Turn A Boring Bowl Into A Chic Decor Piece With This Dollar Tree DIY

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At their simplest, DIY home décor projects can provide you with an opportunity to expend your creative energy. However, if you approach them in the right way, they have much more to offer. Often, your creations are the ultimate budget design hack. Thanks to discount retail chains like Dollar Tree, you only need to take a stroll through the aisles to get numerous ideas for elevating your home interiors without breaking the bank. For example, this Clear Oval Cut-Edge Plastic Bowl from Dollar Tree costs just $2. It may look boring as-is, but with a little crafting know-how, you can turn it into a chic centerpiece similar to a high-end — and often pricey — decorative pedestal bowl.

If you're wondering how to make this cheap Dollar Tree décor look expensive, the secret is making clever use of paint and embellishments. There's also lots of room for customization with this project, so you can easily end up with a unique bowl that reflects your personal taste. To craft your DIY décor piece, you'll need the aforementioned Dollar Tree plastic bowl, a tub of DecoArt Americana Chalky Finish Paint, and a clear matte polyurethane sealer. Also get two Frjjthchy Stainless Steel Beaded Napkin Rings and a pack of silver self-adhesive flat-backed beads. As for tools, prepare a glue gun and glue sticks, a sponge brush, and a regular paint brush (if you didn't buy a spray-on sealer). If you want to save money, you can also repurpose leftover paint instead of it rotting in the garage. Simply mix it with a couple spoonfuls of baking soda to create a textured paint.

Before you get started, cover your work surface in sheets of newspaper or scrap paper to protect it from dripping paint. Clean the bowl with dish soap and water, removing any labels as you do so. Place it upside down on your work surface to dry. Next, use the sponge brush to apply chalk paint all over the exterior of the bowl, dabbing rather than rubbing to ensure a textured surface. Set the bowl aside to dry once again, which will take about 30 minutes, depending on the paint brand. Once you can touch it without paint coming off on your fingers, apply the polyurethane sealer and leave the bowl to dry a final time.

Attach the napkin rings to the bottom of the bowl as feet using your glue gun. You'll want to attach one to either side of the oval base of the bowl, making sure they're evenly spaced and the bowl balances nicely on them. Press down on the napkin rings firmly after gluing them. If you prefer to give the feet a coat of paint instead of leaving them unfinished, glue them onto the bowl after cleaning it. The final step in this project is adding the embellishments. Turn the bowl right side up and stick the self-adhesive beads around the outer rim. You can also hold it in one hand if you prefer, turning it slightly as you apply each bead. The bowl is ready to use once you finish placing the beads.

For any DIY décor project, customization is the key to avoiding a cookie-cutter result and creating a one-of-a-kind item everyone will notice. For example, instead of using plain white chalk paint, choose a color that matches your existing interior palette. Or replace the simple flat-backed beads with tiny Wdartg Flat-Back Resin Flower Charms, repurposed buttons in a rainbow of hues, or delicate lace. For the feet, you could use Dollar Tree Crafters Square Mini Storage Containers in place of the napkin rings. Remember there's nothing cast in stone, so go with whatever strikes your fancy or blends well with your other home décor.

The final touch to making this a truly outstanding centerpiece is what you place inside the bowl. There are lots of affordable ways to fill and style a shallow bowl décor; whatever embellishments you choose, aim to create a polished look. You could add a set of three Yiya Gold Metal Decorative Spheres to contrast against the silver feet and beaded rim or fill it with your favorite artificial flowers, decorative stone balls, or even fresh fruit. Styled this way, the bowl works on a coffee table or kitchen island. Alternatively, place it in your entryway drop zone for keys and loose change or in your bedroom for jewelry. In short, this is one of those Dollar Tree décor hacks that creates chic storage for anywhere in the house.