DIY Craft · Outdoor · Budget Decor
6 Dollar Tree Pottery Barn Dupes for Your Outdoor Patio
Projects
6 Outdoor DIYs
Total DIY Cost
~$48.55
Retail Value
$727+
Average Savings
Up to 98%
Overview
This guide covers six Pottery Barn-inspired outdoor patio DIY projects demonstrated by Shannon of The Daily DIYer channel on YouTube. All six projects use materials primarily sourced from Dollar Tree, with a small number of low-cost supplementary items. The finished pieces achieve a high-end look at a fraction of the retail price.
The six projects are: a wall-mounted metal lantern sconce pair, a string light post display, concrete planters with boxwood toppers, a solar light rock installation, a garden trellis, and striped decorative pillow covers. Combined retail value of comparable Pottery Barn products exceeds $727. The DIY versions cost approximately $48.55 in total — a 93% overall saving.
Reference Video
Source: YouTube · The Daily DIYer · Presenter: Shannon · For reference only
Project 1 — Metal Lantern Wall Sconces
A pair of black metal lantern sconces with a candle insert, designed to hang on exterior siding using removable siding hooks. The back panel of each lantern is covered with a spray-painted chopping mat to match the solid black back of the Pottery Barn inspiration piece.
Retail$249
DIY Cost$7
Savings97%
Materials (per pair)
Dollar Tree metal lanterns × 2
Dollar Tree chopping mat pack × 1
Dollar Tree glass candle holders × 2
Matte black spray paint
E6000 adhesive glue
Hot glue gun + glue sticks
Siding hooks × 2
Battery-powered candles × 2
1
Trace and cut the back panel
Lay each lantern on the matte side of a chopping mat and trace around it. Cut out the shape — this panel will cover the back window of the lantern. Stack the first cut piece on top of the remaining mat to trace and cut an identical second panel.
2
Spray paint panels and glass holders
Take the chopping mat panels (matte side up) and both glass candle holders outside. Apply three coats of matte black spray paint for full, even coverage. Allow each coat to dry before applying the next.
3
Attach the back panel to the lantern
Apply E6000 glue to the two sides and the bottom of the panel, plus the top two corners only — do not glue the full top edge. Use hot glue to tack the panel in position immediately while the E6000 sets. Leaving the top edge unglued is intentional — it creates an open archway that allows the lantern to slide down over the siding hook without the hook being visible.
4
Attach candle holder inside lantern
Use E6000 and hot glue to secure the painted glass candle holder to the inside bottom of each lantern. Place a battery-powered candle inside the holder. The candle activates by twisting the base.
5
Hang with siding hooks
Clip a siding hook into the exterior siding at the desired position. Slide the lantern down over the hook through the open archway at the top of the back panel. The panel conceals the hook entirely. Repeat for the second lantern on the opposite side. Siding hooks are removable and leave no damage.
Project 2 — Outdoor String Light Posts
A pair of freestanding Edison-style string light posts positioned on either side of an outdoor table, with lights strung back and forth between them. The posts are made from Dollar Tree broomstick handles mounted in table-clamp brackets.
Retail$179
DIY Cost$17.25
Savings90%
Materials
Dollar Tree Edison-style string lights × 2 sets
Dollar Tree broomstick handles × 2
Table-clamp post brackets × 2
Zip ties (hardware section, Dollar Tree)
Tip
Dollar Tree carries two versions of string lights — round bulbs and white bulbs. Use the Edison-style bulbs with a brown cord for the closest match to the Pottery Barn look. Avoid the white-cord version.
1
Attach the brackets to the table
Each bracket has two screws. The first screw clamps the bracket onto the edge of the tabletop. The second screw is used to secure the broomstick handle. Remove the sticker from the bracket before mounting for a cleaner look. Attach one bracket on each side of the table directly across from each other.
2
Insert and secure the broomstick posts
Insert the broomstick handle into the bracket with the twist end facing down into the bracket hole first. Make sure the open hole at the top of the broomstick is facing up — this hole is needed to thread the lights. Tighten the second bracket screw to hold the post upright. Repeat on the other side.
3
String and zip-tie the lights
Begin at the plug end of the lights. Attach the first bulb after the plug to the top of one broomstick post using a zip tie; trim the excess tail. String the lights across to the second pole, then zigzag back and forth, zip-tying each end bulb at each pole. Do not pull the lights too tight between poles — over-tensioning causes the posts to lean inward toward each other.
Tip — Storage
The bracket screws can be loosened, the poles brought together, and the entire assembly stored flat. The setup is fully reusable and reassembles quickly for the next outdoor occasion.
Project 3 — Concrete Planters with Boxwood Toppers
Dollar Tree concrete-look planters topped with halved boxwood orbs, treated with a protective spray to extend outdoor lifespan. The orb is cut in half so only the visible top portion is used, with the interior cage hidden inside the planter.
Retail$149
DIY Cost$3
Savings98%
Materials
Dollar Tree concrete-look planters × 2
Faux boxwood orb × 1 (to cut in half)
Tin snips or strong scissors
Scotch Guard fabric protector spray
1
Cut the boxwood orb in half
Using tin snips, cut a single boxwood orb in half through its center. The orb contains an inner cage structure. Only the outer half-dome will be visible above the planter rim — the cage portion sits hidden inside the pot. Each half tops one planter.
2
Apply Scotch Guard to the greenery
Before placing any faux greenery outdoors, spray it thoroughly with Scotch Guard. This makes the greenery sun- and waterproof, prevents fading, and extends its outdoor lifespan. Apply in the same manner as spray paint, coating all surfaces evenly. Allow to dry before placing outdoors.
