How to Decorate With Pampas Grass: Styling Tips and Ideas

Today, I’m excited to explore various ways to decorate with pampas grass, which is a huge interior trend right now! We’ll cover where to find it in the wild, where to buy it online, and if you do happen to find it outdoors, how to prep it so it doesn’t end up being a disaster.

Hi, I'm Viviane, and I have a pampas grass addiction. Just kidding! I create home decor videos, sharing tips and tricks on how to make your home look and feel awesome on a budget.

What is Pampas Grass?

First of all, what is pampas grass? In the home decor world, pampas grass is obviously an ornamental dried foliage that you see a lot in interior design photos and styled rooms.

In the wild, it’s a flowering plant that is actually considered invasive in several areas of the world. In fact, in New Zealand and Hawaii, it's banned—you can’t grow it there!

So, if you’re thinking of planting pampas grass in your garden, maybe think twice. It creates huge root systems, spreads like wildfire, and can harm the surrounding plants. Plus, it poses a danger to wildlife, like birds, due to its razor-sharp leaves.

If you do want to plant it, I recommend putting it in a pot.

Another interesting tidbit: at one point, planting pampas grass in the UK was a signal that you were into swinging. I don’t think that’s the case anymore, but it is true—look it up if you don’t believe me!

Where to Find Pampas Grass

So, where do you get pampas grass? Pampas grass can typically be found in wetlands, along highways, and in areas with still water.

In my area, a lot of people have it in their front yards and between houses, as it creates a lovely privacy barrier. If you’re looking for it in the wild, don’t feel bad about cutting it down because it regrows quickly.

Just remember: don’t cut it from people’s private property without permission. Be sensible!

How to Prep Pampas Grass

There’s a lot of information out there about how to prep pampas grass, with varying degrees of difficulty. Personally, I keep it simple: I find it in a public place, cut it down, and bring it home.

First, make sure to wear gloves while cutting it, as the leaves can be quite sharp. Protective glasses wouldn’t hurt either.

After cutting it, inspect it for bugs. I’ve never encountered this issue, but I’ve heard some people find creepy crawlies in their pampas grass. If I found any plumes with bugs, I’d just leave them behind and find another.

Once you bring it home, give it a good shake. It won’t ruin it!

Fluff it a bit to get it into the shape you want, then give it a light spray with hairspray to fix the plumes in place.

That’s it! You’ll have an eternal dried foliage piece that you can display in your home forever. Some people claim pampas grass only has a three to four-year lifespan, but I don’t think that’s true. If you take care of it, it can last much longer than that.

Pampas Grass Display Ideas

Now let’s talk about the different ways to display pampas grass. Since it’s grass, there are only so many ways to showcase it. I like to break it down based on how you’re displaying the stems or plumes.

You can use a big bundle—like five to ten stems—to make a bold impact. Alternatively, you can display just a few stems (like three), or even a single stem in a beautiful vase for a touch of texture.

If you have high ceilings, a bundle of long stems can really draw the eye up. Conversely, for very short stems, you’ll likely want to use a vase, but you can also tie them up with jute and place them in a corner.

If you want to create visual interest, consider displaying pampas grass at varying heights.

You can also DIY your own! There’s a really cool video on YouTube by a user named Justin Wray that shows how to make pampas grass out of string.

If you’re feeling ambitious, you could dye your pampas grass a funky color, create a wreath, or even make a Christmas tree out of it!

Pampas grass is also popular for wedding decor; imagine making your wedding arch out of pampas grass.

Oh, and I forgot to mention that pampas grass doesn’t have to be displayed alone! You can combine it with other types of dried foliage for some really interesting results.

Be cautious of websites like West Elm, as they offer tiny plumes that look pretty sad—definitely not worth your time:

So, what do you think about pampas grass? Are you loving it? Have you noticed this trend, or is it just me? I think everyone has caught on by now!

Thank you so much for watching, and I’ll see you next time! Bye!