20 Dollar-Store DIYs for Every Room of the House

From upcycling wastebaskets into hampers to transforming wine bottles into tiered serving pieces, these 20 project ideas turn bottom-dollar materials into top-dollar home wares faster than you can say “DIY!”

By Manasa Reddigari | Updated Dec 17, 2020 01:31 AM

Magnetic Personalities

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Magnetic Spice Storage

Looking for the cure to cabinet clutter? You can find it in these deliciously simple to make spice storage canisters. Metal storage containers with clear tops go from bland to spiced-up with the addition of magnetic strips and custom labels. The tins can then be stuck to any metallic kitchen surface, making them perfect for the refrigerator and more.


Related: 11 Cheap Cures for a Cluttered Kitchen

abeautifulmess.com

Reflective Moment

2/21
Mirrored Storage Boxes

These magical yet minimalist mirrored planter boxes demonstrate how a decorative accent can be a true reflection of your personality. Bargain beveled mirrors form the sides, with a flat mirror for the base. A little hot glue transforms the assemblage into a sturdy shelter for homegrown plants.


Related: 10 Crazy New Ways to Bring the Garden Indoors

hisugarplumsblog.com

Picture Perfect

3/21
Photo Fridge Magnets

If old magazines or snapshots are cluttering your shelves, give them a second life as custom photo magnets. Simply cut the images down to the size of a quarter, glue them to dollar-store glass dragon tears, and adhere magnets to the back to create these photogenic fridge toppers.


Related: 10 Extras to DIY for Your Kitchen

photojojo.com

Learn the Ropes

4/21
Laundry Basket from Trash Can

One man’s trash is a DIYer’s treasure. A case in point: this rope hamper upcycled from little more than a plastic wastebasket. After wrapping the basket in dyed cotton rope and securing the strands with hot glue, fill the whimsical woven bin with garments, towels, or comforters.


Related: 20 Instant Updates for a Laundry Room You Can Love

iheartorganizing.com

Mat Finish

5/21
No-Sew Placemat Pillow

Placemats are more than just glamorous guests at the dinner table. When doubled up and plumped with stuffing, then ironed shut with fusing web, they become pretty no-sew pillows to liven up a sofa, chaise, or hammock.


Related: 8 Things You Didn't Know a Clothes Iron Can Do

happytogetherbyjess.com

Novel Idea

6/21
Toy Bookends

If you’re toying around with DIY decorative accents for the kids’ room, look no further than these bookends. Dollar-store toy elephants are glued to an L-shaped base constructed from pieces of 1x4's and then spray-painted for a playful look at a beastly good bargain.


Related: 10 Novel DIYs for a Better Bookshelf

lovegrowswild.com

Mass Produce

7/21
Tiered Vegetable Stand

When you’re finished wining and dining your guests, repurpose the empty wine bottles into a showstopping tiered serving tray. Dollar-store plates and bowls form the tiers, while cut-up wine bottle tops take the pretty platter—and your appetizing displays—to new heights.


Related: 18 Tiny Kitchens We Love

savedbylovecreations.com

Beautiful Blends

8/21
Coffee Cup Succulent Garden

Kitchen greenery doesn't get any fresher than this coffee-cup succulent garden. To create one of your own, use a permanent marker and a stencil to add custom letters to the cups. Then, fill these whimsical planters with potting soil and succulents, and put your caffeine-free kitchen companions on parade.


Related: Your Easiest-Ever Garden: 7 Planters That Do All the Work

diyinspired.com

Flying Colors

9/21
Colorful Clothespin Mirror

Mounted on an entryway wall, this mirror is sure to be the fairest of them all. What’s the secret to this DIY success? Its frame, composed of dyed and dried clothespins affixed to the mirror with heavy-duty adhesive, conveys a modern, multicolored aesthetic that brings a playful vibe to any home.


Related: Reinvent Your Furniture with 9 Colorful DIYs

auntpeaches.com

String Theory

10/21
Simple Pendant Light

It’s no wonder why yarn is a minimalist DIYer’s dream material. The thrifty thread can effortlessly update style-devoid home accents. Here, ivory string wrapped around a lackluster lampshade instantly transforms it into a luminous pendant light that's sure to get noticed.


