Foraged Decor: Spring 2022's Loveliest Interior Style

April 17, 2022 5 min read

foraged decor - how to forage spring decor from nature

Dried bouquets, grass stalks, tree stumps -- have you noticed this earthy, organic take on interior decorating lately? It's all about foraged decor, which quite literally means adornments that are picked from the wild outdoors.

If that sounds dubious to you, don't worry, it doesn't mean you need to go out into the prairie and bring in some bug-infested weeds! Here, we'll show you lovely inspiration on how to decorate with foraged decor. Plus we'll talk about how to get your foraged decor from nature or just recreate them from other sources. Read on!

 

Foraged Decor Examples and Inspiration

Dried flower bouquet

 

Dried berry branch on a tall vase

Wall art pictured above: Personalized "This Is Us - Grateful, Thankful, Blessed" Premium Canvas

 

Wildflowers as centerpiece

 

Pampas grass in a vase

Wall art pictured above: "YOLO" Gold Typography Premium Canvas

 

Tall pampas grass as floor display

 

Cherry blossom branches for Zen minimalism

 

Eucalyptus sprigs in clear bottles

Wall art pictured above: Personalized "This Is Us" With Photos Premium Canvas

 

Wood slab coffee tables

Wall art pictured above: Personalized "Family Names On Hearts" Premium Canvas

 

How to Make 'Foraged' Decor Without Going Outdoors

Natural decor looks lovely, but if you don't feel like going out to pick some grass or branches, you can still make use of naturalistic objects that are likely already in your home. Here's how.

Save that bouquet.

Whether it's the bouquet you got for Valentine's Day or just a bunch of flowers you got for yourself, you can dry and preserve those blooms to make a rustic dried flower bouquet. The easiest way is to air-dry it. Hang the bouquet upside down in a dry area away from sunlight. Wait two to four weeks, then spritz the dried flowers with hairspray to hold the petals together.

 

Use fruit you have at home.

Fruit as decor? Totally doable! Citrus fruits like lemons and oranges are especially wonderful for spring because of their sunshiny colors. You can Google dried citrus decor to get tons of tutorials for garlands and door hangers. Or you can just use the fruits straight from your basket! The beautiful citrus wreath above is a DIY from dessert blogger Nastassia.

 

Hang some herbs.

If you have an herb garden at home, or if you buy your herbs fresh from the farm, you can set aside some sprigs to dry in a decorative way. Just hang your herb bunches directly on a rack or clothesline for an instantly quaint kitchen display. Alternatively, you can create a wreathe out of them, like designer Rachel Beyer did above. The best part? You can snip from this decor as you cook!

 

Display your natural travel souvenirs.

If you like collecting souvenirs from nature like sea glass, unique rocks, geodes, driftwood, or precious stones, you already have a foraged decor collection! Display your natural pieces with appropriate care, perhaps in a glass case or on a special table in your foyer.

One caveat to nature collecting: It's best to refrain from picking up seashells because even empty-looking ones could be valuable homes to hermit crabs and other marine creatures.

Wall art pictured above: "Every Family Has A Story To Tell" Premium Panoramic Canvas

 

'Harvest' some weeds and twigs.

Weeds growing fast in your yard or front steps? Branches fallen from the nearby tree? Take a look -- they might be lovely as decor! Interior decorators now include wildflowers in bouquets and twigs in vases to add a natural yet graceful touch to a space. Above, some leafy twigs of various heights make a classy table centerpiece.

Wall art pictured above: Personalized "Family Rules - Phrases On Background" Premium Canvas

 

Repurpose old wood.

You don't need to be out in nature to forage decor -- your old shed just might do! You might have some leftover wood from previous projects or from dilapidated furniture. With some woodworking know-how, you can repurpose them into lovely new accents. Check out the salvaged wood bedroom decor above.

Wall art pictured above: Personalized "Marriage - Sleepover With Your Favorite Weirdo" Premium Canvas

   

How to Get Foraged Decor Outdoors

If you're up for a little outdoor expedition to forage your spring decor, here are helpful tips to do it right.

Find an appropriate area.

Parks and beaches are a good place to start, but make sure the place is not private property or a protected zone. Also be aware of items that you cannot take -- for example, picking of endangered flora and fauna is prohibited.

 

Take the right tools.

Want to harvest pampas grass plumes? Take long-handled pruners. Planning to reuse fallen logs and branches? You'll probably need woodworking tools. If you just want to collect small items like rocks and twigs, all you need is a basket.

 

Protect yourself.

Depending on where you are and what you're foraging, you'll need to wear protective gear. If it's just around your yard, gloves may be enough. But if you're going through grass, woods, or brush, wear long sleeves, pants, and boots.

 

Be mindful of the environment.

The goal of decor foraging is just to take and reuse what's naturally given by nature. As much as possible, don't damage anything in the area and leave no trace. If harvesting from plants, be gentle and respectful of each plant you touch.

 

Know what not to touch.

It's important to at least have a basic knowledge of poisonous plants, irritants, and your own allergies. Read up first about the plants, animals, and climate at the place you're visiting.

 

De-bug everything you pick.

Got your basket filled? Don't go in your house without debugging them first! Give each individual item a good shake, then place in sealed bags before going in your car. In your yard, give your items a strong rinse of cold water. If you're still not confident, spray them with a non-toxic insecticidal soap. Note also that some items like branches and driftwood may need to be treated for indoor use.

 

So what do you think? Will you be foraging your decor this spring? Or will you just go with 'faux forage'? Either way, when you take inspiration from nature, it's bound to be beautiful!

If you liked the rustic wall art and customized family decor featured here, find more at GearDen.com. Browse now!

You might also like our other blog posts on rustic home decorating:

How to Decorate with a "Cottagecore" Aesthetic

How to Repurpose Home Items as Stylish Decor

Top Picks for Floral Decor and Gifts


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