Dollar Tree Laundry Basket DIYs That Look Surprisingly High-End

Dollar Tree Laundry Basket DIYs for a High-End Backyard on a Budget

 

If you’ve ever walked through Dollar Tree and thought, “What in the world could I make with this?” … welcome to my brain 😂

Over the past few months, I’ve been slowly refreshing our backyard and I kept coming back to the same item over and over again: Dollar Tree laundry baskets.

Not the prettiest supply in the store… but somehow they turned into some of my FAVORITE backyard DIYs.

Using spray paint, zip ties, glue, faux greenery, and a little creativity, I transformed those plastic baskets into:

• wood-look lanterns
• designer-style black lanterns
• hanging plant hammocks
• round wall trellis decor
• candle rings
• plant stand accents
• a modern round tray
• and more!

Most of these projects cost just a few dollars each and completely changed the look of our outdoor space.

And this is just PART ONE of my backyard refresh series — because in my next post, I’m sharing the FULL backyard makeover and how I used these Dollar Tree DIYs to make my backyard look high-end on a real-life budget.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FAQs

Can Dollar Tree laundry baskets be used outdoors?

Yes! I used spray paint and outdoor-safe styling techniques to help them hold up better outside.

What spray paint works best for plastic baskets?

I recommend spray paint labeled for plastic surfaces for better adhesion and durability.

How do you make Dollar Tree decor look high-end?

Stick to a cohesive color palette, repeat shapes/materials throughout the space, and combine budget DIYs with layered textures.

Are the candles real?

No — I used remote-controlled flameless candles from Amazon for safety and convenience outdoors.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplies I Used

• Dollar Tree Supplies
• Large laundry baskets
• Small laundry baskets
• Zip ties
• Hot glue gun
• Tacky glue
• Rope/twine (optional)

Other Supplies

• Spray paint (black + warm wood tones)
• Faux flowers 
• Faux greenery 
• Remote candles
• Scissors/wire cutters

Why I Bought Flowers from Michaels Instead

Honestly… Michaels won this round 😂

Their faux flowers and greenery were only $0.99 during the sale, while Dollar Tree flowers in my area are now $1.75 each. I was able to get fuller stems for less money.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DIY #1 — Dollar Tree DIY Wood Look Lanterns

These might be my favorite project from the entire refresh.

I used Dollar Tree laundry baskets and painted them in a warm wood-tone spray paint to mimic expensive outdoor lanterns you’d normally see at stores like Pottery Barn or Target. I used a protien powder container as the “glass” vase.

Inside, I added Amazon remote candles so they automatically glow at night without worrying about real flames outdoors.

Styling Tip

Add wood beads around the top handle area for a softer designer look.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DIY #2 — Modern Black Lanterns Dollar Tree DIY

I also created a black version that feels much more modern and high-end.

These look AMAZING grouped in pairs near seating areas or beside large planters.

 

You could call these:

• Modern Patio Lanterns
• Faux Metal Lantern Decor
• Designer-Inspired Outdoor Lanterns
• Basket Lantern DIYs

These were made using:

• Dollar Tree laundry baskets
• black spray paint
• plastic water jugs
• clear matte spray paint
• solar lights

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DIY #3 — Dollar Tree DIY Hanging Plant Hammocks

These hanging planters added SO much texture to the patio walls.

I used faux trailing greenery with solar lights and turned the baskets into hanging wall pockets that almost look like something from a boutique garden store.

They helped soften all the hard surfaces outside and made the backyard feel more layered and cozy.

At night with the solar lights glow and looks so pretty.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DIY #4 — Garden Trellis Wall Circles

These wall pieces became one of the focal points behind our outdoor sofa.

I combined circular frames with basket pieces and greenery to create decorative garden trellis art.

At night with the cafe lights glowing, they look SO pretty.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DIY #5 — Outdoor Candle Ring Dollar Tree DIY

This one was inspired by expensive tabletop candle holders I kept seeing online.

I used basket strips to create a modern circular candle surround that works perfectly for:

• outdoor tables
• patio styling
• centerpieces
• layering decor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DIY #6 — Laundry Basket Plant Stand Accent

One of the easiest hacks:
flip the basket upside down and use it as a modern plant stand.

Once spray painted black, it honestly looks like metal outdoor decor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DIY #7 — Round Outdoor Tray Dollar Tree DIY

I created a modern round tray using basket pieces and a tray base.

This is perfect for:

• candles
• small plants
• outdoor entertaining
• coffee table styling

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DIY #8 — Dollar Tree Hanging Basket Planter

For this project, I turned a Dollar Tree laundry basket into a hanging wall planter using:

• spray paint
• faux greenery
• faux flowers
• simple wall hooks
• laundry basket scrap piece
• hot glue
• fast grab tacky glue

Glue the laundry basket scrap piece to the planter to add texture. Once painted black, the basket instantly looked more like modern outdoor wall decor instead of plastic storage.

I filled it with tropical greenery and bright faux flowers to add color near our patio seating area, and it helped bring more life to the blank exterior wall without spending a ton of money on expensive outdoor planters.

 

 

 

Why I Love This DIY

• lightweight
• renter-friendly
• inexpensive
• easy to customize
• works indoors OR outdoors

You could also switch out the flowers seasonally:

• tropical plants for summer
• mums for fall
• evergreens for Christmas
• lavender for spring

Styling Tip

Group multiple hanging baskets together at different heights to create a fuller “designer patio” look.

Alternate Names:

• Dollar Tree Hanging Basket Planter
• DIY Outdoor Wall Planter
• Laundry Basket Wall Decor DIY
• Hanging Patio Basket DIY
• Dollar Tree Outdoor Planter Hack

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why These DIYs Worked So Well

The biggest reason these DIYs elevated the backyard is because they repeated the SAME design style throughout the space.

Instead of random decor everywhere, the repeated basket pattern made everything feel intentional and cohesive.

That’s honestly one of the biggest “designer tricks” for making budget decor feel expensive.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Final Thoughts

I still can’t believe most of these projects started with basic Dollar Tree laundry baskets 😂

What I love most about these DIYs is that they prove you don’t need expensive decor to create a cozy, beautiful outdoor space. A little creativity, some spray paint, and a consistent style can completely transform inexpensive materials into decor that looks so much more high-end.

These projects helped pull my entire backyard refresh together while staying budget-friendly — and honestly, seeing everything styled together at sunset with the candles glowing has made all the DIY chaos worth it.

If you try any of these laundry basket DIYs, I’d LOVE to see them! Tag me or leave a comment below and let me know which project is your favorite.

And don’t forget to check out PART 2 of this backyard series where I’m sharing the full backyard transformation, before photos, budget-friendly upgrades, outdoor curtain makeover, and all the details that made our space feel like a relaxing backyard retreat.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Up Next: My Full Backyard Refresh

In my next post and YouTube video, I’m sharing:

• our backyard BEFORE photos
• the major projects we invested in
• how we made the backyard feel resort-inspired
• Dollar Tree shower curtain cushion covers
• thrifted outdoor decor
• Walmart wood loungers
• TwoPages outdoor curtains
• tropical landscaping
• patio roof additions
• and all the DIY details that tied everything together

Because this backyard has been YEARS in the making.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links or a sponsored post. All opinions are always 100% mine and I don’t partner with any product or company that I don’t use and love. Please see our Full Disclosure for more information.

 

 

 

 

 

Dollar Tree Laundry Basket DIYs for a High-End Backyard on a Budget