The Ultimate Guide to Dried Flowers: Types, Benefits, Care Tips & Beautiful Décor Ideas

Dried flowers have quietly made their way back into modern homes, and it’s not hard to see why. They offer the charm of natural blooms without the constant upkeep that fresh flowers demand. With a little care, they hold their colour, shape, and beauty for months, sometimes even years, making them a practical choice for anyone who wants long-lasting décor.

What’s interesting is that dried flowers aren’t a new trend at all. They’ve been used for centuries in different cultures, preserved through simple techniques like air-drying, pressing, and sun-drying. Today, these age-old methods blend beautifully with contemporary interior styles, from minimal and Scandinavian to earthy, rustic, and coastal-inspired homes.

This guide walks you through the most popular types, their unique benefits, easy care tips, and inspiring ways to style them no matter your home aesthetic.

What Are Dried Flowers?

Dried flowers are real flowers that have been harvested and air-dried in a well shaded area to retain their shape, colour and make them long lasting. They are dried until all moisture has evaporated. It should be ensured that the flowers are completely dry as they might develop moulds if the process is not done properly. These flowers are often used by florists, event planners and resin artists for their projects. 

Why Are Dried Flowers So Popular?

Long-Lasting & Low-Maintenance Décor

Dried flowers are gaining popularity among event planners and homeowners. Event planners and decorators often favor them because they are cost-effective and reusable and low-maintainance, offering an advantage over fresh flowers. Dried flowers last you for months and sometimes even years unlike fresh flowers. They require minimal care, needing neither water nor sunlight. 

Sustainable & Eco-Friendly Choice

Dried flowers are a sustainable choice as they have a long lifespan and are easily bio-degradable. They require no water and are easy to maintain. For home owners, dried flowers are increasingly seen as a preferred sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to both fresh and artificial flowers.

Cost-Effective Alternative to Fresh Flowers

Fresh flowers require frequent replacement due to their short lifespan, leading to high costs for home decoration. A highly cost-effective alternative is our extensive range of dried flowers. They can last you for six months to a year, significantly cutting down on the expense of continuously purchasing fresh blooms. Our range of dried flowers is so vast that there is something for everyone. 

Perfect for All Seasons & Styles

Dried flowers last you all year round and come in a variety of colours ranging from neutrals to vivid pinks and reds. You can decorate your home with flowers that blend in with every season - bright yellows for summer to delicate pinks in spring and classic reds for Christmas. These long-lasting, versatile arrangements can be enjoyed now and reused year after year. 

Versatile Use in Home Décor, Events & Gifting

Dried flowers are highly versatile, offering sustainable, long-lasting beauty across various settings including homes and events. They also serve as wonderful gifts. Dried flowers when placed in vases on coffee, dining, console or bedside tables can make spaces look vibrant.

For events, dried flowers can be used both indoors and outdoors and they can be reused.  This minimises the cost of re-purchasing fresh flowers for every event, cutting down purchase costs. 

As gifts, dried flowers are a thoughtful and sustainable option for occasions like housewarmings, birthdays, and anniversaries. Their lasting nature beautifully symbolizes the strength, endurance, and longevity of a relationship.

Types of Dried Flowers You Should Know

Here are some of our most versatile and best selling flowers that you should know about 

Shola flowers: 

Handcrafted from the barks of shola plants, these flowers are available in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. Each piece is handcrafted to represent popular blooms such as roses, carnations, peonies and more. These are highly used by event planners for their durability and longevity. Shola flowers can last for over a year. They are also easily customisable as they can be easily dyed to any desired shade.

Bunny Tails (Lagurus Ovatus): 

Sourced from the north-eastern states of India, Bunny Tails are a delicate dried flower. They are available in a variety of colours. It makes an ideal choice for those new to dried flowers as it's easy to style making it a must-have.They can effortlessly be displayed on their own or incorporated into bouquets and arrangements. We offer a wide range of colours to complement any home decor.

Pampas: 

Dried Pampas Grass is one of the most popular dried florals ever. Be it weddings,events or home decor it has been seen everywhere. Dried Pampas Grass is featured in dreamy Pinterest weddings and dried flower arrangements. Pampas Grass is so versatile and easy to style - be it backdrops or vases. Here are some pampas grasses you can buy from us at Coastal Habitat.

Daisy: 

Dried daisy is sourced from the north eastern parts of India where they are dried using traditional drying techniques. It comes in a variety of colours and is a beautiful, delicate flower that will last you for about a year. It is seen in one of our popular bunches Dinner party bunch

Purple statice: 

Preserved purple statice is one of the most sought after bunches as it mimics fresh flowers. These flowers are preserved with special techniques to make them last you for 6-8 months. These flowers need no water and are absolutely gorgeous. 

Baby’s breath: 

Dried Gypsophila, more familiarly known as Dried Baby's Breath is a popular element used in floral arrangements. We love using Baby's Breath in our arrangements as they look as beautiful when dried or preserved. Its delicate appearance makes it a popular choice in bouquets particularly for weddings. We offer Dried Baby's Breath for wholesale purchase in a variety of colours.

Dried Lino bunch: 

Dried lino also known as flax seed grass is used as fillers in dried flower arrangements. We have them in a variety of colours like gold, baby pink, baby blue, silver and more.

Dried Bakuli Stem: 

Dried Bakuli Stem is a rare find which is made by drying bakuli seed pods from the small-flowered crape myrtle tree. They are handcrafted together to create stunning stems which are used in home decor. You can find these bakuli pods in different arrangements on the website.

