Fake It ‘Til You Make It: 17 Pottery Barn Dupes That Look Expensive (But Aren’t!)

Ah, Pottery Barn: the land of textured throw pillows, rustic wood accents, and perfectly arranged faux greenery (that never wilts!). We all love the effortless luxury it exudes, but let’s be honest, that price tag can make your bank account wilt faster than a forgotten bouquet. Don’t fret, design devotees!

Today, we’re channeling our inner DIY mavericks with “Fake It ‘Til You Make It: 17 Pottery Barn Dupes That Look Expensive (But Aren’t!)”.

Get ready to unleash your inner Joanna Gaines and transform budget-friendly finds into masterpieces that would fool even the most discerning design eyes. From upcycled vases to cool wall art, I have a treasure trove of projects that’ll have your guests exclaiming, “Wait, that’s DIY?” Grab your glue gun, unleash your creativity, and let’s get crafting!

This journey to a budget-friendly Pottery Barn paradise starts now!

Vase Dupes: From Humble to Haute

Upcycling thrift store vases if one of my favorite pastimes! There is no need to spend $100 on a vase when you can find one for a few dollars and make it over yourself.

Here are my favorite vase DIY makeovers inspired by Pottery Barn:

Under $10 Vase Project

This was my first Pottery Barn-inspired DIY project that I ever did! Since it was first published it has been a top read year after year.

The technique that I used on this project was first to coat the glass vase with joint compound to create the textured look of authentic earthenware. Then a combination of neutral paints to mimic an aged look.

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Terracotta Twists: Earthy Elegance with a Modern Touch

In this vase makeover, I took an out-of-style thrift store find and transformed it into a lookalike of a terracotta jug vase that I had seen on the PB website. It’s amazing what paint and a photo for inspiration can do!!

Your DIY projects don’t have to be perfect but it’s so fun creating your version of items that you just don’t want to spend the money on.

For this project, I used terracotta-colored paint to first cover the shiny red of the original vase. Then has some fun with white paint to create the details running around the vase.

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Secondhand Vase Recycle: From Drab to Fab

I don’t come across handled vases very often at the thrift store so when I see one I grab it! So many of the high-end retailers offer handled pottery vessels.

To create my version of the black vases that I saw in the catalogs last year I first gave my vase a coat of matte black paint. Then I added simple hashmark strokes over the surface to create an aged look.

Ugly Planter to Oversized Vase

This project started with a pretty ugly planter that I found at the thrift store. I grabbed it with no idea what I was going to do with it!

I started by removing the raggedly-looking rattan that was covering the planter. Then I used a combination of paint to make it look like I bought it at an expensive store.

Flea Market $5 Flip

This flea market find was only $5 and the vessel is about 24 inches tall! Good deal…but it was pretty ugly and needed some creative TLC.

To do this vase upcycle I first grabbed joint compound and a plastic notched tile trowel and created the interesting texture of the vase.

Next terracotta paint and a limewash gave this vase that ancient found pottery look.

This is my personal favorite!! I use it year-round filled with various stems.

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Wall Art Wonders: Transforming Blank Spaces

The Pottery Barn catalog is always loaded with fantastic wall art. Here are some of the projects that were inspired by looks that I spotted in the background of their styled rooms.

Coastal Vibes: Seashell Shadowbox Wall Art

Growing up near the New England sea shores I have always been a beach bum. For a modern take on a coastal vibe try making seashell shadowboxes.

Using a variety of shells and starfish I made a set of 4 shadowboxes with frames from Michael’s that I lined with linen and glued shells in different patterns.

Winter Gallery Wall

For a more modern look for winter, I tried to make a copy of an abstract painting I spotted online. I also created a few other simple pieces of wall art for this look. It’s a budget-friendly way to make your home unique.

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Beautiful Botanicals: DIY Shadowbox Display

Get a little creative and make this pretty woven shadowbox to display a few dried flowers. Perfect year-round project to try!

Faux But Fabulous: Crafting Lifelike Succulents That Thrive Forever

This has to be one of the coolest DIY projects that I have done over the years! If you are looking for a wow for your wall here it is!

These succulent wall art frames could be made smaller or even larger depending on your space and needs.

Rustic Snowflake Sign

Here is my version of the Pottery Barn snowflake sign. It starts with a large unfinished wood pallet hanging sign and small branch pieces to craft the snowflake.

Paint the pallet sign white and then start hot gluing branch pieces to create a snowflake. A pretty and rustic look to go from Christmas through Winter.

Home Decor Hits: Pottery Barn Look for Less

Here are a few of my home decor DIY projects that you can make to add a little pizzazz to your place.

Faux Eucalyptus Planter

Buying a high-quality premade planter like this can cost quite a bit from a designer catalog. But guess what?? It’s super simple to make on your home with just a few materials!

Terracotta Pumpkins: Make Your Own Version of the Viral Pottery Barn Ones!

This is a fan favorite on this website!! The moment I saw the Pottery Barn version of these pumpkins I knew they were going to be the “it thing” for Fall. For the past two years, they have sold out in August!!

First, you need to find a ceramic or plastic pumpkin and give it a coat of joint compound, paint with terracotta-shaded paint, and use chalk dust to give that authentic terracotta look.

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Faux Terracotta Bead Garland

Forget the hefty price tag, capture the sun-baked charm of terracotta beads with this easy DIY! Channeling inspiration from a Pottery Barn find, I crafted a rustic garland using readily available wood beads. A splash of color and a touch of texture later, you’ll have a stunning piece ready to grace your shelves or mantle.

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Beachy Keen: Craft a Sea Glass-Inspired Garland

I came across a glass bead garland in a Summer catalog and I loved the look of it for a fun home decor accent piece. Since I couldn’t find large glass beads I opted for wooden beads and a sea glass painting technique to craft this garland.

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Christmas Village Houses

Looking for a pretty way to DIY your own Christmas village on a dime?? Grab a few unfinished wood birdhouses then paint with white and add a rose gold roof with fine glitter.

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Gold Berry Topiary Trees

This holiday project was inspired by the red berry topiary trees available each winter from Pottery Barn. For a little bit of glam, I painted the set I made a champagne gold.

The supplies to make these topiaries are from Dollar Tree so it’s an affordable way to get the designer look.

Witch’s Broom with Lights

If you are looking for a fun way to decorate for Halloween try making this witch’s broom! It’s easy to do too! You will need to forage for an old branch and a pile of birch or other whispy branches.

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Whew! We’ve journeyed through a whirlwind of DIY magic, transforming ordinary finds into Pottery Barn-worthy masterpieces.

So don’t be afraid to get creative, experiment with materials, and embrace the occasional happy accident. Every nick and imperfection tells a story, adding a touch of personal flair to your handcrafted haven

Try out new techniques, tackle trickier projects, and let your imagination run wild. With each project you make you’ll refine your skills, discover hidden talents, and build a home that truly reflects your unique style and spirit.

So grab that glue gun, hold your head high, and keep crafting! Remember, it’s all about faking it ’til you make it – and with these budget-friendly Pottery Barn dupes, you’re already halfway there!

xo, Jennifer

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