8 Affordable Ways To Upgrade Your Home With Dollar Store Products
If you want to refresh your home without spending more than a few bucks, dollar stores are a surprisingly powerful place to start.
Whether you’re a homeowner or a renter, rising prices on everyday items can make budget-friendly decor, organization, and DIY projects feel out of reach. Dollar Tree and Dollar General, though, are full of stylish upgrades that look great and save you real money. Here’s how to transform your space for less.
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1. Painting Supplies
MoneyLion’s Dollar Tree pick: Tool Bench Hardware Painting Sets (5-pack for $1.50)
"For affordable yet quality painting supplies, you can check out the nearest dollar store," said Tommy Mello, CEO of A1 Garage Door Service. "You'll be surprised on how much money you'll save by doing this instead of buying from depots. Paint roller brushes, paint roller frames, paint brushes, foam brushes, paint buckets, [and] paint roller trays are all available in the dollar store. You can use these for a variety of home painting projects."
2. Bathroom Organization
MoneyLion’s Dollar General pick: Interiors By Design 3 Tier Corner Shelf Table ($15)
"If your bathroom is due for an upgrade or a small space is cramping your style, your local dollar store will have plenty of options to help you organize your belongings in a small space," said Brentnie Daggett, a content editor for Rentec Direct property management software. "Look for makeup organizers, drawer dividers, baskets and more to keep your space tidier and more inviting."
3. Storage Drawer Boxes
MoneyLion’s Dollar General pick: Tan Square Fabric 2-Drawer Storage Set ($5)
"One item you can buy from the dollar store to upgrade your home is storage drawer boxes," said Zephyr Chan, founder of Better Tools. "I perform this upgrade by putting the storage boxes in my pantry. Usually, my pantry is filled to the brim with all kinds of kitchen items, from cutlery to kettles and blenders. This leaves me with very little space for other things. But drawer boxes help me pack a lot of stuff in a very efficient manner."
4. Individual Solar Lights
MoneyLion’s Dollar Tree pick: Seasonal Collection Solar Stake Light ($1.50)
"[These] are perfect for lighting the path from curbside to your home," said Keron Howe, CEO and co-founder of Property Nation. "Position them evenly about 1.5m apart on either side. They generate just enough light to illuminate the pathway and can make your property more attractive to buyers."
5. Wooden Utensils
MoneyLion’s Dollar General pick: True Living Wooden Spoon Set (3-count for $2.25)
"Wooden utensils are great for the kitchen and serving salads," Howe said. "Use them outdoors to label your plants. Whether a wooden salad fork or large spoon, their handle sticks easily into the soil. Write the plant name in paint or engrave it."
6. Wire Wastebasket
MoneyLion’s pick: Essentials Wire Wastebaskets ($1.50)
"Outdoor lighting can be expensive, but with a wire wastebasket, a pair of wire cutters, and a light kit you can achieve a high-end look at a steal," Howe said. "Use the wire cutters to fashion a hole. Through the hole, insert the cable and fix the fitting. Great for a rustic-styled porch."
7. Picture Frames
MoneyLion’s Dollar Tree pick: Special Moments Wooden Photo Frame ($1.50)
"Dollar stores have a decent selection of picture frames that come in different sizes," said Bill Gassett, founder of Maximum Real Estate Exposure. "They can be used for traditional family photos or jazzed up with your favorite pictures found elsewhere. Some people also like to make them into decorative trays to hold items on a coffee table such as a TV remote."
8. Planters
MoneyLion’s Dollar General pick: Make Shoppe Clay Pots (2-count for $2)
"Planters are a cost-effective way to grow herbs and small shrubs," Howe said. "Using a glue gun, attach natural rope in a spiral design to create your own unique rustic style. For a more boho chic look, opt for multicolored ropes."
Nicole Spector contributed to the reporting for this article. Prices and availability are subject to change.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.