If you have hydrangeas, I have decorating tips for you. Here are some simple DIY projects and tips and display ideas on how to decorate with hydrangeas.

I also put together some different ways on how to decorate with hydrangea through the seasons, including a fall garland and dried hydrangea wreath.

I’m still not sure when I first fell in love with hydrangeas.

Maybe it’s when I discovered they bloom all summer.

Maybe it’s when I realized each individual flower is a work of art.

Maybe it’s when I figured out how to dry them and how to plant them and how to make them bloom just a little bit more.

But I just discovered the most amazing thing.

This display has a secret. It’s half faux hydrangeas and half real hydrangeas. I’ve been on the hunt for a really good faux hydrangea since you asked for them on this faux flower post with the prettiest faux flower arrangement.

And so my hunt led me to these. Can you believe it?

Can you tell which ones are real and which ones are faux?

It’s SO HARD.

I show you the up close of each flower and have you guess.

I think you are going to be SO SURPRISED. 🙂

Before I get to the real vs. the faux, let’s do a little deep dive into this hydrangea display.

It’s such an easy idea for spring.

I started with this oversized dough bowl. If you are looking for a dough bowl this large it is definitely a splurge. It’s 48″ long and really large. You can see a super similar dough bowl here from Pottery Barn.

But you can create a super similar look with a smaller dough bowl that so much more affordable. I found a few vintage-looking options on Amazon:

• this one
• this one
• this one

And of course, you could always use a basket or a crate instead of a dough bowl, too.

To create this look, I just filled the dough bowl with mini vases full of hydrangeas. I lined up the vases side-by-side and placed them in the center of the dough bowl.

But here’s where it gets interesting.

Some of the vases are full of real hydrangeas and some of them are full of faux hydrangeas. It was actually hard for my family to tell the difference because these faux hydrangeas that I found? They feel and look real.

Here’s a side-by-side.

Here’s one set of hydrangeas

And here’s the second set.

Can you tell?

Which one do you think is fake?

Here’s the side-by-side so you can have one more look.

It’s hard? Right?

Drum roll please…….

//these faux hydrangea//

THE ONE ON THE LEFT IS FAUX.

And here they are in the arrangement, too.

The ones on the right side of the arrangement are faux.

But don’t they look real?

And the ones on the left side of the arrangement are real.

Could you tell?

Could you guess?

Are you a brilliant faux flower detective?

Here’s an up-close of the flower and an up-close view of the stem.

Doesn’t it look so real?

I’m serious when I tell you that these are the most realistic hydrangeas I’ve ever seen.

You can see them here.

I’m so happy now. I’m going to order a few more to fill up the dough bowl once the real ones have faded.

Hydrangeas were my father’s favorite flowers.

When I was little my father would walk me down the flower-lined streets on Cape Cod and point them out with a magical whisper. He’d describe them in hushed tones and tell me about the tiny petals and how they bloomed and the ways the flowers could change colors and that long after the color faded…

….the beauty of the hydrangea remained.

We’ve planted them ever since our first house. We’ve planted them in the rocky non-acidic soils of Texas and the lush, rush dirt of western Kentucky. And this year? We are planting them again in the house that my father loved.

I love faux hydrangeas and I love real hydrangeas, too. Just in case you are all about real hydrangeas? Here are a few more ideas to decorate with them.

How to cut hydrangeas to decorate

I wanted to go all Julie Andrews and start at the beginning. All hydrangea decorating starts with the cutting.

1. I always cut the hydrangeas first thing in the morning when it’s cooler (especially in Texas) so the flower doesn’t take it too badly.
2. I typically cut my hydrangea stems about 8 inches long (I can always trim them later) with leaves on them.
3. Hydrangea leaves come in groupings of two and you want to cut the flowers where two of the stems meet so the flower can keep flowering.
4. Start by cutting the stem at an angle. This will help the flower absorb more water and stay fresh longer.
5. Next, remove any leaves that will be below the water line. Otherwise, they’ll start to rot and contaminate the water.
6. Finally, cut the stem to the desired length. If you’re not sure how long to make it, err on the side of caution – it’s always easier to trim off a bit more later if necessary.
7. I try to choose the flowers that look like they are finished blooming to help out my hydrangea bush a little.

When to cut hydrangea plants for arrangements

See these flowers?

This is what the plant looks like when it’s just getting started. The leaves are smaller.  The plants are smaller.

I know it is so tempting to cut them now. Don’t. You will be so much happier if you wait a little. This might sound a little random, but I talk to my plants like I talk to my rooms. I always feel like the plant gets a little discouraged if you take it’s flowers too early.

I try and clip my hydrangea plants after the flowers are bigger and the stem is so heavy that the flower is falling over.

Then the plant doesn’t look discouraged.

It looks relieved.

The best time to cut hydrangeas for arrangements is early in the morning before the flowers have had a chance to open. This will help them stay fresh longer. If you can’t get to them in the morning, cut them in the evening and place them in a cool, dark place until you’re ready to use them.

