15+ Dollar Store Hacks Look Way More Expensive Than They Are
I have mixed feelings about dollar stores. On one hand, they are full of practical finds that feel easy on the budget. On the other, you never quite know if something will last.
That uncertainty is exactly why I enjoy seeing creative dollar store ideas online. They turn simple, low cost items into smart home solutions and give me inspiration I can try confidently without worrying about wasting money.
1. Got a ton of school books and binders? Dish racks can help.
The wire racks are perfect for keeping things upright, and the cutlery basket works great for small supplies.
A little craftiness goes a long way. You can cover them with decorative paper to hide the plain look.
The dollar store is full of clever back to school hacks like this.
2. Hack yourself a lazy Susan alternative.
It’s not the quietest option, but if you fill a cake pan with glass beads and place another pan on top, you can spin the top one easily.
3. Don’t get a crick in your neck if your flight has no media screens.
A cheap easel or photo display from the dollar store can be attached to the upright tray table, holding your phone or tablet at eye level while you fly.
This works just as well for road trips.
4. Light up the patio for pennies.
Solar lights are just a few bucks.
Skip the stakes and place the light in a dollar store vase filled with decorative rocks.
It would look even prettier with colored marbles or glass beads, catching the light and sparkling softly.
5. Turn a collection of dollar store mirrors into a chic monogram piece for your side table or mantel.
Even if the mirrors aren’t the color you hoped for, you can simply paint the frames.
Check out The Blue House Crafts for all the crafty details.
6. Jazz up cork coasters with a bit of paint.
For some reason dogs always seem to ruin my coasters, so I don’t want to spend much on them.
Plain ones feel a little boring though.
This simple trick from Token & Bliss is the perfect solution.
You can find cork coasters, tape, and paints all at the dollar store.
Just use the tape to mask off shapes and paint them in any colors you like.
7. Keep the car clean with over-the-door organizers.
Just hang them on the backs of chairs.
This is especially helpful with young kids when you need quick access before the mess gets out of control.
There isn’t always time to dig through a diaper bag.
8. Make dollar store dishes custom with Sharpies.
A quick trip in the oven can make oil-based Sharpie markers permanent on porcelain and other ceramics.
It’s an easy way to create custom dishes without paying full price.
9. Keep your baby’s legs warm with altered tube socks.
Just cut off the foot part of a sock and sew the hem.
Kids grow so fast, it’s silly to spend a lot on leg warmers.
You can also use fabric glue or tape instead of sewing.
10. And don’t waste the leftover scraps.
Those cut footies can easily become simple sock puppets.
Or stuff them with fluff and sew the ends to make a quick cat toy.
The possibilities are endless.
11. Keep cables from tangling with a quick trip to the hair products aisle.
For a dollar, you can get a bunch of plastic claw hair clips that make perfect cable holders.
They come in many sizes, so you can find the right one for your needs.
The simplest hacks are always the best.
12. Make a family command center.
Command centers are a simple way to keep the whole family on top of appointments and chores.
They don’t have to cost a fortune.
13. Makeup compacts can be glued together to create a show-stopping mirror, too.
Karianne from Thistlewood Farms has a great tutorial to help you make one for your home.
14. Shannon, the creative mind behind Home Made Lovely, managed to put together these trendy topiaries using materials from her local dollar store.
She made one of these beauties for just five dollars, which is a total win in my book.
15. Use a folding mesh hamper for easy beach days.
You can buy mesh bags, but a simple hamper works just as well.
It keeps shovels and buckets together, neat and ready for the next beach day.
Give it a shake, and the extra sand falls away, leaving only what you want.
16. What was once a boring accordion rack is now a pretty storage solution for your entryway.
Drawn To DIY used marble contact paper to give a dollar store find a fresh, stylish look.
17. With the help of some contact paper and magnets, Aimee, aka The Crazy Craft Lady, was able to turn a dollar store cookie sheet into a storage board for her bathroom.
Even if you don’t need makeup storage, this idea works for organizing other things too.
18. Make a high-end succulent planter from dollar store dishes.
Lucy at Craftberry Bush made this beautiful three-tiered planter for under ten dollars, and no one would ever guess.
Using epoxy glue and a couple of glasses from the same dollar store, she stacked a trio of white serving dishes.
Even the decorative rocks came from the dollar store.
Just add soil and succulents.
19. Another great way to upcycle frames from the dollar store is by making pretty lanterns with them.
Rob and Courtney from Hometalk created these beautiful accessories using picture frames, foam board, and hot glue.
Looking for a simple fix for clutter? Check out these 12+ Wallet Friendly Hacks You’ll Actually Love
