Styling Cottage Pink Peonies
Tips to style store bought peonies with charming cottage vibes, how to prolong their life and how to dry them properly for blooms that last.
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I've decided to change careers and become a peony stylist and photographer. LOL, just kidding, but my goodness... nothing can rival the real deal! Fresh peonies, with their glorious layers of ruffled petals, are the ideal choice when you're styling any kind of romantic, vintage, cottage table or decorating situation.
Styling tips for cottage pink peonies
Below you will find some tips for creating even more cottage impact when decorating with peonies. These beautiful flowers deserved their own time in the spotlight! But if you've never considered drying your peonies to really extend their beauty, you'll find my tips further down!
Peonies don't grow down south
We live in coastal Mississippi... it doesn't get more south than this! On a recent trip to the grocery store, I asked at the florist counter if they carried peonies. Sadly, the answer was no. They are too expensive to ship to our area.
Feeling defeated, I decided I would focus on my hydrangeas, which are doing well and sure to provide lots of photographing opportunities later this summer and into the fall.
And then we went to Costco.
I wasn't looking for fresh flowers, but we happened to be near the floral display, and lo and behold... what did my greedy little eyes spy but bundles of fresh pink peonies...for only $10! I am truly kicking myself that I didn't buy more. They were closed up buds and didn't really look like they would open up prettily, but clearly I was mistaken.
I learned my lesson...we went back the next week and they were all gone!
I'm absolutely smitten with these ruffled pink beauties, and I decided to style them with some of my cottage decor because fresh flowers don't last forever. Sigh. If you are looking for a faux alternative to fresh peonies, check out my Ruffled Coffee Filter Peonies.
Tips for getting the most out of fresh peonies
Before we get to the styling ideas, here are some ways you can ensure you get the most beauty and longest lasting blooms from your fresh peonies.
- If peony buds are tight and hard, immerse them in warm, not hot, water when you get them home. Trim the stems, remove any leaves at the bottom, and insert them in fresh water with a little bleach or flower preservative. Put them in a warm place to encourage opening. You can also lightly tap the bud against a tabletop before putting them in water.
- If flower buds have a little give, like a marshmallow, trim the ends and remove any leaves from the bottom of the stem. Insert into cool water with a little bleach or florist preservative.
- Every couple days, trim the flower stems about an inch under warm running water and change out the water.
- If you have a peony bud that refuses to open up completely, you can very gently pull on the outer petals, which will encourage it to open further.
- Consider drying peonies to extend their beauty even further! Read my tips on how to do this properly a little further down.
Antiques, or "faux" antiques
Peonies and antiques are a match made in heaven! I have a love of old stuff, but the good old stuff can be quite pricey, so I've found ways to get the look without paying the high price tag! My DIY weathered antiques sign, made from a printable and THIS Michaels frame, cost just over $20 to make but has that vintage charm of the real deal.
While the blue Ball jar, ironstone pitcher and doily in this capture are true antiques, I've mixed them with other faux antique pieces in this image including:
- IKEA lockers, painted with white chalk paint and allowed to naturally distress as we've moved across the country 😁
- large wicker basket with an antique finish (SHOP the set of 3 baskets)
- DIY ruffled towel made from THESE inexpensive flour sacks
- lace trimmed book stack (see my floral wrapped books)
- blue and white dishes found at HomeGoods
- painted and decoupaged thrifted silver tray
- THIS crocheted runner
Mixing old pieces with newer pieces that look old is a great way to create a charming cottage vignette. The peonies are the icing on top!
Something old and white
There may be nothing more beautiful that ruffled pink peonies in an antique white ironstone pitcher. This piece was a anniversary gift Mr DIY bought me on a weekend getaway to Bernie, TX a few years ago.
Adding more white allows the pink peony petals to really shine. I propped up a large white embossed tile that I purchased from Antique Farmhouse years ago and painted creamy white (see similar HERE). You can get this same look for much less by using the Dollar Tree embossed tiles.
DIY tip: To make an easy DIY embossed tile backdrop, you'll need a 4'x2' piece of mdf, cut down to 3'x2' or 2'x2'. Glue down 4-6 dollar store tiles to cover the wood, then paint white using a creamy white chalkpaint.
Cottage contrast
You'll see the peonies are now in a galvanized watering can (see similar HERE). This watering can has been sitting outside for years, and has great vintage patina that showcases the pink peonies beautifully.
I added more vintage white cottage vibes with chunky pillar candle holders, that I've painted in my favorite creamy white chalk paint and lightly distressed to really showcase their beautiful details. I didn't even add candles, I just wanted them for their fluted edges. There is something so romantic and charming about white and pink together, especially when you have so many textures.
When you're styling peonies, consider keeping the accessories to a minimum. Think of accessories as supporting actors, and let the peonies be the main show.
Add a ribbon
Whether you like bows or not, a pretty ribbon tied onto the vase, pitcher or watering can just ups the cottage charm! I love this beige striped twill ribbon because it's neutral but adds that little touch of extra to the display of peonies ( THIS is a great alternative).
How to successfully dry fresh peonies
I've been drying hydrangeas and roses for years, but this was my first time attempting to dry peonies. I just wasn't willing to toss them and thought I'd try to prolong their beauty. Lo and behold, they dried beautifully and it was so much easier and quicker than I expected! Read on for my tips.
Tips to dry fresh peonies:
- When fresh flowers just start to droop, this is the time to remove them from water and dry them. If you wait any longer, the petals will start to fall off.
- Remove all leaves, trim stems if desired.
- Group 2 or 3 peonies together, no more.
- Wrap stems together at base with a rubber band - not too tight.
- Hang peonies upside down in a dark closet until completely dry.
We live in humid south MS, and my peonies took just a few days to dry, unlike roses which can take up to 3 weeks to completely dry. I carefully removed the rubber band holding the stems together and added the dried peonies to a trio of baskets.
Dried peonies retain their ruffled appearance, and the color deepens as the petals dry. The best part is the smell is amazing! If you haven't tried drying peonies before, I hope you'll do it! I know peony season is over, but you can PIN this post so you won't forget for next year and forever after!
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