Hydrangeas can be used in a variety of ways for home decor, such as centerpieces and mantel decor. The best time to cut them for arrangements is early morning before the flowers have had a chance to open.

If you can’t cut the hydrangea plants in the morning, cut them in the evening and place them in a cool, dark place until you are ready to decorate with them.

How to make your cut hydrangeas last longer

Have you ever brought home a beautiful bouquet of hydrangeas, only to have them wilt and die a few days later? If so, you’re not alone. Hydrangeas are notoriously finicky flowers, but there are a few simple tips that can help them stay fresh for longer.

1. I put them in cool water as soon as I cut them.
2. I cut the stems at an angle. This allows them to soak up as much water as possible.
3. Adding a tiny bit of sugar to the water helps keep them fresh longer.
4. Every couple of days, I retrim the stems and change the water.
5. Remove any leaves that would fall below the water line, as these can rot and contaminate the rest of the bouquet.
6. Use a clean vase and fresh water, and be sure to replace the water every few days. With a little care, your hydrangeas will stay fresh and beautiful for days or even weeks.

Simple display ideas to decorate with fresh hydrangeas

If you’re looking for a simple way to add a touch of elegance to your home, look no further than the hydrangea. These beautiful flowers are perfect for decorating any room, and they’re surprisingly easy to care for. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

1. One of the simplest ways to display hydrangeas is in a vase on your coffee table or kitchen counter. Just cut the stems at an angle and add some water. For a more dramatic effect, try grouping several vases together with different colors of hydrangeas.
2. Another great option is to float the flowers in a bowl of water. This looks especially beautiful in a clear glass bowl, but any type of bowl will work. You can even get creative and add some stones or other decorations to the bowl before adding the hydrangeas.
3. If you want to take things up a notch, you can create a stunning centerpiece by arranging hydrangeas in a tall vase. Add some greenery or other accents as desired, and enjoy your beautiful creation!

My best tip?

Just let the hydrangeas do the talking. In other words, hydrangeas are so pretty that you don’t have to do much to decorate with them. They do all the work with their flowers and their blooming and their brilliant colors.

All you have to do is trim them at the right time and find a pretty vase or container.

Here are some examples:

Display in a tall glass bottle

Here’s an easy way to decorate with hydrangeas.

First, find a tall glass bottle that will allow your hydrangea to stand upright. Next, fill the bottle with water, making sure to leave enough room for the stems. Finally, arrange the hydrangea in the bottle, using the leaves and branches to create an interesting and visually appealing display.

With this simple approach, you can transform your hydrangea into a work of art.

Display in a basket

This is one of my favorite things to do when I’m about to dry hydrangeas to decorate with for the fall.

I cut 10-12 hydrangeas with 8 to 10″ stems and remove all the leaves.

Then I fill a big glass vase with water and place the stems of the hydrangea into the vase and then place the vase in the basket.

And then?

When the leaves start to change color slightly, I remove the water and let the hydrangeas dry in place.

It’s kind of the lazy way of drying hydrangeas. Some of the flowers might get a little smashed, but if you are drying tons of hydrangeas for wreaths or garlands or arrangements? This is an easy method that doesn’t require a lot of work.

how to decorate with hydrangeas and milk glass

This is one of my favorite ways to add a little color to a spring mantel.

It’s one of the easiest, too.

I line up five milk glass containers in different sizes and different heights. Then I trim my hydrangeas with small stems (between 4 to 5 inches) and keep the leaves on a few of them.

Then?

I just add water.

I stagger the leaved hydrangeas with the non-leaved hydrangeas to add a little green to the display.

Decorate a table with hydrangeas and pears

This is an arrangement I created for fall with the last hydrangeas of the season in late August. They inspired me with their bits of brown leaves and fading petals. I took small pumpkins (or you could use vases) and filled them with water and hydrangeas.

Then I cut magnolia leaves (which are an entirely different flower decorating topic) and layered them into the dining table centerpiece with pears.

It was such a fresh way to welcome in September.

Simple display ideas to decorate with dried hydrangeas

Dried hydrangeas make for beautiful and understated home decor. Here are a few simple ideas for how to incorporate them into your space:

• For a pop of color, arrange a few stems in a vase or jar.
• Create a pretty centerpiece for your dining table by arranging dried hydrangeas, and other dried flowers in a wide, shallow bowl.
• Make a dramatic statement by hanging a large arrangement of dried hydrangeas from the ceiling.
• Add interest to a bookshelf or mantle by displaying dried hydrangeas in unique containers, like old teapots or Mason jars.

And the best part about hydrangeas?

They are the gift that keeps on giving.

After spring and summer are over and they are finished blooming, you can dry them and decorate with them for fall.

It’s spring.

The hydrangeas are ready for another year.

Whether your hydrangeas are about to bloom and they are ready for spring? Or you are all about faux hydrangeas like these?

It’s decorating time.

Another year.

Another season.

Another hydrangea chapter.

And when I look at those hydrangeas on my dining room table that my father loved? I know he’s smiling right now…

….because I can hear his whispers in my ear. 🙂

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