Swap Flower Arrangements For A Beautiful Alternative That Lasts Longer

Decorating your home with flowers is a beautiful way to elevate a room and make your home design pop. And while it's true that flower arrangements can add a sprinkle of color or texture to your home's overall look, sadly fresh flowers don't last forever and can leave a mess behind when they go bad. Even roses, thought to be one of the hardiest of flowers when cut, are really only good for one week, maybe longer if meticulously cared for. That's a lot of work (and afterwards, a lot of clean up) for a design element that only lasts for such a short period of time. Cue the simple decor upgrade that'll instantly perk up your home, but with much better longevity (up to five years) and much less mess required: dried green foliage. 

Don't worry, this isn't the cheesy, artificial flowers of the 1990s, but rather an elevated, neutral addition to chicly (and easily) enhance your current house look. As Los Angeles-based celebrity designer Brittaney Elise puts it in an interview with Homes & Gardens, "I love dry foliage, just dry greenery. They last longer than flowers, and that shade of green — that olive, that neutral hunter green — is so pretty when it dries out. Larger branches like that are going to instantly transform a space," she said. Best of all, it's easy to do, and there's several options to achieve this decor look.

According to Elise, the best way to achieve the flower arrangement look without the hassle is to simply gather a bundle of greenery together. If you want to add drama, use larger branches for easy, eye-catching decor. As the branches dry out, the resulting beautiful, yet neutral, palette of green will complement any space. Eucalyptus, for instance, is an eye-catching yet low-maintenance option that brightens a room with hints of color and texture, while olive branches are a leafier option that dry down nicely. You can use both plants fresh and allow them to naturally dry before removing from water and arranging them in their dried form.

Faux branches can also simulate this look for even lower maintenance. Think small buds (if any) and slim or petite leaves like artificial ruscus sprays or ficus branches. Be sure to pair with a neutral vase to maintain that sleek elegance. For a seasonal update, swap your vase for a basket in the summer or a terracotta red or hunter green vase for fall and winter. Regardless of whether you use real dried branches or artificial sprigs, try the same hack to keep your bouquet standing straight up in your vase as you would with fresh flowers, and for a unique, horizontal accent arrangement, try this nifty pool noodle hack that makes arranging a piece of cake! These beautiful alternatives last much longer than flowers, but give the same decor edge.

Another great benefit to this dried foliage design trend is how accessible it is for every home decor budget. For D.I.Y. designers who love to save a dollar, one of the most economical ways to achieve this look is simply by purchasing eucalyptus at your local grocery store. Eucalyptus is a popular filler in floral arrangements since it's an evergreen plant, available all year and thus pretty inexpensive. Trader Joe's, for instance, has fresh bundles for less than $4 each. Eucalyptus stays fresh for up to two weeks (and gives off the most beautiful aroma), and you can dry it down afterwards for that dried greenery look. 

If you want to skip that middle step, just purchase eucalyptus pre-dried from craft stores like Michaels, with inexpensive options for around $10. Dried and preserved olive stems are also relatively affordable too. Sellers on Etsy start at under $30 per bundle, while retailer Anthropologie sells bunches for $48, a more luxurious option of course. Faux olive branches and eucalyptus springs are the most economical choice in a design budget for this look, however. "Fixer Upper" sweethearts, Chip and Joanna Gaines, also stock faux olive branches in their Magnolia online shop, clocking it at $14 per stem. With this look gaining popularity, dried greenery will become even easier to find and use in your home's decor!