Make Ralph-Lauren Inspired Christmas Plates With An Affordable Dollar Tree DIY

Creating a magical and aesthetic Christmas takes time, effort, and (most times) money. If you like the luxurious yet cozy Ralph Lauren Christmas style, which is one of the Christmas decor trends that are dominating the 2025 holiday season, then decorating your home for Christmas this year may be even more expensive. If you don't feel like spending $295 on a single Ralph Lauren charger for your dining table setup, then it may be time to make your own plates. Luckily, there is a simple DIY that makes clear plastic plates look high-end and festive with the help of some plaid or tartan tissue paper.

Rather than spending hundreds of dollars to set your table for four people, you can do so for under $15 with a trip to Dollar Tree and a craft store. You will need to buy some Clear Charger Plastic Plates With Gold Rims from Dollar Tree that cost $1.50 per plate. You'll also need some festive tissue paper. While Dollar Tree sells some holiday printed tissue papers, you may need to check other stores for plaid or tartan patterns similar to the Ralph Lauren style. The plaid paper in Michaels' Christmas Plaid and Dots Tissue Paper Pack looks similar to the Ralph Lauren Alexander charger's pattern and costs only $2.99 for a pack of 24 that includes eight of the plaid sheets. Finally, you will need some Mod Podge, which you can get from a craft store for a few dollars. Any will work, but you may want to consider the dishwasher-safe Mod Podge that allows you to hand wash your dishes after use.

Once you have all of your materials, you can begin. First, remove the sticker from the back of the plate. If there is any residue left behind, apply a few drops of vegetable oil, leave it for a few minutes, and then gently wipe it away and wash with dish soap and warm water to remove any oils. Make sure that the plate is completely clean and dry. Next, flip the plate so that it is upside-down and apply some Mod Podge. You want to create a coat that is as thin and even as possible, so start by pouring out a very small amount and add more as needed while you spread the Mod Podge across the whole back of the plate. 

Then, carefully lay a sheet of tissue paper over the Mod Podge and smooth it out so there are as few wrinkles as possible. Cut off the excess tissue paper from around the plate, and then apply another thin layer of Mod Podge on top of the tissue paper before allowing the whole setup to dry thoroughly. Once dry, you can now set your table with the lovely plates. If you still want to maximize savings, build some budget-friendly holiday centerpiece DIYs to make your dining table more elegant.

Remember that these plates have to be wiped or hand-washed carefully, and while beautiful, you can make even prettier ones with glass plates instead. You can use Mod Podge on clear glass plates that you buy new or find secondhand among the things you should be thrifting for Ralph Lauren inspired holiday decor.