The $1.50 Dollar Tree Find So Good I Bought 12 (It's Nearly Identical to Pottery Barn's)

I have a Pinterest board called "Dream Home Decor" where I save inspirational design and decor images for my house. There's stuff for my living room, bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen, and dining room. The dining room images I pin tend to be for special occasions and holidays, and they're full of effortlessly styled tables with lots of layers, texture, and interesting but accessible centerpieces.

Most of the individual pieces in these photos are pretty expensive (I know, because I've looked up many of them!). So, they're really just there for inspiration, to keep in mind and refer to when recreating my own look for less.

Having ideas in mind is helpful because when I'm out and about, I can take in details I'd otherwise miss. A great example of this is how I recently came across Dollar Tree's Red Charger Plates.

I pinned a couple of images with festive red chargers, and these are such a great find because they retail for $1.50 each, but are nearly identical to Pottery Barn's much more expensive Caterer's Box Charger Plates, which sell for $99 for a set of 12.

Why I Love Dollar Tree's Red Charger Plates

Both versions are made of a lightweight plastic, though Pottery Barn's (made of polypropylene) is more durable for long-term use. But the way I see it, I'm not really sacrificing quality or durability with the cheaper ones that I use on occasion; I'm just refusing to overpay for a rim that's mostly covered by my dinner plate. 

The math is wild. When I break down the cost, Pottery Barn charges are $8.25 per charger compared to Dollar Tree's $1.50. Once my dinner plate is on top, I can only see about 1 1/2 inches of that red rim peeking out. I know this is coming from a deal-hunter, but paying $1.50 for a pop of color makes much more fiscal sense than paying closer to $9. At that price, you can set a table for 12 for just $18—a whopping 82% in savings.

How To Use Dollar Tree's Red Charger Plates

Both chargers have a bright, saturated, and glossy candy-apple finish that looks stunning layered under white dishes for Christmas or paired with textured pink napkins for a Valentine's Day brunch. They elevate any table, especially for the holidays, by adding height, warmth, and a polished look with minimal (if any) effort.

While the primary job of a charger is to protect the table, catch spills, and look pretty under dinner plates, they also make excellent disposable platters for the holidays. I could see myself piling a few high with homemade cookies or easy fudge, wrapping them in cellophane, and gifting them to neighbors. Since the "plate" is so cheap, it can easily be part of the gift. 

If I've been dreaming of a beautiful holiday table but can't justify the cost of all the fancy pieces, I take it as my sign to head to Dollar Tree. It's one of the easiest ways for me to make my table look polished and intentional while still leaving room in my budget for the things that really matter, like a quality bird, a bottle of bubbly, or an extra dessert.

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