In the past, dried flowers were often pressed between the pages of books and kept as delicate, precious keepsakes. It’s quite beautiful when you think about it: a flower picked from the garden, gently tucked between pages of an old book. A quiet memory preserved, a little piece of nature captured forever in a moment of care and sentiment.
Dried flowers have recently made their way as a real competitor onto the floral scene, offering all the beauty and charm that flowers bring to a space but with more economical benefits, but the question remains: do they offer the same spirit as fresh flowers?
Why do you need flowers?
There’s no denying that fresh flowers bring the best of the outdoors inside. They make a space feel warm, peaceful and even a little magical, like a garden come to life. Whether you’re dining at a restaurant, staying in a hotel or visiting a gallery, an outrageous fresh floral display will capture your attention and add a sense of wonder and prestige far outweighing the time or (most of the time) the money that went into it.
Yet it’s interesting to consider that these places often need their flowers to last far longer than a single day, unlike events such as weddings, birthdays or black-tie functions, where beauty only needs to endure for the occasion itself.
Dried or preserved?
If the old book-pressing method was still the standard for dried flower production, we’d all be flocking to the florist for fresh blooms. But today's processes give us more options. Preserved flowers go through a process that enhances their colour, giving them vibrant, rich hues and a soft, flexible texture while keeping the fragrance.
Dried flowers, on the other hand, offer more muted tones and natural textures that can feel earthy and timeless. It takes a careful, creative eye to blend those tones and textures beautifully, so they feel intentional rather than overly rustic or gaudy. Both dried and preserved flowers have their place but for most occasions preserved flowers will offer more variety and longevity.
A colour study
Preserved and dried flowers often carry a darker, moodier feel than fresh flowers. They set a more bespoke and sophisticated tone than fresh floral arrangements, which tend to feel softer, lighter and more whimsical in their palette. Of course, there is some crossover, as fresh natives can look earthy and dramatic while pale preserved blooms can feel airy and romantic, but these are the general impressions.
So, which is more appealing? That really depends on the mood you want to create. A study of 670 people in the UK, published in Urban Forestry and Urban Greening, found that blue and white flowers were considered the most relaxing, while orange, yellow, red and white blooms were seen as the most uplifting. Interestingly, participants’ favourite colours produced the greatest sense of restoration for the individual.
Let's talk money
The lower overall cost is probably one of the biggest reasons for the growing shift toward dried and preserved flowers. Fresh blooms, as beautiful as they are, begin to droop quickly, sometimes within just a few days, and the atmosphere they create can fade just as fast. What once felt vibrant and inviting can soon look tired and unkempt. When the petals start to fall, scattering across the surface below like little casualties of summer, it’s a reminder of how fleeting that freshness can be.
The cost of replacing flowers weekly, or even twice a week, is something that quickly adds up. For some businesses, it may fit comfortably within the budget and even act as a visual statement that the business is thriving, a clever marketing tactic if you’re up for the play. But for most, dried or preserved flowers offer a longer-lasting alternative that requires no upkeep and no ongoing expense, while still creating lasting beauty.
The verdict
It really comes down to three things: what the flowers are being used for, your budget, and the tone you want to set. If it is for a wedding, fresh flowers feel like the right choice. After all, they only need to last a day and can be given to guests on their way home.
If it is for a spa by the water, dried blooms might be the better fit as their natural textures complement calm and coastal interiors.
There may be a little more risk involved with dried displays; some can make you wince for the flowers that once were, but when done well (vase and all) the result is beautiful and at a fraction of the cost.