Replace Faux Flower Front Door Decor With Dried Lavender

The fight between faux or real flowers has a third competitor entering the ring: dried flowers. If you don't like the appearance of artificial decorations, dried flowers are an equally low-maintenance alternative. One of the most fragrant, aesthetically pleasing options is lavender. Reminiscent of the Provence region of the South of France, this countryside-chic herb will never go out of style. Try swapping out fake flowers or seasonal wreaths on your front door for a rustic basket of dried lavender. 

If you opt to grow your own lavender, this is everything you need to know before planting lavender. You'll find the best time to harvest lavender for optimal fragrance is biannually. Your stand should be pruned twice –- once before it starts blooming in early spring, then after the first mid-summer bloom. The second pruning is a great opportunity to collect bunches for your front door decor. When it comes to drying bunches of lavender, you can either hang them upside down or place them on a baking tray in your oven at around 180 to 200 degrees Fahrenheit.

If you don't want to wait for the next harvest, you can easily purchase dried lavender at your local grocery store or even on Amazon, like these Timoo Dried Lavender Bundles. No matter how you acquire the flowers, a simple basket of dried lavender is a low-maintenance way to elevate your exterior. 

Once the flowers are dried, mount a wicker basket on your front door –- about two-thirds up from the bottom. It should be hung where you would normally place a wreath. Make sure bunches fill the entire basket, with just enough space to fan out. This AuldHome Design Basket is an affordable option to consider. Once you are ready to retire your seasonal lavender display, store the dried blossoms in an airtight container to preserve them for next year. 

If a rustic basket doesn't suit your style, you can hang bunches of lavender upside down from ribbon or string. There are also different types of lavender you can use as decor, depending on your goals. The variety typically grown in Provence and the Mediterranean is, ironically, referred to as "English Lavender." Others, like Spanish lavender, may not have the same elongated appearance you're looking for. In fact, there are many stunning lavender varieties that you can plant together for an aesthetic garden. To add some visual variation to the bouquet, try mixing lavender with other dried herbs like rosemary. More dried plants that work well with lavender include billy balls or wheat.