8 Creative Ways to Repurpose a Bouquet of Almost Dead Flowers

Flowers might be simple crafts of nature, but their ability to light up a room is undeniable. Flowers can hold meaningful memories if you received them for a special occasion.

As much joy as they bring in their prime, there's something sad about seeing flowers die. It feels like such a waste that something so beautiful is fading.

Instead of procrastinating for a few days and then tossing them in the trash, you can do something more productive with your dying flowers. Check out these great ideas to breathe new life into your dead flowers.

How to Re-purpose Dying and Dead Flowers

Your flowers can bring joy long after they die. Try these fun ideas.

1. Give Your Bouquet a Vintage Look

The simplest solution is to turn a live bouquet into a dried bouquet. With the right vase, dried flowers can have a beautiful vintage charm.

When your flowers start to die, toss out the water so it doesn't grow mold. Next, find a vase that has a retro look. A popular combination is a dried rose bouquet with a turquoise 50s-style vase.

2. Create Custom Art

Dried and pressed flowers can make great wall art. Try pressing the flowers before they get too dry and brittle. With a gentle touch, put them in frames that fit your room's style.

For an easy solution, use a single flower in each frame. Some people choose to get more creative, though. You can use dried petals to create an ornate arrangement in the frame.

You might think this only works if the flowers are a color that looks nice on your walls, but that's not true. It's easy to dye flowers to almost any color you want.

If you want to dye your flowers, you need to plan ahead, though. It's best to dye them while they still have some life left.

3. Stock Up for Other Decor Pieces

Pressing and framing are far from the only ways to use your old flowers in your decor.

One option is to use dried flower petals as vase fillers for silk flowers. They offer the volume you need to keep silk flowers in position. They provide a more natural and colorful look than artificial options like glass stones.

Another way to use your dried flower petals is to fill up shadow box frames. These frames are open at the top with space for you to put items into the frame.

There's a popular wedding trend today in which guests sign wooden hearts or similar small items and put them in this type of frame. You can fill your shadow box frames with petals instead.

Another great option is to use the petals as fillers for centerpieces on your dinner table. A simple fishbowl filled with dried flowers can create a beautiful look.

4. Scent It Up

Potpourri is one of the most popular ways to use dried flowers. While their vibrant looks may fade, their fresh scents remain for weeks.

No matter what type of flowers you have, you can customize the potpourri to your favorite scents. You can do something as simple as tossing the petals in a bowl or you can use a more complex potpourri recipe.

5. Use the Flowers to Clean

If you want a more direct way to get your flowers' scent into your home, you can use them to make cleaning supplies.

The most popular choice is flower-infused water. You start by boiling water, then dropping in the petals and letting them simmer until most of the color is gone from the petals.

At this point, remove the water from the heat and let it cool to room temperature. Finally, strain the water into a spritzer bottle and toss the remaining petals. You can use this to spritz bedclothes and furniture.

6. Build a Hairpiece

Putting flowers in your hair is all the rage in the fashion world, and it's not limited to fresh flowers.
The simplest option is to use a bobby pin to secure each flower in your hair. You can place the flowers behind your ear or around the edge of a bun or ponytail.

Another great tip is to weave your flowers into a halo-like accessory. It works best if you do this while the flowers still have some life in them. You can place the halo on top of your head and use bobby pins to keep it in place.

If you're a bigger fan of headbands, you can use your dried flowers for this as well. Use a basic headband and twist the flowers around it or attach them with craft glue. Be careful to let the glue dry and cure before you wear the headband.

7. Make Jewelry

If you're a crafter, you can get a bit more ambitious with your dried flowers. While there are specialized professionals who can press flowers into beads, there's another option you can do at home.

All you need to do is submerge the flower in epoxy resin. You can use a mold and shape the resin to the size and shape you want. It's easy to use this method to create necklace pendants with a unique twist.

8. Freshen Your Drawers

Some drawers seem to have a stale smell no matter how often you clean them. For a natural solution, try using your dried flowers to freshen the scent.

All you need to do is sprinkle a few petals in the back of your drawer. The scent will be just strong enough to freshen the drawer without being overwhelming.

Upcycling Your Dying Flowers

When they're fresh and supple, floral bouquets can celebrate a special occasion or put a smile on anyone's face. You don't have to toss out dead flowers as soon as they start losing their luster. The crafts and ideas above can help you get every bit of joy you can from your bouquet.

If it's time for a fresh new bouquet for your home or to give as a gift, shop our flower selection.