What to Do with Dried Roses: 20 Pretty Ways to Use Preserved Blooms
If you're wondering what to do with dried roses, you can turn them into simple home decor and meaningful keepsakes like a tied bouquet, a vintage frame wreath, potpourri, a shadow box display, or a rose garland with twinkle lights. These ideas work for preserved blooms from weddings, holidays, or special gifts and help you enjoy them long after they've dried.
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If you've already dried your roses using the methods from my How to Preserve Roses at Home post, you're probably staring at those beautiful blooms thinking… now what? They're delicate, they're full of memories, and the last thing you want is for them to end up stuffed in a box somewhere "for later."
Whether your roses are from a wedding bouquet, a special occasion, or a thoughtful gift you couldn't throw away, there are so many creative ways to give them a second life.
In this post, I'm sharing 20 easy and meaningful ideas for what to do with dried roses, from pretty home decor projects (like wreaths and garlands) to simple keepsakes you'll actually want to display. Some use full blooms, some use petals, and all of them help you enjoy those preserved roses long after they've dried.
Ready to turn your dried roses into something beautiful? Let's dive in.
Jump to:
- Quick recap: How to preserve roses (so they keep their shape and color)
- 1. Tied nosegay
- 2. Frame wreath
- 3. Potpourri
- 4. Shadow box
- 5. Rose garland
- DIY rose garland with twinkle lights (how-to)
- Prefer quick ideas? Here are even more simple things to do with dried roses and petals.
- More floral craft projects to explore
Quick recap: How to preserve roses (so they keep their shape and color)
Before we dive into the creative projects, let's quickly recap the methods for preserving roses. In my previous post, How to Preserve Roses at Home: Easy Techniques Anyone Can Master, I shared four effective ways to dry your precious blooms:
- Hanging: The classic air-drying method, perfect for preserving entire bouquets.
- Oven-drying: A faster technique that works well for individual blooms or petals.
- Microwave drying: The quickest method, ideal for those short on time.
- Silica gel: The best option for maintaining the roses' shape and color.
Each method has its unique benefits, so choose the one that suits your needs and the look you're going for. Remember, the quality of your preserved roses will impact the final result of the projects we're about to explore.
Now that we've refreshed our memory on how to obtain those beautiful dried roses, let's get creative with them!
1. Tied nosegay
Perhaps the easiest way to display your dried roses is to collect them into a small bundle and tie them with a beautiful ribbon. This dried flower bouquet can be placed on a mantel or a shelf as a beautiful display. The roses in this design were dried using the Microwave drying method.
2. Frame wreath
One of my favorite wreaths to make is made on a vintage picture frame. This picture frame wreath below was made using dried roses that I preserved using the hang drying method. I combined dry roses with dried flowers and faux flowers to create this look. With my hot glue gun, I clustered the blooms to two of the corners and hung the wreath with a ribbon.
3. Potpourri
Add your roses or rose petals to your favorite dried flower potpourri. Use any drying method and mix the blooms and dry rose petals with a mixture of assorted dried flowers and place them in a jar. Add your favorite essential oil scent (8-10 drops) and cover for 7 days so the scent fragrance permeates the flowers. You can then transfer the potpourri to sachets or a decorative dish.
4. Shadow box
Designing your own dried rose shadow box is easy with this premade shadow box from Amazon. For this design, I used the roses and the greens that I had dried using Silica crystals. In addition to the 3 large dried roses and the 5 miniature dried spray roses, I used dried red plum and white faux cherry blossoms. Using my hot glue gun I started by clustering the large roses in the center. Then I added the leaves. Next the small roses then I filled in with dried plum and cherry blossoms to finish this unique dried flower piece of art.
5. Rose garland
Make this simple rose garland with the special roses you received from a loved one. This garland was made with spray roses which tend to be smaller but can easily be done with larger roses. This process is easier when the roses have not been dried yet (fresh flowers). Add these pretty twinkle lights to your garland or enjoy it as is.
DIY rose garland with twinkle lights (how-to)
Supplies you'll need
Materials
- 3 stems fresh spray roses (each stem has 3-4 blooms)
- White or gray thread
- Sewing needle
- Battery-operated twinkle lights
- 3 AA batteries
Tools
- Floral design knife or scissors
Step-by-step instructions
- Remove the rose blooms
Collect your supplies, then use scissors or a floral knife to remove the rose heads (blooms) from the stems. Keep the green bulb at the base of each bloom (the rounded part under the petals), since that's what you'll thread through.
- Measure and cut your thread
Measure how long you want your garland to be. This should match the length of your twinkle light strand. Cut a piece of thread double that length. Thread it through your needle and tie a knot at the end, so your thread is doubled for extra strength.
- Thread the first rose
Pierce the first rose bloom through the green bulb and pull the needle and thread all the way through. Leave about 4 inches of thread between the knot and the first rose so you'll have extra thread for hanging the garland later.
- Secure the rose with a knot
Thread the needle through the bulb again to create a knot around the base of the rose so it stays in place.
- Add the remaining roses
Repeat the threading process with the rest of the rose blooms, leaving about 4 inches of space between each one. Continue until the garland feels full.
- Wrap the garland around the twinkle lights
Lay the rose garland in a straight line, then lay the twinkle light strand right next to it.
Working one rose at a time, wrap the garland around the light strand so the roses sit along the lights evenly.
(The lights are supported by thin wire, which helps hold the garland in place. Gray thread blends especially well and is almost invisible.) - Add batteries and hang your garland
Insert the batteries if you haven't already, then hang your rose garland anywhere you want to enjoy it, like:
a mantel
shelves
a mirror
or a bed frame - Let the roses dry naturally
Let the roses dry right on the garland. Once they're fully dried, you'll have a preserved rose garland you can keep as a keepsake or seasonal decor.
Notes and tips: If your roses are already dried: don't try to thread them. Dried roses become hard and brittle. Instead, use thicker twine or ribbon and attach the roses with a hot glue gun.
Prefer quick ideas? Here are even more simple things to do with dried roses and petals.
Dried roses are versatile and can be used in many creative ways beyond our main projects. Here's a list of additional ideas to inspire you to make the most of your preserved petals and blooms:
- Create homemade rose water for a natural facial toner
- Craft DIY rose-scented bath salts for a luxurious warm bath
- Make a beautiful rose-scented rose petal candle
- Design rose bath bombs or a simple rose petal bath for a spa-like experience
- Infuse rose body oil for natural beauty products
- Craft a delicate flower crown for special occasions
- Use dried petals as natural confetti for eco-friendly celebrations
- Make rose-infused oil for aromatherapy or cooking
- Create your own rose perfume with essential oils
- Use dried petals in homemade face masks or soaps for a natural skincare routine
- Decorate apothecary jars with layers of colorful rose petals
- Make rose petal-infused honey for a touch of elegance in your tea
- Create pressed flower art in glass frames
- Use dried petals to decorate handmade paper
- Make sachets with dried rose buds for a fresh rose smell in drawers
These creative ideas offer various ways to enjoy the beauty and fragrance of your dried roses long after they've been preserved. Whether you're looking for decorative purposes, beauty products, or special gifts, there's a project here for every rose lover.
Thanks for visiting the blog today for What to Do with Dried Roses: 20 Easy Crafts for Preserved Blooms! If floral arrangements are your thing, be sure to visit my home floral design page where I cover both fresh and faux floral designs that you can create for your home.
Keep creating, friends!
