Common Mistakes to Avoid When Decorating with Dried Flowers

There is a fine line between a stunning, boho-chic dried flower arrangement and a dusty corner that feels a bit... neglected. We’ve all been there: you buy a beautiful bundle of dried flowers online, place them in a vase, and somehow, the vibe just feels off.

While dried flower decor is celebrated for its low-maintenance and long-lasting appeal, styling these delicate botanicals is an art form with its own set of "hidden" rules. From choosing the wrong scale for your room to neglecting the importance of humidity and light, small errors can quickly diminish the beauty of your favorite stems.

If your arrangements aren't quite hitting the mark, don't worry. In this guide, we break down common mistakes to avoid when decorating with dried flowers so you can stop guessing and start styling with confidence.

What you’ll discover in this post:

The "Placement Pitfalls": Why where you put your flowers matters more than you think.

Pro-Style Secrets: How to avoid the "flat" look and create depth and texture.

Your Step-by-Step Selection Guide: How to choose the perfect types of dried flowers that actually complement your existing home aesthetic.

Mistake 1 – Choosing Dried Flowers That Don’t Match Your Home Aesthetic

It's easy to purchase dried flowers that don't align with your personal taste and style. To help you find exactly what you're looking for, Coastal Habitat offers our "Speak to Our Floral Stylist" program. Simply send us a picture of your vase and home, and one of our experts will assist you in selecting the perfect dried flowers to complement your home and style.

Mistake 2 – Using Old or Poor-Quality Dried Flowers

At Coastal Habitat, we prioritize freshness. We dry our flowers weekly and replenish our stock every two weeks to guarantee that you receive the highest quality of dried flowers. This commitment ensures your dried flowers will last you for 8 months to a year. Be cautious when purchasing less expensive dried flowers; they may be old stock, which means they are already brittle, musky, and will only last for a few days.

Mistake 3 – Overstuffing the Arrangement

A common error when creating dried floral arrangements is overstuffing them. This often leads to a cluttered, messy appearance, not achieving the desired elegant aesthetic, and can result in broken or smushed blooms. To help you achieve a beautiful display, we provide complimentary styling advice. Alternatively, you can select from our range of pre-curated bouquets and bunches, ensuring your dried flowers are presented as a true piece of art.

Mistake 4 – Not Pairing the Right Vase with the Right Flowers

You might wonder what flowers to choose to go with your new vase. Choosing the right flowers ultimately comes down to considering proportions. For a good arrangement, a general thumb rule is that the vase should measure between 1/3 and 1/2 of the stem's height.

Vase Pairing Guide:

• Narrow-neck vases: Ideal for single stems like bunny tails

• Cylindrical vases: Best for tall, structured blooms, such as pampas or purple statice.

• Fishbowl vases: Suitable for voluminous flowers, like hydrangeas.

The 3-5-8 rule, a principle rooted in the Fibonacci sequence for achieving natural balance in floral design, suggests that an arrangement should ideally incorporate 3 varieties of focal flowers, 5 stems of greenery, and 8 stems of filler flowers.

Mistake 5 – Placing Dried Flowers in Direct Sunlight

Dried flowers can wilt, lose their colour, and become brittle when kept in direct sunlight. It decreases their life span rapidly.

Mistake 6 – Ignoring Dust and Basic Maintenance

To increase the longevity of the dried flowers, we must dust them from time to time and ensure that they are kept in a cool, well-ventilated, and dry area. 

Mistake 7 – Not Balancing Textures and Colours

An unbalanced floral arrangement will look shabby and not create any visual interest. To create a balanced dried flower arrangement - mix soft, airy textures (pampas, baby's breath) with rigid, rougher ones (sunpalms, billy balls). Create depth by layering denser foliage like filler grass beneath lighter flowers and incorporating trailing elements for movement. It is very important to balance the positive and negative space to give structure to your arrangement. Use complementary colors for interest, and add dyed/bleached items for bright pops if needed. Prevent color fading by storing arrangements away from direct sunlight and humidity. 

Mistake 8 – Not Considering Room Size

When decorating with dried flowers, the size of the floral arrangement should be proportionate to the room. Place medium to large-sized arrangements for expansive spaces, such as living and dining areas. Alternatively, smaller arrangements are ideal for more intimate settings like bedside tables, study areas, or office desks.

Mistake 10 – Forgetting Seasonal Refresh

Dried flowers offer seasonal variety, reflecting their harvest times. For instance, seasonal, freshly dried options like daisies, purple statice, gomprena, straw flower, and bunny tails are best purchased when in season. Winter brings in new batches of pinecones, cinnamon sticks, Christmas berries, and grasses, ideal for the colder months. To ensure your decor keeps pace with the seasons—like summer, spring, autumn, and winter—it's recommended to refresh your florals every six months.

Conclusion

To ensure your dried flower arrangements have a long lifespan and a stylish flair to your home, be sure to avoid these common pitfalls when decorating. Avoiding these mistakes will help your flowers last longer and keep your home looking stylish all year round!