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When your once-vibrant blooms from Goshen Flower start to wilt, don’t be too quick to throw them away! Wondering what to do with dead flowers? With a little creativity, you can still enjoy their beauty and sentimental value. In fact, dead flowers can play a wonderful role in your life through chic home decor or DIY beauty projects. If you’re curious about how to repurpose old blooms, read on for eight imaginative and practical ideas.
Why Repurposing Dead Flowers Matters
Do you know that the average bouquet lasts about 7 to 12 days? Once they start to wilt, most people toss them, leading to unnecessary waste. But the great news is that dead flowers can still serve many creative purposes, reducing waste while adding beauty, fragrance, and even nostalgia to your life.
The Sentimental Power of Dead Flowers
Flowers often represent special moments—a wedding bouquet, a birthday gift, or just a thoughtful gesture. Instead of wondering what to do with dead flowers, repurposing them allows you to hold onto those memories for longer, transforming them into artful keepsakes.
8 Creative Ideas for What To Do With Dead Flowers
1. Create Pressed Flower Art
One of the easiest ways to repurpose dead flowers is by pressing them. Pressed flowers make stunning wall art, bookmarks, or even stationery. This works particularly well for keepsakes like wedding or anniversary flowers.
Steps:
- Place the flowers between parchment paper.
- Insert them into a heavy book and stack more books on top.
- Leave them for 2-3 weeks to dry and flatten.
- Use the pressed flowers to create unique framed art or personalized gifts.
2. Turn Them Into Candles
Wondering what to do with dead flowers that’s both practical and beautiful? Create DIY candles! Dried flower petals can be embedded into candles, turning them into elegant home decor pieces. While flowers won’t add fragrance, they’ll give your candles a touch of luxury.
Steps:
- Melt your candle wax and prepare the wick.
- Place the dried petals at the bottom of a mold.
- Pour the wax, let it cool, and enjoy your flower-filled candles.
3. DIY Potpourri for a Fresh Scent
A classic option for what to do with dead flowers is making potpourri. It’s perfect for freshening up your home and also makes a thoughtful, fragrant gift. Roses, lavender, and sunflowers are excellent for long-lasting potpourri.
What You’ll Need:
- Dried flower petals
- Essential oils (like lavender or eucalyptus)
- Fixatives (like cinnamon sticks or cloves)
Steps:
- Dry the petals in the oven at 250°F for about an hour.
- Add a few drops of your chosen essential oil.
- Display the potpourri in decorative bowls for a lovely, natural fragrance.
4. Make DIY Bath Salts
For those who love relaxation, creating floral bath salts is another great idea for what to do with dead flowers. Combining Epsom salts with dried petals will give your bath a luxurious, spa-like touch while easing sore muscles.
Ingredients:
- Epsom salts
- Dried flower petals (rose, chamomile, or lavender)
- Baking soda
- Essential oils (optional)
Steps:
- Mix the salts, baking soda, and dried petals in a jar.
- Add essential oils for an extra soothing effect.
- Pour into your bath and enjoy a relaxing soak.
5. Make Flower Petal Confetti
Flower petal confetti is a fantastic, eco-friendly option for events like weddings or birthdays. Instead of store-bought confetti, using dead flowers ensures a biodegradable, beautiful alternative.
Steps:
- Separate petals from the flowers.
- Dry the petals in the oven at a low temperature.
- Store them in a jar and use them as decorative confetti.
Pro Tip: Use vibrant flowers like roses or daisies for colorful, eye-catching confetti.
6. Compost Them
If you’re environmentally conscious, composting is one of the best things to do with dead flowers. While not as artistic as other methods, adding them to your compost pile will help nourish the soil, promoting new plant growth.
Steps:
- Separate the petals from stems and leaves.
- Ensure the flowers are free of synthetic materials like ribbons or floral foam.
- Add them to your compost bin to contribute to a greener environment.
7. Create a Dried Flower Wreath
A dried flower wreath is a creative way to repurpose your dead flowers. Wreaths aren’t just for the holidays—they can add natural charm to your front door or home decor year-round.
Steps:
- Start with a grapevine wreath base.
- Use floral wire to attach the dried flowers.
- Add greenery or additional decorative elements for a fuller look.
8. Use Flowers in Homemade Beauty Products
Looking for an eco-friendly beauty routine? Dead flowers can be used in various DIY beauty products. For instance, rose petals are excellent for scrubs due to their soothing and hydrating properties.
Steps to Make a Rose Scrub:
- Mix dried rose petals with sugar and coconut oil.
- Add a few drops of rosehip oil for additional skin benefits.
- Use the scrub to exfoliate in the shower, leaving your skin soft and glowing.
Transforming Dead Flowers into Beautiful Keepsakes
Now that you know what to do with dead flowers, the possibilities are endless. Whether you’re crafting unique home decor, soothing beauty products, or eco-friendly gifts, these ideas help reduce waste and add a personal, creative touch to your life.
At Goshen Flower, we believe that every bloom, even after wilting, can continue to bring beauty into your world. Explore our wide range of fresh bouquets for your next project or celebration.
For more creative floral ideas, visit our friends at Darcey Flowers and 800 Flower!
