Why They Bought It & Tested It
Decorating for the holidays with a cohesive, designer aesthetic often comes with a steep retail price tag, prompting many homeowners to look for budget alternatives. Ralph Lauren-inspired plaids, rich velvets, and antique bronze accents usually require a significant financial investment at high-end department stores.
To find out if affordable alternatives can genuinely rival luxury collections, reviewer Kathryn from Do It On A Dime set out to test the seasonal holiday offerings at Dollar Tree. The goal was to see if smart styling and simple crafting could transform inexpensive items into an upscale winter wonderland without breaking the bank.
“Because of the fabric backing some of the faux snow will stick to the back, I love how this turned out. It might be one of my favorite Dollar Tree DIYs ever.”
— Do It On A Dime (Video Test)
The Real-World Test & Results
The hands-on evaluation began with an in-store walkthrough examining large velvet ornaments, novelty candy decorations, disco balls, vintage-style figures, and automated LED window candles. Following the aisle walkthrough, the reviewer recreated a complete Ralph Lauren-inspired tablescape using wreaths, bronze deer figurines, and seasonal tabletop linens.
The centerpiece of the evaluation was a step-by-step DIY project combining an arched picture frame, a fabric desk organizer, hot glue, mini frosted trees, and cut plastic ornament halves. Finished with a dusting of faux snow, the project demonstrated how basic dollar store supplies can be re-engineered into sophisticated decor pieces.
The Drawbacks To Know Before Buying
While the visual results are surprisingly upscale, the testing process revealed a few distinct trade-offs and annoyances that shoppers should anticipate before heading to the store.
1. Static snow mess: During the DIY snowglobe project, lightweight faux snow clings stubbornly to fabric backing boards due to static electricity, requiring patience to clean up.
2. Rapid stock depletion: Specialty items like wired velvet ribbons and high-end glass-look ornaments sell out almost immediately once holiday inventory hits store shelves.
3. Assembly required: Achieving the polished designer aesthetic often mandates manual crafting steps, such as cutting plastic bulbs with pipe cutters and modifying standard blanks.
Dollar Tree Luxury Christmas Decorations & Ornaments
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Original Video Review by Do It On A Dime
12:02 in-depth test, temperature checks and cleaning demonstration.