Hydrangea: 

Preserved hydrangea are quite popular for gifting. These preserved hydrangea are high quality and last you for 6-8 months. The petals are soft just like real hydrangeas and they come in gorgeous bright colours. They look beautiful by themselves in a vase. You can find these hydrangeas on our website. 

Wheatgrass: 

Dried wheatgrass is beautiful by itself and comes in a golden brown colour. It adds a very rustic vibe to any space. They are very easy to style in vases and are also used as fillers in arrangements. You can see them in our Farmhouse bundle. 

Limonium: 

Dried Misty or Limonium is also known as sea lavender is another filler flower that can be used in the background of an arrangement or even in a bouquet. You can find it in our Citrine bouquet

Dried cotton: 

Dried cotton made from actual cotton plant stems is a decorative element that brings a rustic, cottagecore feel to any space. It’s fluffy cotton texture adds softness to any bouquet or arrangement.

Lavender stargrass: 

Dried lavender stargrass is used as fillers in a variety of arrangements and is quite popular in our lavender luxe arrangement.

Palms (Palm Spears, Sun Palms): 

Dried palms are extremely popular in weddings,events and backdrops. They come in a variety of shapes, colours and sizes. Large dried palms are used as a backdrop for other smaller flowers and they fill up empty spaces and give structure to arrangements. Here are some beautiful sun palms and palm spears.

Corn stem: 

Dried corn stems, with their pearly seeds, are an excellent choice for adding beautiful structure to any floral arrangement. They are most commonly available in white, as this color is considered the most appealing, and we have paired them with pampas grass to create a charming arrangement.

Benefits of Decorating With Dried Flowers

Stay Fresh-Looking for Months (or Years!)

Dried flowers are real flowers that offer lasting beauty for six months to a year. They have a significant advantage over fresh flowers that quickly wilt and die. Dried flower varieties such as purple statice, hydrangea, bunny tails, baby's breath, and daisy maintain their stunning appearance exceptionally well when dried.

Zero Water Needed (Easy maintenance)

Dried flowers require minimal maintenance. There's no need for watering; simply place them in a vase and they look gorgeous! To ensure they last long, occasionally dust or clean them gently with a dry cloth.

Perfect for Indian Climate

Dried flowers are long lasting and durable, perfect for the humid and challenging Indian climate. They are easy to store and ship for retailers as compared to fresh flowers that have a short lifespan. 

Pet-Friendly & Allergy-Friendly

Most varieties of dried flowers are pet friendly and non-toxic but it is recommended to keep them away from pets. 

Perfect for DIY Crafts, Centerpieces & Gifts

Dried flowers are excellent for various arts and crafts projects such as pressed flower art, resin art, and potpourri. They are frequently utilized in DIY photo frames and to create unique wall art. Furthermore, dried flowers can be crafted into stunning table centerpieces, like our Winter Table Decor.

For thoughtful and easy gifting, consider our vase and dried flower combinations, beautifully presented in bouquets, wraps, and bows. These make ideal wedding return favours or bridesmaid hampers.

How to Style Dried Flowers in Your Home

Dried flowers are a versatile decorating choice, suitable for both modern and traditional home aesthetics. We provide a diverse selection of dried flowers in various styles and colors.Here are some ways to incorporate them into your décor:

1. Vase Arrangements: Create a natural aesthetic by combining a mix of dried flowers and grasses in a vase. These arrangements look beautiful on console tables, coffee tables, side tables, or even in the bathroom.
   

2. Wall Decor: Our sun palms are perfect for wall décor, or you can order an assortment of flowers to create your own unique DIY wall arrangement, as demonstrated in the accompanying video.

Care Tips to Make Dried Flowers Last Longer

Dried flowers last you for long but you can care for them to make them last longer. To maximize the lifespan of your dried flowers, follow these simple care tips:

• Protect from Sun and Moisture: Keep your dried flowers away from direct, harsh sunlight to prevent rapid discoloration. Alternatively, avoid dark or enclosed spaces where lack of air circulation can lead to mold development.
• Optimal Environment: Place your flowers in a well-lit, aerated room, which helps prolong their life.
• Regular Cleaning: Dust them periodically with a gentle shake and wipe them carefully with a clean, dry cloth.
• Special Care for Grasses (e.g., Pampas): To restore fluffiness, gently shake the grasses, apply a light coat of hairspray, and then place them near sunlight for about 2–3 days.
  

Dried Flowers vs. Fresh Flowers: Which Should You Choose?

Dried flowers are better, cost-effective alternatives to fresh flowers due to the following reasons:

Where to Buy High-Quality Dried Flowers in India?

When it comes to buying dried flowers in India, the quality at Coastal Habitat is unmatched. We are one of the market leaders in this industry. We have the largest selection of dried flowers available in India with a manufacturing unit in place. If you’re wondering where to buy dried and preserved flowers, look no further - Coastal Habitat has everything you need.  

Conclusion

Dried flowers are one of the easiest ways to refresh your home without constant upkeep. They last for months, blend with every décor style, and bring a warm, natural charm to any corner of your space. Whether it’s pampas grass in the living room or a small bunch of bunny tails on your desk, even simple arrangements can make a big impact. With a little care and the right vase, dried flowers become a long-lasting décor element you’ll enjoy every day.