As the editor-in-chief of Country Living, I have been incredibly fortunate to learn from some of the most talented designers and stylists in the industry. I'm constantly floored by their creativity and their ability to elevate a space with a few simple tricks of the trade. One of my favorite takeaways from magazine photo shoots is the decorative impact of a simple branch clipped from the backyard. As beautiful as fresh flowers can be—I will always have a soft spot for a cluster of white hydrangeas or café au lait dahlias—the cost can add up so quickly, and there's nothing quite like a branch to make an impact. A good branch installation will also last a lot longer than grocery store flowers—more bang for your pluck, so to speak. "I love the foraged ease they bring to a space," says Senior Home and Style Editor Anna Logan. "Plus, they're a heck of a lot less fussy than flowers and can last much longer in water—no wilting arrangements here!"David HillegasBranches serve up a pretty hit of green to a bedroom designed and styled by Heather Chadduck Hillegas.David HillegasBranches bring a spa-like feel to a primary bathroom.Designer and shop owner John Derian is especially good at branch work—I'm telling you, it's an art form!—as is interior decorator and frequent magazine stylist Heather Chadduck Hillegas. For the cleanest cut, our resident Country Living gardener Charlyne Mattox recommends using these loppers over your standard clippers. "You want to make sure you get a very clean cut, and if the branch is slightly too large for clippers, it can mangle it," she says. Erin Kelly, a Pittsburgh-based photographer and stylist, says she tries to be as respectful as possible to the tree's overall health, which means cutting where the branch meets the main stem so it can regrow the following season. "I try to pick sculptural branches with natural movement," she says. "Sometimes one or two beautiful sculptural branches are all you need for major impact."Annie Schlechter, styling by Page MullinsHolly Williams’ Tennessee farmhouse also features branches in the bathroom.Nick JohnsonYellow clippings bring color to a Michigan kitchen designed by Erica Harrison.Brie Williams for Country LivingA floral centerpiece just wouldn’t have the same impact.Another benefit of branch dressing is that it's an approach that you can use year-round, however right now is an especially good time to give it a go. "Spring is the best time to forage for backyard branches, and Dogwood, Apple and Cherry Blossoms, Magnolia, and Serviceberry are some of my favorite go-to flowering branches," says Erin. "I also have overgrown Privet hedge in sections of our property that I've let grow wild specifically for branch styling purposes. Surprisingly, it also dries really beautifully. I've been known to keep a few huge dried Privet branches in Chinese rice wine vessels for months on end as they resemble an indoor tree for those of us without green thumbs." Personally, I frequently decorate with magnolia branches, regardless of season, because that's what I can source from my Birmingham, Alabama, backyard. I'm also not sure I should admit this in writing (!), but dead branches can be quite chic. On a recent shoot of my Mississippi farmhouse, our clever stylist Matthew Gleason raided the property's burn pile—the burn pile!—for a few seen-better-days branches to style our home's English-inspired boot room, and dare I say it worked?Hector M. Sanchez for Country LivingMagnolia clippings are on display in a vintage trophy in my Mississippi kitchen.David A. Land for Country LivingBranches are an easy way to incorporate fall color.Becky Luigart-Stayner for Country LivingOh, these? They came straight from the burn pile. If you're tempted to branch out, I've found that narrow-necked vessels such as glass demijohns or glass jugs make it easy to keep them nice and upright. Erin also suggests making sure your container has some heft. "When you're cutting large branches, be sure to use a vessel that is on the heavier side so that the branch weight doesn't topple it. If I'm using a lighter weight vessel, I'll place small rocks at the bottom, which helps weigh the vase down and allows for more strategic branch arranging." Finally, if you don't have a backyard to raid, my designer friends swear by the eucalyptus branches at good ol' Trader Joes.Related StoriesRachel Hardage BarrettRachel Hardage Barrett has written for and edited lifestyle publications for more than 20 years. As the editor-in-chief of Country Living, she has covered all things related to country life—including design, gardening, food, travel, antiques, crafts, and country pop culture—for more than a decade. Before Country Living, Rachel spent several years at Southern Living, where she served as Executive Editor covering travel, food, style, and features. Before Southern Living, Rachel was the Special Projects Director of Real Simple, where she wrote and oversaw books and special issues about food, travel, weddings, organizing, and parenting in addition to working on international editions and licensed products. Before working at lifestyle brands, Rachel started her magazine career at Glamour, where she wrote and edited relationship articles, celebrity interviews, as well as fashion and features content. When she’s not working on the magazine, she can likely be found poking around an antiques shop, perusing country real estate listings, or dreaming of opening a general store.