefully. My cat got sick from some dried lilies I had hanging.

FutureWaveX 3 years ago

I'm surprised potpourri isn't mentioned. It's classic and effective for using dried flowers.

Robinson_Review 3 years ago

The article doesn't mention it, but silica gel is great for drying flowers while preserving their color.

LostSignalX 3 years ago

Made the mistake of using flowers from a florist for tea once. Learned the hard way about pesticides. Grow your own if you plan to consume them!

ParallelUniverse 3 years ago

Can we talk about how stunning those flower-pressed cakes look? They're like little works of art!

IndiaJ 4 years ago

Love how eco-friendly these ideas are. We really need to move away from the throwaway culture.

DarkCodeX 4 years ago

I tried making the body oil and it's amazing! Just make sure to strain the flowers out completely or it can go bad quickly.

TianaM 4 years ago

These ideas are nice but seem time-consuming. Sometimes it's okay to just enjoy flowers while they're fresh and let them go.

Healing-Haven_888 4 years ago

The simmer pot idea sounds lovely but I'm wondering if dried flowers would have the same fragrance as fresh ones?

Genesis-Cooper 4 years ago

Actually, if you weave them in properly and use hairspray, they can last all day. I did this for my sister's wedding and it worked beautifully.

Isikoff_Insights 4 years ago

Not sure about braiding flowers into hair. Wouldn't they just fall out or get crushed?

JunoH 4 years ago

I've found that pressing flowers between book pages works better than using a flower press. Just make sure to use wax paper to protect the pages.

Kristin-Bush 4 years ago

The resin cutting board looks gorgeous but seems really advanced. Are there any beginner-friendly resin projects we could try first?

EdenB 4 years ago

Tried the romantic petal idea for my anniversary. My partner loved it! Pro tip: put a sheet down first for easier cleanup.

MiaSparkles 4 years ago

Anyone else worried about dust collecting on hanging dried flowers? I love the look but practical concerns are holding me back.

Motivation_Daily_101 4 years ago

These are wonderful ideas for preserving special memories. I saved flowers from my grandmother's funeral this way and now have a beautiful reminder of her.

Stargazer101 4 years ago

In my experience, it takes about 2-3 weeks for flowers to dry completely when hanging them upside down in a dark, dry place.

PlantBased-Joy_99 4 years ago

I'm curious about the drying process. How long should we wait before using flowers in these projects?

LostDataX 4 years ago

A word of caution about the cake decorating idea. Make sure to properly identify flowers before using them in food. Some common flowers can be toxic.

Scarlett 4 years ago

The body oil suggestion is interesting. I've made some with lavender and it's become my favorite moisturizer. Much better than store-bought stuff.

CyberGlitch 4 years ago

I absolutely disagree about composting being the best option. These creative ideas give new life to beautiful memories. I still have my wedding bouquet pressed in a frame.

Michael-Patrick 4 years ago

While these ideas are lovely, I think composting is still the most practical solution. It's a natural cycle and helps grow new flowers.

Alexa 4 years ago

You have to be super careful with the resin projects. My first attempt was a total disaster because I didn't dry the flowers properly. They turned brown inside the resin.

Lily-Marie 4 years ago

Just tried the individual hanging method in my bedroom and it looks fantastic! The flowers dry so beautifully and it really does make the space feel bigger.

MindBodySoul 4 years ago

I'm concerned about using flowers in food and drinks. Even if they're organic, not all flowers are edible. We should be really careful about that.

Sophie_Blossom 4 years ago

The simmer pot idea sounds amazing. I tried it with some old roses and the scent filled my entire apartment. Such a great way to create a cozy atmosphere!

Bessie_Blossom 4 years ago

I love these creative ideas! I've always felt guilty throwing away wilted flowers. The resin cutting board is especially stunning, has anyone tried making something similar?