How to Build a Driftwood and Dried Eucalyptus Wall Hanging

There is something about a piece of driftwood that feels like it already belongs on a wall. The grain is worn smooth, the color has softened to that silvery grey, and no two pieces are shaped quite the same. Pair it with dried eucalyptus and you have a wall hanging that looks collected rather than crafted, which is exactly the kind of effortless rustic feel we chase around here.

This project takes an afternoon, costs very little if you already have a glue gun, and works in almost any room. A long, narrow piece suits a hallway or above a bed. A shorter, chunkier branch looks lovely over a console table or beside a mirror. Start by gathering your materials and giving everything a good shake outside, because driftwood and dried stems both love to shed.

What You Will Need

For the base, look for a piece of driftwood that is dry, sturdy, and roughly twelve to twenty-four inches long. Avoid anything soft, damp, or crumbly, since it will not hold a hook or glue well. Give it a scrub with a stiff brush and let it sit in the sun for a day or two to make sure any hidden moisture is gone.

For the greenery, dried eucalyptus is the workhorse here. Seeded eucalyptus has lovely little pods along the stem, while silver dollar eucalyptus gives you those round, coin-shaped leaves. You can dry your own by hanging bundles upside down in a dark, dry spot for two to three weeks, or pick up a bunch from a craft store or florist. A mix of both varieties adds texture without much effort.

You will also want floral wire or twine, a glue gun, small screw eyes, scissors, and a length of jute or leather cord for hanging. If you want to add a little extra, a few dried seed pods, a snippet of dried lavender, or a single faux bloom in a muted tone can break up the green.

Putting It Together

Lay the driftwood flat on your work surface and play with the arrangement before you commit. The trick with wall hangings is asymmetry. Let one side carry more weight, with stems cascading lower on that end, and keep the other side sparser so the eye has somewhere to rest. Once you like the shape, trim the eucalyptus stems to varying lengths so the piece has depth rather than a flat, hedge-like edge.

Attach the stems in small bundles of two or three using floral wire wrapped tightly around the driftwood. Wire holds better than glue for anything with weight, and it lets you adjust later if a stem droops. Tuck the wire ends underneath and hide them with a dab of hot glue if they poke out. For lighter sprigs, a dot of hot glue along the stem works fine, but always press and hold for a few seconds.

When the greenery feels balanced, screw two small eyes into the top of the driftwood, about a third of the way in from each end. Thread your jute or leather cord through both and knot it, leaving enough slack to hang at the height you want. A small loop of twine at the center of the cord keeps it from sliding on the nail.

Hang the piece, then step back and fuss. Dried eucalyptus has a mind of its own, and a gentle bend here or a trimmed stem there often makes all the difference. Keep it out of direct sun and away from humid rooms like bathrooms, and it will hold its shape and color for a long, long time. The best part is that no two driftwood pieces are alike, so your wall hanging will be genuinely one of a kind.