Dried flowers have a timeless beauty that can elevate any space with their soft, muted tones and natural charm. Whether you’ve dried flowers from your garden or are looking to preserve some special blooms, hanging dried flowers on your wall offers a unique and personal touch to your home decor. This step-by-step guide will walk you through the process of preparing, drying, and hanging flowers on your wall, providing practical tips for creating a beautiful floral display that lasts for months.
Why Hang Dried Flowers on the Wall?
Before diving into the process, it’s important to understand why hanging dried flowers can be such a lovely addition to your home. Dried flowers can add a rustic or vintage feel to any room, from a cozy living space to a tranquil bedroom. Here are a few reasons why dried flowers are great for wall decor:
Long-lasting Beauty: Unlike fresh flowers, dried flowers last for months or even years, allowing you to enjoy their beauty without the need for constant maintenance.
Eco-friendly: Dried flowers are an excellent way to preserve the flowers from your garden, reducing waste while showcasing nature’s beauty.
Customizable: You can choose from a wide variety of flowers, colors, and arrangements, making it easy to create a display that matches your personal style.
Selecting the Right Flowers for Drying and Hanging
Not all flowers are ideal for drying and hanging, so it’s important to choose blooms that will retain their shape and color over time. Some flowers dry better than others, and the right choice will depend on the look you’re going for and the type of space you have.
Best Flowers for Drying:
Lavender: Its delicate purple spikes hold up well when dried, and its scent can add an extra dimension to your decor.
Roses: Dried roses, especially those with vibrant colors, can bring a vintage, romantic touch to your space.
Baby’s Breath: This delicate flower dries well and creates a light, airy feel when displayed.
Eucalyptus: Known for its soft gray-green color, eucalyptus adds texture and elegance to any dried flower arrangement.
Sunflowers: Their large, sturdy heads are perfect for drying and can make a bold statement on the wall.
How To Hang Dried Flowers On Wall?
Properly drying your flowers is key to ensuring they maintain their shape and beauty for months to come. There are a few different methods you can use depending on your preferences and the type of flower.
Air Drying: The Traditional Method
Air drying is the most common and natural way to dry flowers. Here’s how you can do it:
Cut the Flowers: Choose flowers that are not overly ripe and cut them when they’re in full bloom. Use clean scissors or pruning shears, and make sure to cut the stems at an angle to increase water absorption.
Tie the Stems Together: Gather your flowers into small bunches, tying the stems together with a string or rubber band. Make sure the flowers are not too packed together to allow for proper air circulation.
Hang Upside Down: Hang your flower bunches upside down in a warm, dry, and well-ventilated area. A dark, cool space is ideal, as sunlight can fade the colors of the flowers. Common spots for drying flowers include attics, closets, or any room with a dry environment.
Drying Time: Depending on the type of flowers, it can take anywhere from one to three weeks for them to fully dry. You’ll know they’re ready when the stems are brittle, and the flowers feel papery and crisp to the touch.
Pressing Flowers: For a Flat Look
For a more compact and pressed look, you can press your flowers before hanging them. This method is best for smaller flowers or petals that you want to preserve flat. Here’s how:
Prepare the Flowers: Choose flowers that have thin, flat petals, such as pansies or violets.
Place Between Paper: Lay the flowers flat between two pieces of absorbent paper (like parchment or wax paper) to protect them from damage.
Press the Flowers: Use a heavy book or a flower press to apply even pressure. Leave them for 1-2 weeks, checking periodically for drying progress.
Pressed flowers work beautifully in framed arrangements or in glass jars and can add a unique, vintage feel to your wall.
Using a Dehydrator: A Faster Option
If you need to dry your flowers more quickly, a food dehydrator can be an effective solution. Set the dehydrator to a low temperature (around 95°F or 35°C) and allow the flowers to dry for several hours. While this method can dry flowers more rapidly, it may not preserve the delicate shapes and colors as well as air drying.
Preparing Dried Flowers for Wall Display
Once your flowers are completely dry, it’s time to prepare them for hanging. This part of the process requires a bit of creativity and planning to ensure the flowers are displayed in a way that complements your space.
Trim the Stems
Most dried flowers will need to have their stems trimmed to the desired length. You can use sharp garden shears or pruning scissors to cut the stems to about 6–8 inches, depending on how far you want the flowers to hang from the wall.
Arrange the Flowers
Before hanging them, try arranging your dried flowers to see how they look together. You can create a balanced arrangement, place them in clusters, or go for a more scattered, free-form look. If you’re not sure, start with a small grouping of flowers and add to it as you go.
Prepare the Hanging Materials
Depending on the style you’re going for, you’ll need a variety of hanging materials. Some options include:
Twine or String: Twine or string is an easy and rustic way to hang dried flowers. Use a length of twine to tie around the stems, leaving enough slack to drape the flowers gracefully.
Wire: Floral wire can provide additional support for heavier flower heads, like sunflowers. Wrap the wire securely around the stems and bend it into a loop for easy hanging.
Frames: For pressed flowers or small bunches, a frame can provide structure and make the display more polished. Use a simple shadow box frame or create a DIY floral frame.
Hooks: For larger or heavier flower arrangements, you may want to use small hooks to suspend the flowers from the wall.
How to Hang Dried Flowers on Your Wall
Now that you’ve prepared the flowers and selected your hanging materials, it’s time to display them. Here are some ideas for hanging dried flowers on the wall:
Simple Bunches
If you’re going for a more rustic or boho look, simple bunches of dried flowers tied with twine or string can be hung from a nail or hook. Space them evenly or in a staggered pattern along the wall to create visual interest.
Framed Flower Art
For a more polished look, you can press your flowers or arrange them in small bunches and frame them. Simply place the flowers in a frame with a glass cover to preserve their beauty. This option works well for smaller flowers or if you want to create a gallery wall of floral art.
Hanging Bouquets
To create a vertical garden effect, hang a series of small dried flower bouquets in a row. Use twine, string, or wire to secure the flowers and hang them from hooks or nails on the wall. For added dimension, you can alternate the length of the bouquets.
Floral Mobile
For a whimsical, floating effect, create a floral mobile using lightweight dried flowers. Attach the flowers to a branch, hoop, or wooden dowel using wire or string, and hang it from the ceiling. This works well for rooms with high ceilings or as a focal piece in a living room or entryway.
DIY Floral Garland
For a softer, more delicate display, you can create a floral garland by stringing small dried flowers onto a length of twine or wire. Drape the garland across your wall for an enchanting, natural feel.
Maintaining Your Dried Flower Display
Once your dried flowers are hung on the wall, it’s important to care for them to keep them looking their best:
Avoid Direct Sunlight: Dried flowers can fade when exposed to direct sunlight, so try to hang them in areas where they won’t be in constant sunlight.
Dust Regularly: Use a soft brush or compressed air to remove dust from your dried flowers. Regular dusting will help maintain their appearance without damaging the petals.
Check for Damage: Occasionally inspect your dried flower display for any signs of damage or brittleness. If any flowers have become too fragile, replace them with fresh dried blooms.
Conclusion
Hanging dried flowers on your wall is an easy and creative way to bring the beauty of nature indoors. Whether you prefer a minimalist look with simple bunches or a more elaborate arrangement in a frame or garland, the possibilities are endless. With the right flowers, proper drying techniques, and thoughtful arrangements, you can create a stunning and long-lasting floral display that will brighten your space for months to come.
