8 of the Most Underrated Items at the Dollar Store

It’s always good to buy secondhand when you can, and it’s definitely nice to invest in certain pieces that you want to have around for a while. But there’s also a time and place for dollar store goods. Seriously. Here are some dollar store standbys you shouldn’t overlook. 

Sure, wood and metal are pretty, but the plastic containers at dollar stores can be handier than you might imagine. They can serve well in offices, craft rooms, closet spaces, bathrooms, and anywhere else you might need to organize. 

I love having real candles in my home—that’s why I have a fireplace hearth full of them. But the LED candles that flicker can actually add a legitimate degree of ambience. I like to put them in places where I might not want to place a true flame, like on top of my guitar amp.

These days, dollar stores sell a lot of colored and textured glass. Stop by your local dollar store for a quick refresh on your home’s glassware, from votive holders to vases to stemware.

Although most adults eventually graduate past plastic hangers, plastic remains the obvious choice for children. Dollar stores often sell them, and in a few colors.

I’ll be the first one to tell you that these frames can fall apart easily—even a little more easily than what you might be used to from big box stores. The key is to keep these frames a bit out of reach—it will reduce the odds of them being messed with and falling apart, and make the finishes look richer from afar.

If you’d like to add colorful or textured little touches to your home, you might be surprised at how well certain dollar store items can stand up to the task. Think: seashells, sea glass, rope, and crafting supplies (including small foam wreath forms).

Speaking of wreaths: The thing about decorations for holidays like Christmas, Hannukah, and Halloween is that they usually only stay up for a month or so, max. Why not pay less for the things that get minimal usage?

Your nice copper garbage might add a lot to your kitchen, but can a $1 garbage work in some of your other spaces?