If you love all things DIY, you’re likely familiar with your local dollar or discount store. There are so many supplies, both obvious and unconventional, that you can keep handy for making striking home decor on a budget.

If you don’t have a particular craft in mind, that’s fine! This list can help get your creativity flowing and craft bins stocked.

Basic Supplies 

Skip the expensive office supplies because the dollar store office section has items that will do the trick just as well. Here are some suggestions:

• Scissors
• Tape
• Rulers
• Hot glue sticks
• Pencils

Common craft supplies

There are a few items that are useful for decorating and upgrading in a wide array of DIY projects.

Twine
The string is an essential tool in crafting, and twine has a great neutral look.

Ribbons
Burlap is a useful ribbon for hanging and decorating year-round.

Paints
Acrylic paint for as little as a dollar? Yes, please! Black, white, blue, yellow and red are good to have for creating a spectrum of colors.

Washi-tape
There are so many patterns to choose from for this helpful decorative tape.

Zip ties
Hold down your creations securely with zip ties if glue won’t do the trick.

Items you can upgrade yourself

Indoor

Picture frames
Upgrade picture frames by painting them, turning them into trays, or even gluing four together into a cube to create a lantern —and so much more.

Wooden blocks
If you can find wooden blocks at your dollar store, grab them while they’re there! They are a popular item DIYers find useful for creating items like frames, coasters, and keychains.

Small Mirrors
Using small mirrors can make a big difference in your home on their own or upgraded into decorative items, such as a mirrored candle holder.

Buckets and bins
Storage bins can be surprisingly expensive, and dollar store plastic bins can do the trick if you spend the time upgrading and personalizing them. They can be used for more than storage, too—you just have to get creative!

Candleholders
The candle holders at the dollar store can hold your candles, but they can also be cake stands, picture frame stands, or whatever your mind can create.

Outdoor 

Wreath wireframes
Instead of buying an expensive seasonal wreath you’ll likely use once, consider building a unique wreath for your door using the dollar store wreath wire. The frames come shaped in a ring, ready to be filled with your favorite faux plants or cut up to use for wire in other projects.

Fake flowers
Why spend the money on flowers that won’t last through the season in your decor? The dollar store has sections of just about any color flower and type of greenery you can think of—and they can look very realistic! They are easy to cut and shape to your liking.

Flowerpots
Flowerpots are an obvious choice to use for your porch or windowsill garden because they are easy to upgrade to your style without searching everywhere for one that matches your decor. Add ribbons using hot glue, or paint on a design of your choice—voilà! Your perfect planter is as cheap as a dollar.

Wood door signs
There are an array of premade wood door signs at most dollar stores that might not fit your style. However, they make for a great wood canvas for an array of projects. You can also easily paint over the premade design and paint your own to hang in front of your home.

Use this list as a guide to get you started with crafting, but remember that DIY projects are about making your home unique, personal, and functional. These items are here to help when inspiration strikes!