9 Creative Ways to Use Dried Flowers as Fall Décor

Dried Wreaths

A wreath made from dried florals will look beautiful on your front door for the entire season. "Depending on where you live, the sun can still hit your door for much of the day, and unlike a fresh wreath, dried flowers can stand up to the rays," says Meg Blancato, co-owner and vice president of Native Poppy. "We like to build wreaths on a grapevine base, using dried and preserved foliage like protea pods, gomphrena, broom blooms, curly willow, and branches of beech leaves in varied colors.

Dried Strawflowers Displayed in a Bowl

Strawflowers are a beautiful dried floral to use for fall. "A lot of dried flowers either shrink considerably or lose their vibrancy, but strawflowers almost completely retain their color and shape when they're dry," says Blancato. "These characteristics allow dried strawflowers to look fresh for months, or even years."

One of her favorite things to do with dried strawflowers is to display the blooms (sans stems) in small bowls. "Simply cut or gently break off the bloom heads at the top of the stem, and arrange them in a shallow bowl or dish. This is lovely on its own, but to take it up a notch, nestle pillar candles or votives in the middle of the flowers. Place them on your coffee table, entry table, or kitchen island amidst your other décor."

Dried Lotus Pods

Dried lotus pods are a beautiful addition to fall tablescapes. Their rich brown, almost-black hue pairs well with dark-toned roses or pumpkins, but they're intriguing enough to stand alone in a vase, too.

Outdoor Planters

To keep your outdoor planters looking beautiful throughout fall and well into winter, make arrangements with dried flowers rather than fresh ones. Rosehips—the result of spring roses turning to seed come autumn–make a beautiful addition to this display. The florals take on dramatic shapes, colors, and textures that embody the season.

Freeform Table Garland

Create a freeform garland from seasonal fruits, leaves, and dried flowers, which you can use as a centerpiece or as mantle décor. To make it, lay down magnolia leaves, brown-side up. Tuck in dried flowers, like amaranth, beneath leaves. Layer fruit (we used crab apples and pomegranates) down the center. Garnish with chestnuts, berries, and small autumn foliage on top.

Fresh-to-Dried Garlands

If you still want the beauty and fragrance of fresh flowers, consider choosing blooms that dry beautifully over time. "One of our favorite seasonal designs is a fresh and dried foliage garland that can be draped over a doorway, across a mantle, or along a dining table for a festive dinner," says Blancato. "Our fall garland features dried and preserved beech leaves, mixed with fresh branches of nandina and seeded eucalyptus, both of which will naturally dry over the season but remain beautiful in color and shape."

Glassware Embellishments

Elevate your glassware for fall dinner parties and cocktail hours by tying a small sprig of dried foliage to a coupe or champagne flute with velvet ribbon. "This simple embellishment goes a long way, and will wow your friends and family when you gather this season," says Blancato.

Place Settings

Add a festive touch to your fall tablescapes by displaying a small sprig of dried flowers, foliage, or fruit on each place setting. "Stick to simplicity by picking one to two ingredients to embellish with," says Blancato.

Dried Flower Bouquets

Dried flower bouquets are the perfect low-maintenance fall decoration, as they don't need to be watered like fresh bouquets do. "While dried and preserved flowers can stay virtually perfect for years, some varieties can be delicate and brittle," says Blancato. She recommends keeping them in low-traffic areas without a lot of moisture.

"If the colors of your dried flowers are too seasonal to keep them out year round, but you're not ready to say goodbye when it's time for a change, you can store them in a box or on a shelf in your garage and they will look just as beautiful next year," she says.