How To Upgrade Dollar Tree's Glass Vases For A Rustic Look On A Budget

When it comes to home decor, the humble glass vase is wildly versatile, offering myriad ways to creatively decorate your home with vases, particularly if you are an inspired DIYer. At just a little over $1 for a chic Clear Glass Cylinder Vase at Dollar Tree, they're accessibly priced too. Add some simple Crafter's Square Wood Dowels – also around $1 per 4-count package – and you'll have a beautiful, rustic decor element for your home at a bargain price.

All you need to get started is the glass vessel, the wood dowels, super glue, and your hot glue gun. It's well advised to use heavy-duty hot glue to ensure it adheres well to the glass. Run a thin line of hot glue a few inches down the dowel, then attach it to the vase. For the next dowel, repeat the process, adding a line of super glue to the edge of the wood where it will meet the first dowel. The super glue step is optional, but will definitely help to stabilize your construction. Cover the whole vase with the dowels, and you've got a sleek, Scandinavian-style vase that you can use to hold candles, greenery, branches, and — obviously — flowers. Add in some imaginative details to make this project extraordinarily yours.

You can keep the classic biophilic look by staining the wood dowels to compliment the other nature-inspired design elements in your space. For a slightly more mid-century twist, paint the bottom third of your wood dowels. Lay them all out side by side and run a line of painter's tape across all of them to create a uniform line. Once dry, flip them over while they're still attached to the tape, and paint the other side. 

Alternatively, create a mountain scene by securing the dowels to a flat surface. Paint them with peaks in various shades of grey, and add a little white on top for a snow-capped effect. Take it a step further and, rather than using paint, simply cut your dowels into peak shapes, then glue them in a mountain-scape pattern around your vase. 

Put the wrap on your project by tying a ribbon around it at the base or center. You could also embellish with wood beads or twine; give a basket-weave look by laying sisal rope or a ribbon between the dowels as you go; or add a round of wood to the base to add height and visual interest. In reality, you can make an elegant-looking vase from just about anything. Even upcycled Dollar Tree makeup organizers give you a high-end look on a budget. However, if you're attached to the biophilic or Scandinavian style, there are loads of other rustic home decor ideas using dollar tree items out there to inspire you.