Surprise! Dried flowers are back and we know why. The flowers are easy to maintain, have a long shelf life and fit into any kind of interior. Get to know how to dry flowers and herbs in a fun and easy way. Dried flowers & herbs are beautiful to decorate and smell or taste delicious. You’ll be amazed what can be dried and how well the colors hold.

1. Dry a complete bouquet of flowers

It's special to save a bouquet of flowers with a special memory, such as a bridal bouquet or corsage. Preserve the bouquet in its totality by hanging it upside down in a dark and dry place. Make sure that the bouquet cannot be touched to prevent flowers from falling out. If you are also handy with flower arranging, you can also choose to detach the flowers, dry them individually on a drying rack and then tie them back together again. This way they stay beautiful longer. After drying, spray the bouquet with hairspray to keep it even longer! (Repeat 2 or 3 times after the hairspray has dried). Afterwards, place them in a nice vase, basket, watering can or glass cloche.

Tip: Start the drying process a maximum of 4 days after the wedding day/picking the flowers.

2. Making decorative or scented potpourri

First, air dry flowers by tying or clipping them upside down on a drying rack. Pick the leaves of the flower when it is completely dry. A mixture of different flower heads and leaves look beautiful as decoration in a double-sided (floating) glass frame; as a standing picture.

Or mix the dried leaves in a jar with a fine ethereal scented oil of your choice. If the filled pot is shaken daily it is at least another 6 weeks to enjoy homemade fragrant potpourri!

3. Framing dried flowers

1. Prepare the flower press: Unscrew the press and take off the top shelf. Put it and the wingnuts aside for a moment.
2. Place the piece of cardboard on the bottom shelf. This isn’t the first time you use the flower press? Then make sure that the cardboard is clean. Do you want to reduce the chance of the flowers turning brown? Then use an extra (blotting) paper on the cardboard.
3. Place the flower (leaves) on the cardboard or blotting paper. Leave some space between the flowers to dry.
4. Carefully lay a piece of cardboard on top of the flower without moving the composition. If you also use blotting paper, put it on top first.
5. Place the top wooden board over the screws and lower it gently. Then tighten the screws firmly and put the flower press in a dry place in the house.
6. Replace the cardboard or blotting paper every few days.
7. After a few weeks the flowers will be completely dry and flat. Unscrew the press and carefully remove the paper and/or cardboard. Lift the flowers with your fingers or tweezers. The dried flowers (leaves) are ready for use!

Dried flowers are a beautiful work of art behind glass and also one of the safest methods to store dried flowers and herbs. It is handy to use a toothpick or tweezers to easily get the flowers in the right place. Of course, you can also stick them on a white or coloured background and then place them in the frame.

4. Everything looks great under a glass chloche

Give dried flowers a (dust-free) stage in the house, place them in a glass chloche! This glass belle jar is provided with a clip so that the flower(s) can easily be attached. As a variation, the chloche can be fitted with a ground cover, such as a half bulb of moss, twigs, Spanish tillandsia moss, a layer of sand or pebbles. Also great: wrap the clip with paperstring.

Tip: Organize your own flower drying workshop or display beautiful dried flowers next to the do-it-yourself drying items.

Would you like to know more about the entire drying process? Read it in this blog >