Nothing goes together better when decorating your house for fall than baskets and dried hydrangeas from your yard. Fall floral arrangements in baskets = fall.
I am sharing a quick, no-skills-needed way to display those arrangements in your home in a rustic, yet modern way.
This year, my decorations for fall are going to be EASY to do and/or create. Just enough to add that “warm and cozy” autumn has arrived feel to the house. :-)
I am also trying to use things I already have on hand or items that fit my budget. Like these hydrangeas that have now dried to a mix of brown, dusty pink and pale green since earlier in the summer.
As much as I love to buy new designer items to decorate for the change of seasons like this…
gorgeous oversize vase…
…or this large bowl style vase, both are way out of the price range I want to pay for a vase.
If I want to travel and do other fun things in life, I have to be realistic and find ways to save money when I decorate.
While out thrifting, I have been on the lookout for large white bowl style vases, but haven’t come across any. I haven’t even found one in the right size and shape that I could paint white.
I haven’t given up my search, but recently while at Walmart I found…
… this collapsible rattan tote style basket and got an idea.
When the basket is in its collapsed state, it is the size and shape bowl style vase for which I have been searching.
It may not be exactly what I want, but is making me happy for $12.00 until I can find a ceramic vase to display all the dried hydrangeas from my yard.
How to Make a Fall Decor Styled Basket Vase in Minutes
supplies needed:
- Collapsible rattan basket tote with a painted white bottom section
- Florist foam or block of Styrofoam saved from packaging (like TVs and microwaves)
- Cut dried hydrangeas – enough to fill the basket.
Time needed: 10 minutes.
- Place basket on work surface
Place the basket on a table or work surface and push it down into the collapsed position.
- Place a block of foam in basket
Place a block of foam that you have saved from packaging or florist foam in the center of the basket.
- Start pushing hydrangea stems into the foam
Starting in the center of the foam, start adding the cut stems of dried hydrangeas into the foam. Add the tallest into the center, subsequently working your way out to the edges of the block with shorter stems until you like the shape of the arrangement.
- All done!
Place dried hydrangea arrangement on table. I am using mine as a dining table centerpiece.
My fall floral arrangement in 10 minutes. Best part, since the basket is not really a vase I can reuse it someday as a tote, waste can or as a place to store stuff.
Have you started thinking about fall decorating yet?
- Purple and White Buffalo Check Napkins
- Orange Burlap Ruffle Edge Place Mats – Home Goods
Jan says
Ads!! Ack!! They slow down the site, they distract, they are obnoxious!! They open up even when you didn’t mean to click on them. They make a readers visit a real pain. Please remove. Please.
Diane Henkler says
Hi Jan –
I know some of the ads are annoying and I am working with my ad network to edit them so they are not so distracting. I wish I could run my blog without ads, but the monthly expenses to run the blog that I incur each month gets very costly and keeps going up. Without the ads I would not be able to afford the expenses I incur each month to keep my blog on the internet. Just know I am working on finding a nice in-between. :-)
Just know I am working on lessening them as I don’t want them to distract too much. :-)
Cyndi says
OMG, Diane! I have been eyeing this very same basket. I love it. I think you have made my mind up… I getting it!
Diane Henkler says
Hi Cyndi – I had been seeing the basket everywhere and didn’t think I had a use for it until I saw it in it’s collapsed state. :-)
Sharon H says
Very nice compromise, Diane!
Laura says
The dried hydrangeas look better in the basket than in the vases! The basket adds some nice texture to the arrangement. Now if I could just get hydrangeas to grow in Palm Springs……
Diane Henkler says
I agree – a perfect match. Maybe someday there will be a type of hydrangea that would tolerate the heat and little water. :-) The fake ones sold at places like Pottery Barn may be a way to have them in your home no matter what the climate.
1960s girl says
Hello. Beautiful bouquet! I love hydrangeas so much.
I have a question for you: my hydrangeas are still in bloom (not dried) and they are beautiful. Is it OK to cut a few flowers from the trees while they are still very fresh, or should I wait until they have dried?
It took about 2 years for the trees to get from merely looking like 2 thin branches to small trees with a lot of branches and flowers, I don’t want to ruin them for next summer. Thanks.
Diane Henkler says
Hi Chantal – I have been where you are right now in your hydrangea growing journey. You do not have to wait until they are dry to cut, but you do have to be careful how you cut the flowers off their stems. You don’t want to cut off next year’s buds. If you do – you may not get flowers next year.
When cutting the flowers – take the flower head in one hand and then with the other go down the stem until you see where there are new shoots branching out. Cut right above these shoots. These shoots are needed for next year. On my hydrangea, the new growth is only about 6″ from the flower head so my cut stems are not very long. I still make them work in an arrangement though by wiring them to wood skewers that I then use to press into the foam in the basket.
My dried hydrangeas are a little past where I would have liked them to be. I usually cut them right after the lose their color and turn a light green. I was away for 5 weeks this summer and missed that opportunity. Mine look very rustic – more brown, but I still love them.
Another thing I learned that I did wrong when I first started growing hydrangeas was that I was fertilizing them too much. Only fertilize once in the spring. If you do more – the plant won’t flower.
Cate says
Wow, Diane! What a lucky find, even if it’s only temporary. It look great!
Diane Henkler says
Thanks Cate – I am on a mission to find a large white vase like the ones in my inspiration photos. Hoping it is soon.
Margo says
My green hydrangea will not dry. I cut my strawberries and cream and have a beautiful bouquet drying, but the green just wilt. Does anyone know why?
Diane Henkler says
Hi Margo – I am not 100% sure about this, but it could be that you are cutting the flowers off too early. Some hydrangeas should start the drying process on the bush and then cut. If you cut and they wilt, you should wait a little longer before cutting by letting them dry on the bush and then test by cutting one flower head off each day or week until they don’t wilt. Once you cut and they are not wilting, just leave the cut stems in water and they will slowly dry completely and keep most of the green color.