3
Set the orb halves on the planters
Place one boxwood half-orb on top of each planter, dome side up. The orb can be left loose for easy removal when bad weather arrives, or permanently secured with glue or clamps if preferred. Leaving it unattached allows the greenery to be brought indoors and reused across seasons.
Project 4 — Solar Light Rocks
Dollar Tree solar-powered light-up rocks installed within garden landscaping. The rocks charge during the day and emit a glow at night. The installation technique integrates the rocks into existing gravel or rock landscaping rather than placing them directly on top of the ground surface.
Retail (each)$39–$70
DIY Cost (each)$1.50
Savings96%
1
Dig a hollow before placing
Rather than resting the solar rock on top of the ground, dig a small hollow in the soil or gravel bed first. Lower the solar rock into the hollow so it sits partially recessed. This creates an integrated, embedded appearance that more closely resembles natural stone.
2
Cover the edges with surrounding gravel
After placing the rock in the hollow, arrange the surrounding gravel or landscape rock around the edges of the solar light to conceal the base and blend it into the ground. The solar panel on top remains exposed to charge during daylight hours.
Project 5 — Garden Trellis
A decorative garden trellis made from a Dollar Tree stretch canvas frame, barbecue skewers, wire, twine, and metal finial toppers. The finished piece is spray-painted black for a cohesive look. It can also serve as a functional trellis for climbing vines.
Retail$49.50
DIY Cost$5.55
Savings89%
Materials
Dollar Tree stretch canvas frame × 1
Dollar Tree long barbecue skewers
Metal fence finials × 1–2 (Amazon, ~$2–$3 each)
Thin wire
Twine or string
Rubber band
Hot glue + E6000
Matte black spray paint
Tip — Canvas Reuse
After removing the canvas from the frame, set it aside rather than discarding it. Canvas can be fed through a standard inkjet printer to make custom artwork for framing.
1
Prepare the frame
Remove the canvas from the stretch frame. Use pliers or a staple remover to extract all staples from the wood frame, then clean up the corners. The bare wooden frame becomes the base of the trellis.
2
Hot glue skewers into the corners
Hot glue the pointed ends of the barbecue skewers into the four corners of the wooden frame, fanning them upward and inward so they converge toward a central point at the top. Gather all the skewer tips together with a rubber band and allow the glue to hold the arrangement in position.
3
Wire and tie for permanent hold
Once the hot glue has set, wind thin wire around the skewers where they meet the frame to permanently reinforce the attachment. At the top, wrap twine or string around the gathered skewer tips and tie it off securely to hold the fan shape in place.
4
Attach finial and spray paint
Use E6000 and hot glue to attach a metal fence finial to the top of the skewer cluster. Allow to dry completely. Then take the entire assembled trellis outside and spray paint it matte black all over. This unifies all elements into a single cohesive piece and creates a high-end wrought-iron appearance.
Project 6 — Striped Decorative Pillow Covers
Plain pillow covers painted with two white chalk-paint stripes down the center, replicating the stripe pattern on a Pottery Barn design. The technique uses painter's tape to mask the stripe edges and chalk paint applied in two coats.
Retail (each)$23
DIY Cost (two)$8
Savings66%
Materials
Plain pillow covers × 2
Painter's tape
White chalk paint (or white fabric paint)
Paintbrush
Iron or mini heat press
Scotch Guard (optional)
1
Iron the pillow covers flat
Before painting, iron or steam the pillow covers to remove any creases or packaging folds. When ironing covers with a rubber backing, keep the iron away from the rubber surface to avoid melting. Flat, crease-free fabric produces cleaner paint lines.
2
Apply painter's tape for two stripes
The Pottery Barn inspiration piece has two stripes only. Apply strips of painter's tape to mask the areas where paint is not wanted, leaving two parallel stripe-width gaps down the center of the pillow cover. Press the tape edges firmly to prevent paint bleed.
3
Paint two coats and remove tape
Apply two coats of white chalk paint to each stripe gap. Chalk paint adheres well to fabric without requiring a fabric-specific medium. Allow the first coat to dry before applying the second. Once the second coat is dry, remove the painter's tape to reveal clean stripe edges.
Outdoor Use Tip
For outdoor pillow covers, finish with a coat of Scotch Guard after the paint has fully dried. This makes the painted surface waterproof and fade-resistant.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the top of the chopping mat left unglued on the lantern sconce?
▼
Leaving the top edge unglued creates an open archway that allows the lantern to slide down over the siding hook. This conceals the hook entirely and gives a seamless, hardware-free appearance on the front of the lantern.
Which Dollar Tree string lights are closest to the Pottery Barn look?
▼
Dollar Tree carries two versions — round Edison-style bulbs with a brown cord, and standard white bulbs on a white cord. The brown-cord Edison version is the closer match to the Pottery Barn string light post look.
How do you protect faux outdoor greenery from sun and moisture?
▼
Spray the greenery with Scotch Guard fabric protector before placing it outdoors. It creates a sun- and waterproof coating that prevents fading and extends the life of the greenery. Apply it in the same way as spray paint, coating all surfaces evenly.
How do you make the macramé cord finger chains for the doormat fringe?
▼
Start with a short tail at the top and the remaining cord at the bottom. Put two fingers through the starting loop, pull the longer cord through to form a new loop, and repeat. Keep pulling the cord through each new loop to build a braided chain. To finish, cut the tail and thread it through the final loop to knot. Each chain takes approximately two minutes and the project uses six total — three per side of the mat.
How do you install solar light rocks so they look integrated in the garden?
▼
Before placing the solar rock, dig a shallow hollow in the soil or gravel. Lower the rock into the hollow so it sits recessed, then push surrounding gravel or landscape rock up around the edges to cover the base. The solar panel on top remains exposed for charging. This makes the rock appear embedded in the ground rather than placed on top of it.
Leave a Comment
Share your build results, variations, or questions below.