Related: 15 "Under $100" Lighting Solutions for Every Room

designlovefest.com

Free and Clear

11/21
Picture Frame Bedside Tray

Looked at from a novel vantage point, a dollar-store picture frame can be converted into an elegant organizer. Simply line the base of an acrylic photo frame with contact paper or fabric. Protected by its easy-to-remove lining, the tray serves as a practical accessory for a nightstand or changing table.


Related: 10 Artful Uses for Old Frames

madiganmade.com

Golden Touch

12/21
Spray-Painted Silverware

Your guests will never suspect this gilded cutlery's humble origins: a dollar store. To take flatware from forgettable to fabulous, cover the heads of the utensils with painter’s tape. Finish the handles with both gold and clear-coat spray paint to evoke a regal table setting on the cheap.


Related: 5 Things to Do with… Painter’s Tape

thesweetestoccasion.com

Light of the Party

13/21
Cupcake Liner String Lights

A kitchen staple among home bakers, cupcake liners make as festive an impression on light fixtures as they do on baked goods. Here, cupcake liners and tissue paper are first cut into floral shapes and stacked together. Then each bulb of a set of string lights is pierced through the center of a frilly flower to create a joyful party decoration.


Related: 7 Ways to Transform String Lights from Holiday to Every Day

fiskars.com

Writing on the Wall

14/21
To-Do List Tray

Mounted to the wall, a simple tray serves up as much style as utility. Topped with chalkboard paper and painted with a list template, this thrift-store tray quickly becomes a chalkboard-inspired tablet for tackling to-dos.


Related: 11 Easy DIY Projects to Declutter Your Home

savedbylovecreations.com

Crafty Cover-Up

15/21
Lampshade Makeover with Tights

See an old lampshade in a whole new light by dressing it up with chic castoffs from your wardrobe. Here, coral pink nylon tights, cut to size with a rotary cutter and stretched over the lampshade, form a naturally radiant protective cover that appears to emit softly colored light.


Related: 10 Things Your Bedroom Might Be Missing

vintagerevivals.com

Make the Rounds

16/21
Potato-Stamped Tablecloth

This dotted tablecloth is sure to make a striking statement, particularly in spaces with simple decor. The bold polka dots are created not by a paintbrush, but rather a potato. Cut in half and dipped in paint, the tater is then repeatedly pressed against a dollar-store drop cloth to create a stunning stipple.


Related: 10 Things You Didn't Know a Paintbrush Can Do

ohhappyday.com

Do or Dye

17/21
Dyed Hand Towels

Give yawn-worthy pillowcases, sheets, and towels the TLC they deserve with a thrift-store tie-dye kit. Simply fold and bind lackluster linens with rubber bands before soaking them in an ink bath to create a colorful two-tone motif.


Related: 10 Kitchen Updates You Can Do in a Day

thesweetestoccasion.com

On the Rise

18/21
Bundt Cake Hanging Planters

Have your cake and admire it too by hanging these Bundt-pan planters in the kitchen above an island, breakfast bar, or snack station. All you'll need for this DIY are dollar-store Bundt pans filled with succulents and hung from the ceiling with a length of rope or chain and some screw hooks.


Related: Buy or DIY: 7 Hanging Planters for the Great Indoors

sugarandcloth.com

Glazy Days

19/21
Marbled Pitcher

This artisanal marble pitcher will appear equally at home at a deckside BBQ or in a kitchen outfitted with marble countertops. Dip any plain white ceramic into a bath of water and swirls of nail polish to achieve a gorgeous glazed finish—just in time for festive summer gatherings.


Related: 9 DIY Ideas for a Summery Backyard

thesweetestoccasion.com

Medicine Cabinet Makeover

20/21
Contact Paper for the Medicine Cabinet

Is your medicine cabinet a bit of a bummer? Take the time to clean it out, then remove the shelves and set them aside. Peel and stick some budget contact paper on the inside of the cabinet for an easy and affordable pick-me-up! 


Related: Boring Bathroom? 7 Fixes for an Old Medicine Cabinet

designimprovised.com

Dollar DIYs

21/21
Dollar DIYs

Little upgrades can make a big difference.

bobvila.com

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