Decorating Your Home With Dried Fruit

Decorations don't just have to come from the store - the natural world opens up a whole world of possibilities. Today, we want to look at some of the different ways you can decorate with dried fruit.

One really interesting way to bring color and vitality to your home is to decorate with dried fruit. This is a subtle and natural technique that will give a sense of innovation and originality to any space.

We often think that decorating our homes means spending hundreds of dollars. What many people don’t realize is, there are lots of low-cost and effective ways to make the very most of your home, without breaking the bank.

We all know the benefits of eating plenty of fruit and veg. They’re highly nutritious, containing vitamins, folic acid, and minerals. They’re also rich in antioxidants, which help to prevent premature aging. And, believe it or not, they can also be great for decorating your home.

Decorating with dried fruit

In this article, we’re going to give you some tips and tricks to help you make the very most of these fantastic decorative resources.

The natural world offers a huge variety of fruit and veg, allowing us to play around with colors, sizes, shapes, and textures. The possibilities are endless and can be used to convey true aesthetic meaning.

There are several different techniques for drying fruit. Your choice will largely depend on the look you want to create. After all, using small pieces of dried fruit will create a different effect to using whole fruit.

Sun-dried fruit

The first step is to wash the fruit thoroughly. Citrus fruits such as lemons are a great option, as well as vegetables like squash.

Then simply leave the fruit to dry out in the sun. Needless to say, the amount of time it takes to dry will depend on the type and size of the fruit. As a general rule, it should take around 1 – 2 months. It’s better to leave it slightly longer than to take it out of the sun too early. Otherwise, you might find you don’t get quite the look you’re after.

Oven-dried fruit

This method is ideal for drying small pieces of fruit. It can be used with virtually any kind of fruit or vegetable and allows them to retain their unique smell and flavor. Let’s take a look at how to do this, step-by-step:

• Firstly, wash the fruit thoroughly and cut it into slices. The perfect size is between 1/5 – 1/3 of an inch. Any thicker, and you run the risk of the fruit not drying properly. Any smaller, and it may simply burn.
• Once you’ve cut your fruit, place the slices in the oven at the lowest possible temperature. Turn them over every 20 minutes until they’re completely dry.
• Finally, let them cool, and you’ll be all set to make your decorations, whether centerpieces for your table or other ornaments.

The perfect fruit bowl – with no expiry date

When we see a bowl full of delicious fruit, it conveys a certain sense of freshness and vitality. The problem is, fruit is a living thing. Over time, it ends up spoiling, and that beautiful, natural essence is lost. Filling your fruit bowl with dried fruit is the ideal way to stop that from happening.

In this case, it’s best to use the sun-drying method to preserve whole pieces of fruit. Once again, simply place the fruit in direct sunlight for up to 2 months. This will produce great results, and you’ll be able to use the fruit to create a beautiful fruit bowl.

Glass jars

One original way to decorate your kitchen is to fill glass mason jars with dried fruit. In the past, people would often hide food away in cupboards, drawers or refrigerators. However, this trend is slowly starting to disappear.

It’s becoming more and more common to display food on counters and shelves for all to see. By displaying your dried fruit in jars, they can help to decorate your kitchen, bringing a touch of color and joy to your room.

Normally, people use glass jars for displaying citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons or grapefruit. These are easy to dry out and offer a bright, cheerful aesthetic and a pleasant aroma.

Dried fruit – a fun and easy craft project for all the family

From start to finish, the whole process of drying and decorating with dried fruit is very simple, making it the perfect family activity. Not only can you teach your kids that fruit is fun and healthy, but you’ll also awaken their curiosity, encouraging them to explore all the possibilities nature has to offer.