Use code WIT15 to receive 15% off your holiday order with Bloomist. Valid through December 9, 2021.

With the holidays upon us, there aren’t enough hours in the day to do all the things I want to do. Last month, while revisiting season one of Full Bloom (anyone else obsessed with this show?), I decided to practice my floral arranging hobby and create my holiday centerpieces well before the holiday season began. I pulled together arrangements filled with juniper bushes, tallow berries, bell grass—all dried and preserved florals from Bloomist. The arrangements look as beautiful as the day I put them together.

Preserved florals are perfect for those of us who want to work ahead of time or keep arrangements looking fresh and beautiful for an entire season. Floral arranging can be an expensive hobby and, quite frankly, I’m not anywhere near the skill level where I can justify the costs of having fresh arrangements on display all the time. This is where preserved florals come in handy, and the selection and quality of preserved florals at Bloomist is beyond what you’ll find anywhere else.

When designing, I tend to keep three things in mind: height, mass, and pop. Much like designing a room, I focus on one element and use the other two to complement. 

• Height – Find a tall botanical that speaks to you and use a vessel that’s roughly 1/2 the size of the tallest pieces. (Any shorter will look unbalanced and any taller will make for a less visually impactful arrangement.) Start by placing a few tall florals in your vessel. If needed, trim sparingly (Bloomist uses preserved florals, so they already arrive in varying sizes!). If desired, add a few “mass” florals to add fullness.
  

• Mass – This type of greenery tends to look impressive, even when using a single floral element. Place and arrange different-sized pieces of the same floral in your vessel until you achieve a pleasing rounded shape. 

• Pop – This is the least tangible element to describe, but I like using a floral that has an expected something or other. Whether a unique texture or a bold color, this something will compel you to come in closer to inspect. I had so much fun incorporating Dried Natural Banksia into some of my floral designs.

Yes, it’s that simple. Using the three elements above, you can let your creativity run wild. 

Here are a few ideas to incorporate preserved florals in your holiday decorating (and save yourself some time in the process!): 

1. Create a centerpiece using Preserved Juniper Sprigs in a ceramic vase. The Natural Tadelakt Vase is the perfect height for the sprigs!
2. Incorporate white Tallow Berries in a simple twig wreath for a pop of color. (I’ve got the EcoFaux Red Ilex Berry Wreath hanging in my kitchen! It’ll last season after season.)
3. Incorporate small juniper clippings in your tablescape and napkin holders to add a lovely festive touch.

3. Instead of a large table centerpiece, cut sprigs of Dried Spray Millet and place in small hurricane glasses next to individual place settings. 
4. Arrange EcoFaux White Pine Boughs instead of garland on your mantle.

5. Invest in an Everlasting Wreath. If stored properly, it’ll look fresh season after season.

Preserved and faux florals are having a moment. I love the way the designs look and how long they last. Love the idea of dried florals, but not feeling your skills? Bloomist also has an array of stunning, pre-made dried floral bouquets.

P.S. In addition to the vast selection of quality dried and faux florals, Bloomist also has a broad array of artisan-made gifts!

Use code WIT15 to receive 15% off your holiday order with Bloomist. Valid through December 9, 2021.

Editor’s Note: This post was sponsored by Bloomist. The compensation we receive in exchange for placement on Wit & Delight is used to purchase props, hire a photographer, write/edit the blog post, and support the larger team behind Wit & Delight.

While compensation was received in exchange for coverage, all thoughts and opinions are always my own. Sponsored posts like these allow us to continue to develop dynamic unsponsored content. Thank you for supporting our partners!

Kate Arends

Kate is the founder of Wit & Delight. She is currently learning how to play tennis and is forever testing the boundaries of her creative muscle. Follow her on Instagram at @witanddelight_.