DIY Planter Makeovers | Glam Dollar Tree Flower Vases

Upscale basic plastic planters into high-end boutique-style decor with paint, bling, and simple upcycling hacks.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, links in this post may earn me a small commission at no cost to you.

I always find that simple plastic planters from the dollar store have the most potential for a high-end look if you just give them a little love. My home decor style is all about that sparkle, and these two planter makeovers are my favourite way to turn something “plain” into something “exquisite”. Whether you want a stately floor vase for your foyer or a delicate table centerpiece, I’m going to show you how I used a few of my go-to supplies to get these results for only a few dollars.

📺 WATCH: See the full planter deconstruction and glam transformation here:

Materials

Browse my curated list of Favorite Craft Supplies, Tools & Embellishments here.

Plastic garden planters (standard and large sizes)
Plastic dessert cup
Silver plastic spoons (round heads only)
Crystal gem stickers
Silver gift wrap ribbon
Silver beaded necklace
Silver and gold metallic paint
White primer
Mod Podge
White glitter
Dry rose petals (for styling)

Tools

Hot glue gun and glue sticks
Fix-All adhesive
Paintbrush and thin detail brush
Foam sponge (optional for painting)

💡 Sandy’s Crafting Tips & Hacks

The Primer Foundation: If you are working with a dark plastic planter like my dark brown one, don’t skip the primer! Applying two coats of white primer first ensures your metallic paint stays bright and doesn’t get “muddy” from the dark base.
Texture Trick: To give smooth plastic the look of expensive ceramic, I love mixing white glitter directly into my Mod Podge. It adds a lovely gritty texture that makes the final paint job look much more substantial.
The Glue String Sweep: Once the hot glue has cooled, I always take a dry paintbrush and twirl it over the gems and beads. It whisks away those pesky “spiderwebs” instantly without messing up my mirrors or gems.

Instructions

Project 1: The Large Textured Pedestal Vase

Prime the Surface: My planter was a very dark brown, so I started by applying two coats of white primer. I found it best to wait at least 30 minutes between coats to make sure it was fully dry.
Add the Spoon Detail: I snapped the heads off some silver plastic spoons and used hot glue to adhere them around the lower section of the planter. Then, I measured out a string of silver beaded necklace and glued it around the base to frame the spoons.
The Double-Prime Secret: This is a step I really recommend—once my spoons and beads were on, I applied another thick coat of primer right over the top of them! This makes the different materials look like one unified piece before the final colour goes on.
Custom Paint and Glitter: I mixed gold and silver metallic paint to create my own custom shade and added some silver glitter for extra glam. I applied this to the whole planter using a paintbrush.
Fill the Cracks: I noticed some white primer peeking through the gaps between the spoons, so I used a very thin detail brush to go in and fill those cracks with paint. This small detail made a huge difference in making it look high-end.
Final Bling: To finish it off, I lined the top rim with a row of crystal gem stickers and added a strip of silver ribbon along the very base edge.

Project 2: The Matching Glittered Pedestal Bowl Centerpiece

Create the Texture Base: I started this one by mixing white glitter into my Mod Podge and applying it to both the plastic dessert cup and the garden planter. This creates a really pretty, even texture.
Paint with Precision: Once the glitter base was dry, I applied two generous coats of the same gold/silver paint mix I used for Project 1. Again, I found that letting it dry for 30 minutes between coats gave me the best finish.
Assemble the Pedestal: After the paint was fully dry, I used Fix-All to adhere the planter to the dessert cup. I used the cup as the base, which instantly gave the vase a more regal height.
The Final Trim: I used my hot glue gun to add one last row of silver ribbon around the outer rim of the planter to tie it all together.
Style Your Space: I ended up putting some dry rose petals inside this one for a soft, elegant touch, and it looks beautiful sitting on my foyer table!