Decorating for fall and the holidays with Spanish moss

Spanish moss gives fall and holiday décor a soft, gray-green texture that reads as natural, not store-bought. Here are five ways to use it.

Before you start

1. Open the box as soon as it arrives and fluff the moss by hand. It compresses in shipping.
2. Work over a drop cloth; loose strands travel.
3. Keep floral pins, a low-temperature glue gun, and thin wire nearby.

Five ideas

1. Draped mantel. Lay a garland of greenery or branches along the mantel, then pull thin clumps of moss over it so strands hang a few inches below the edge. Pin it in place.
2. Lantern and cloche fill. Fill the bottom of a lantern or glass cloche with moss, then nest a battery candle, a few pinecones, or a small ornament on top.
3. Wreath wrap. Pull moss loosely around a grapevine or foam wreath form and secure it with floral pins every few inches. Add berries or ribbon last.
4. Pumpkin and gourd nests. Lay a base of dried sheet moss on a tray or table runner, then tuck Spanish moss around pumpkins and gourds so the base disappears.
5. Halloween drapes. Stretch thin wisps of moss across branches, porch lights, or a doorway for a weathered, cobweb-like look.

Safety

Dry moss catches fire easily. Use battery candles inside lanterns, and keep moss away from fireplaces and hot lights.

How much to order

A 5 lb box suits several projects across a season. For a large mantel and a porch together, or for a shop or event, look at the bulk sizes.