Trader Joe’s Has a Refreshing $4 Alternative to Theme-y Holiday Decor

The Trader Joe’s hits just keep coming. I’ve written a lot about their fantastic seasonal pop-up items—most recently wheat stalks—which are my go-to favorite for lazy decorating on the fly, and on the cheap. Their latest offering is dried lavender, which you can find in bundles right inside the front door, and throw in your cart while you do the regular weekly grocery shopping. Buy these while they last at the store, because they’ll last forever at home. The best news: You can use it as a natural organic-looking alternative to theme-y holiday decorating for the entire winter.

There’s a lot to love about dried lavender. It’s a pretty little flower, with delicate purple buds, that not only looks good, but smells nice too. A decent, modest-sized bunch is only four bucks at Trader Joe’s, and is just enough to add a little welcome cheer and aromatherapy to your space during the winter.

There’s so many ways you can put it to good use:

A few pieces of lavender in a vessel is a simple little decoration that takes seconds.

These asymmetrical minimalist wreaths have been very popular in recent years. This take on the trend uses a variety of dried flowers, including little sprigs of lavender, to make a very sweet and subtly colorful holiday decoration.

Thanksgiving is right around the corner. If your table feels a little bare, put a few small clusters of dried lavender at each place setting, then check that task off your to-do list.

The more ambitious among us can harvest the buds to use in various crafting projects. Things like soaps, infused oils, sachets, candles, bath bombs, and scrubs all make easy DIY gifts this time of year. For larger-scale endeavors, you’re probably better off springing for dried lavender in bulk, which you can find on Amazon.