You Don't Need a Big Budget to Decorate Like a Designer — Michaels Proves It
When most people think of Michaels, they picture craft supplies, scrapbooking paper, and DIY project kits. What they don't picture is a go-to destination for genuinely stylish home décor. But here's the thing: interior designers have been quietly raiding the aisles of Michaels for years, picking up pieces that look far more expensive than they actually are. We decided to put that reputation to the test by asking a professional designer to walk through Michaels with a $50 cap and come back with her very best finds. The results? Honestly impressive — and more than a little eye-opening for anyone who has been sleeping on this craft store giant.
Whether you're furnishing your first apartment, refreshing a living room on a shoestring, or just love the thrill of a great home décor deal, this list is for you. Below, we break down the designer's three top picks, why she chose them, and how you can style them at home right now.
Why Michaels Deserves a Second Look for Home Décor
Michaels has quietly evolved its home décor and seasonal collections over the past several years. While the craft supplies still dominate the floor space, the store now carries an increasingly curated selection of vases, frames, faux botanicals, candles, trays, and decorative accents that wouldn't look out of place in a boutique lifestyle shop. The price points are what really set it apart — you can routinely find pieces that rival the aesthetic of items sold at Anthropologie or West Elm, but at a fraction of the cost.
Designers who work with clients on tight budgets know this well. The trick, as with any store, is knowing what to look for and what to skip. That's exactly where having a trained eye makes all the difference — and why we brought one in.
The Designer's 3 Top Picks from Michaels (All Under $50)
1. A Sculptural Vase or Vessel with Architectural Appeal
The first thing our designer gravitated toward was the selection of sculptural vases and decorative vessels. Michaels tends to stock an impressive range of shapes — think ribbed ceramic cylinders, matte-finish earthenware, and angular geometric forms — that tap directly into current interior design trends without demanding a premium price. A well-chosen vase, she explains, does double duty: it works as a standalone decorative object and as a functional container for stems, dried grasses, or seasonal branches.
Her specific advice is to look for pieces with an organic or handcrafted feel — slight irregularities in shape or texture that mimic the look of artisan pottery. These tend to photograph beautifully and anchor a shelf or console table with real visual weight. At Michaels, you can often find these in the $15–$30 range, leaving plenty of budget for the other two picks.
2. High-Quality Faux Botanicals or Dried-Look Stems
Fake plants have gotten a genuinely bad reputation, and for a long time, that reputation was earned. But the quality of faux botanicals has improved enormously, and Michaels has been at the forefront of stocking options that are nearly indistinguishable from the real thing — at least at a casual glance. Our designer was particularly enthusiastic about their dried-look stems and pampas-style grasses, which have become a staple of modern, organic interior design.
The advantage of faux botanicals, she points out, goes beyond just being low maintenance. They give you full creative control. You can cluster several stems in the vase you just picked up in pick number one, adjust the arrangement seasonally, and never worry about wilting or watering. Look for stems with muted, natural tones — dusty pinks, creamy whites, warm taupes — that complement a neutral palette. A bundle of three to five stems from Michaels typically runs well under $20, making them one of the best value items in the store.
3. A Decorative Tray or Catchall with Styling Potential
The third pick is one that seasoned decorators swear by: the humble decorative tray. A tray might not sound glamorous, but in the world of interior styling, it's one of the most versatile tools you have. It creates an instant sense of intention and organization, gathering otherwise scattered objects — a candle, a small plant, a stack of coasters — into a cohesive vignette that looks deliberate and designed.
At Michaels, the tray selection often includes options in rattan, lacquered wood, marble-look resin, and woven seagrass, all of which tap into different design aesthetics. Our designer recommends choosing a tray that contrasts slightly with your surface — a light rattan tray on a dark wood coffee table, for example, or a matte black tray on a white dresser — to create visual definition. Most of these come in under $30, and the styling payoff is immediate.
How to Style These Three Picks Together
One of the smartest things about these three picks is how naturally they work as a group. Place the tray on your coffee table or entryway console. Set the sculptural vase inside or just beside it. Add a cluster of faux dried stems to the vase, letting them arch slightly over the edge. The result is a layered, textural vignette that looks like it took real effort and real money — when in reality you spent under $50 and less than an hour at Michaels.
- Use trays to group objects and create visual cohesion on any flat surface.
- Choose vases with organic textures to add warmth and dimension to shelves or tables.
- Opt for faux botanicals in neutral, muted tones for a timeless, versatile look.
- Mix different heights and shapes within your vignette to keep things visually interesting.
- Refresh the arrangement seasonally by swapping out stems or adding a new accent piece.
The Bigger Takeaway: Good Design Is About Curation, Not Cost
What this experiment really proves is something designers have always known: good taste is not the same as a big budget. The ability to walk into a store like Michaels and identify the three pieces that will elevate a space — rather than clutter it — is a skill built on understanding proportion, texture, color, and composition. Those principles don't change whether you're spending $50 or $5,000.
The next time you're walking through Michaels looking for craft supplies, slow down in the home décor aisles. Look for pieces with clean lines, natural materials, and neutral palettes. Pick things that serve more than one purpose, and resist the urge to buy something just because it's cheap. With a designer's eye and a modest budget, you might be surprised by just how much you can transform your space — one Michaels run at a time.