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10 ways to make dollar store finds look high-end
Not willing or able to spend a fortune on home decor? Here are some brilliant ways to do it on the cheap using stuff you can find at the dollar store or craft outlets.
Jessica
09.10.19

Home decor can be wildly expensive, but with a little creativity, you can create your own high-end looks out of much cheaper items.

Most of these ideas just require some paint and glue, no power tools or expertise needed.

So next time you’re at your favorite discount store, you might look at items in a whole new way thanks to these ideas from Hometalk.

Read on for 10 great ways to repurpose inexpensive items – from hula hoops to craft sticks – into luxe home decor. And make sure to check out the website and the video below to get a closer look at the steps involved.

1. Plant pot end table

Screencaps via Hometalk/Created with Canva
Source:
Screencaps via Hometalk/Created with Canva

It’s not until we move out on our own that we realize how expensive furniture really is. That end table you always put your drink on without a coaster? Hundreds of dollars!

Now you know why mom always yelled at you for wrecking it.

But for a chic-meets-unique look, you can make your own furniture out of some plant containers, spray paint, a wood disc (which you can find at hardware or craft stores), and some strong adhesive.

By gluing the planters end-to-end, you can create a sturdy bottom and a top wide enough to hold whatever you need.

You can use whatever color paint or stain you want to complete the look to match the rest of your room.

2. Cake stand fruit storage

Screencaps via Hometalk/Created with Canva
Source:
Screencaps via Hometalk/Created with Canva

Frankly, you can store whatever you want in this little item, from edibles to decor.

All you need is a cakestand, basket, tin lid (and perhaps a dresser knob for more detail), paint, and – once again – some good adhesive.

The photo above is pretty self-explanatory, but the video below shows how you can even use an old metal popcorn tin or cookie top to create your lid.

3. DIY topiaries

Screencaps via Hometalk/Created with Canva
Source:
Screencaps via Hometalk/Created with Canva

Need some greenery but don’t need actual plants to add to your list of things to take care of? Topiaries with faux greenery will normally set you back some major cash, but you can make them yourself for just a few dollars.

As you can see, just about any pot can be painted to match your room, and a wooden dowel and foam ball act as a little tree for just a few dollars.

Some moss or other filling and bags of greenery complete the look.

This is one you can really take to the next level at the holidays too, by using even more sparkle and shine. Just use your imagination!

4. Woven bowl

Screencaps via Hometalk/Created with Canva
Source:
Screencaps via Hometalk/Created with Canva

Those beautiful woven bowls full of decorative objects are always a favorite of customers who walk into Pottery Barn or Pier 1. But save your cash!

Using a bowl you currently own as a guide and some plastic wrap to protect it, you can cover the wrap in glue (one that dries clear!) and then carefully wrap your rope around it.

When your creation is dry, simply pry it off the bowl and remove the wrap from the inside.

Since you already know how to make decorative balls from the topiaries above, you can use some extras to fill up your new high-end creation.

5. Picture frame greenhouse

Screencaps via Hometalk/Created with Canva
Source:
Screencaps via Hometalk/Created with Canva

Picture frames are always on sale somewhere, and with a bit of paint (or none at all if you find ones you like) and some glue, you can use different sizes to make your own greenhouse.

If you can glue the sides together, you’ve pretty much got the hang of it.

We especially like the smaller frames on top to add the “roof” detail. That’ll certainly help keep hands and paws out of your precious flowers!

6. Hula hoop shelving

Screencaps via Hometalk/Created with Canva
Source:
Screencaps via Hometalk/Created with Canva

Plant cart, bar cart, you name it – this creation is a super-smart way to add more storage space to a room for just a few bucks.

By painting the hula hoops a brass color, it makes them look like expensive metal rounds. And your wooden shelves can be treated with gloss, lacquer, or just stained the same color as your other furniture to fit right in.

You’ll want to watch the video to get a good idea of how to safely affix the shelves and make it stable on the bottom, but this project is far easier than it looks.

7. Craft stick wall decor

Screencaps via Hometalk/Created with Canva
Source:
Screencaps via Hometalk/Created with Canva

We promise that once you watch the video you’ll get a better idea of what this can do for your home.

This “honeycomb” wall decor – complete with tiny decorative shelves – is made with just craft sticks, adhesive, and paint!

It’s a super-easy way to make your mark on a new room and have your friends asking where you got your high-end design.

8. Wall greenery

Screencaps via Hometalk/Created with Canva
Source:
Screencaps via Hometalk/Created with Canva

What to hang on our walls stumps even the most creative among us. Photos? Paintings? Mirrors? Craft decor?

The video for this craft can be found here, so if you come across some faux greenery (such as a boxwood square like this), keep this trick in mind for making the most of it.

By gluing together wooden dowels, you can make any shape you want (in this case a criss-cross). Then, you can cut the greenery into thin strips and glue it on in the same pattern.

Don’t want a full boxwood wall? Try this instead to add some flair and break up the empty space.

9. Seashell wreath

Screencaps via Hometalk/Created with Canva
Source:
Screencaps via Hometalk/Created with Canva

You can dye seashells the same way you dye Easter eggs using vinegar and food coloring.

Anyone interested in a beachy home look can make shells match their decor by simply coloring them.

No doubt you’ve seen styrofoam (or more sustainable paper-based) wreaths in the dollar store or craft outlets. All you need to do is glue your shells to that and you’re ready to feel the serenity of a day at the beach even on the chilliest of nights.

10. Jar lid candleholders

Screencaps via Hometalk/Created with Canva
Source:
Screencaps via Hometalk/Created with Canva

Do you have candlesticks that only hold taper candles but prefer larger, more steady candles?

All you need to do to covert them is glue a jar lid to the top to create more surface area.

This video will also show you how to add a glass surround as well in case you want to create a votive holder that gives off some pretty light.

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Crafting can be easy with some imagination and patience.

Be sure to check out the video below for more on these ideas and see the Hometalk website for further details on what you need to make sure your stuff stays together.

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