In the heat of the summer, fresh palm leaves seem to be taking center stage—and not just outdoors! We’ve been bringing them indoors to brighten up our interiors and we can’t get enough. Can you blame us? There’s just nothing more fitting for summer décor than a few perfectly placed tropical fronds, and we’ve loved discovering new ways to incorporate them into our homes. So without further ado, we’ve outlined how to decorate with real palm leaves, three different ways. Read on to see what we came up with…
What Are the Uses of Palm Leaves?
If you’ve ever seen dried palm leaves on the ground, you’ve probably wondered
where they go. These sturdy leaves have lots of great uses to explore.
Deciduous trees shed their leaves every fall. Coniferous trees lose needles over time, even while remaining evergreen. Palm trees, while technically not trees at all, do some shedding of their own—discarded palm fronds often litter the palm tree–lined streets of South Florida and Southern California. This plant matter is thick,
sturdy, and fibrous, and when it comes to basic applications such as composting and mulching, it’s almost fibrous to a fault.
If you live in palm territory or if you’ve just heard a friend gripe about having to clean up dried fronds, you’ve probably wondered: Just what are the uses of palm leaves, anyway? As it turns out, this byproduct of lush plant life has plenty of applications that are more helpful and less frustrating than composting. One such use may wind up in your own home.
Woven Baskets
The same attributes that make palm leaves so frustrating to mulch are the ones that allow them to create sturdy, reliable products. Palm leaf baskets are available at retailers, but if you have access to fallen fronds yourself, you can take up a new craft and weave a basket yourself. The sturdiness of palm leaves just may take you by surprise—palm leaves are naturally water repellent, which means that your basket will be strong and that you won’t have to worry about it falling apart if it gets wet.
Ad Slot 4
Disposable Dinnerware
If you’re throwing a casual outdoor party that calls for disposable plates and cups, you already know that plastic products aren’t the key to a green lifestyle. And paper plates, even if you double up on them, can still be a little flimsy—not to mention a bit déclassé. But for a sustainable and attractive alternative to paper or plastic, palm
leaves are the best eco-friendly dinnerware you can choose for your party. The natural fibers of palm leaves give plates and cups a wood-grain look for some natural and rustic flair. Plus, as you voraciously devour that summery fruit salad, you won’t have to worry about your bowl getting soggy as a paper one would.
Bonfire Kindling
If you have palms nearby and want to throw a little party in the backyard, one of the uses of palm leaves is as a nice little fire-starter. Dried palm fronds burn extremely well—in fact, the glade fires of South Florida often get going from dried palm. You can load up your firepit with these sturdy, stubborn leaves and keep a bonfire raging well into the night.
Paint Them Pretty
If you love the look of palm leaves, but green isn’t what you’re going for, then don’t hesitate to add a bit of paint to change up the look. Add a layer or two of pastel paint for a baby shower, or brighten them up with a bold paint for a birthday party or summer bash. Or, if you just want to add some color to your everyday space, layer with a few coats of paint of your choice (making sure the paint is dry in between coats) and place in a simple vase for a twist on your traditional flower arrangement! If you want to go for a minimalist monochromatic look, paint the palms all white and place in a light-colored vase for a truly contemporary look. There’s really no right or wrong way to execute this idea, and you can play around with paint colors and vases until the result looks just right for your space.
Palm Place Settings
One of our favorite ways to add some greenery to our space is to use palm fronds as a makeshift placemat under some fun dishes. It adds the perfect pop of color, and requires no hard labor to execute! Just pick out the prettiest palm leaves of your choice, and place them thoughtfully across your tablescape for a tropical vibe. The best part about this décor idea is that you can put your own twist on it and customize it for the occasion—spread the leaves randomly across the table for a laidback look, or place one palm frond neatly under each place setting for a more put-together tablescape. Whether you mix and match leaves, or stick to one type of palm, the result will be just the right amount of beachy.
String Them Up
If you’re like us and sometimes struggle to figure out ways to fill up those empty walls, then this simple décor will be perfect for you. We especially love the idea of stringing up a few palm leaves for easy party décor, or just a way to temporarily spruce up your space when it needs a boost! We used colored twine, and basic clothespins, and strung the palms across the line for a tropical twist on your traditional garland. Make sure to tie each end of the twine to two hooks or nails in the wall, for a sturdy place to hang your décor. If you feel like taking it one step further, feel free to intersperse the hanging palms with clothes-pinned flowers or printed photos. The possibilities are endless! What ways have you been brightening up your home for summer? We’re loving this trend, and can’t see how you incorporate it into your own home décor. If you try it out for yourself, make sure to snap a pic and use the hashtag #GrayMalin to share your décor ideas with us!
Photos: Nicholas Scarpinato for Gray Malin
Make Every Day a Getaway ®
