There’s a set collection of flora we traditionally associate with Christmas: fir trees, mistletoe, holly, poinsettia — the list goes on. However, anything, really, can conjure the festive season if you wield it in the right way, and dried floral arrangements are no different.
Just take designer and tastemaker Pearl Lowe, for example, who often uses dried flowers to decorate her home, but especially at Christmas. You'll find them in the tree, wrapped around the bannisters, but, perhaps most impressively, in bold displays across her fireplace mantels.
"My fireplace arrangements are very romantic, whimsical, and a little bit over the top. I love creating displays that feel abundant and nostalgic, almost as though they’ve been gathered over time," Pearl tells me. "I adore dried flowers for Christmas because they bring such warmth and nostalgia," the designer adds. "They have this lovely, muted palette that complements vintage Christmas décor perfectly. And of course, they last, so you can create something magical in December and enjoy it long after the festivities are over. There’s something incredibly charming about their faded beauty."
"The look is soft, layered, and vintage-inspired —nothing too perfect, always with a touch of faded glamour."
It's an idea that reflects wider trends in Christmas decor this year — who wants perfection? However, there is an art to the imperfect, especially if you want to create an installation as beautiful as Pearl's.
Pearl’s best advice for achieving the Christmas fireplace look? "Not to overthink it," she explains. “Let the flowers fall naturally and then build up the arrangement in loose layers.”
The antique-like, vintage color palette of browns, pinks, and reds complements her blush pink walls, while feeling soft and cohesive. "I always start with structure, adding in larger pieces like dried hydrangea heads, then weave in softer elements like amaranthus, honesty, and dried grasses," Pearl explains.
Adding ornaments and lights to a dried flower arrangement will help it to feel extra festive. Baubles with sparkly or reflective finishes work well to really lift the flowers and embrace their warm tones.
As for the flowers to supplement your design, Pearl's signatures are "hydrangeas, lunaria (honesty), amaranthus, nigella pods, and seeded eucalyptus. They create beautiful movement and depth without feeling too heavy."
"For background texture, I love using dried grasses, seed pods, and small sprigs of preserved eucalyptus. They add softness and movement behind the hero blooms without stealing the spotlight. Dried larkspur, oats, and broom also work beautifully for adding quiet structure and that lovely, airy feel."
While Pearl's design makes a large statement in the home, decorating with dried flowers can easily be recreated on a smaller scale. A bouquet in a vase or a small flower arrangement around a mirror can have a similar effect.
Below are some ideas and suggestions on how you can apply some of this whimsical Christmas charm to your own decorations.
As Pearl recommends, larkspur is always a great addition to a dried flower display when looking to add depth and texture.
The more Christmas decor you can add to your floral display, the better. These velvet decorations keep the same vintage feel as dried flowers and help to add that festive touch.
If your looking for something subtler than a full display, a bouquet would look excellent in this glass vase from MANGO. Coming in two colors that both compliment the earthy tones of dried flowers.
Dried floral arrangements look great around mirrors, and this vintage option has that antique coloring that would pair so well.
You don't have to select your flowers one-by-one — this artificial bouquet has complimentary stems chosen for you. All you need to do is construct the arrangement allowing it to be personal to your vase and placement.
Another vase option, this handmade piece is a also a neutral color, but this time brighter and with more textual depth.
This fir cone garland adds a bit of a sparkle and silver to your display while in keeping with the outdoorsy, rustic feel.
If you want your flowers to do all the talking then this off-white vase is a great pick - stylish enough to add to your display but simple enough not to distract.
Another recommendation from Pearl was preserved eucalyptus — this adds variation in shape and color to an arrangement and creates a good background for more delicate flowers.
The great thing about dried floral arrangements is that they can be reused beyond just the Christmas period, but if you prefer fresh blooms, why not find out exactly which unusual choices one of London's coolest florists is using for their Christmas table this year?