{"id":1696,"date":"2026-04-19T22:12:47","date_gmt":"2026-04-19T22:12:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/homewithem.com\/?p=1696"},"modified":"2026-04-19T22:12:48","modified_gmt":"2026-04-19T22:12:48","slug":"inlaw-dining-room-centerpiece-dupe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/homewithem.com\/?p=1696","title":{"rendered":"How I Made an $18 Centerpiece that Looks Just Like the $80 One"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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okay so if you’ve been following the in-law dining room project \u2014 hi, welcome back, it’s been a minute. life happened. but we’re back and we’re finishing things, and today i want to talk about the centerpiece situation because it genuinely might be my favorite budget win yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Watch the Video<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Original Plan (and why it didn’t work out)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

one of the last finishing touches for the dining room was a centerpiece. i had the perfect bowl picked out the kind that looks expensive and intentional and ties the whole room together. it was $80. just for the bowl. no florals, no foam, nothing just the bowl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

and then it sold out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

so instead of waiting around or spending $80+ on something i wasn’t even sure i could find again, i went to Target and Michaels and spent $18 total on a bowl that looks almost identical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

you can barely tell the difference. i’m not even exaggerating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Original Bowl<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

What I Used To Make the Dupe Centerpiece<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

here’s the full breakdown of everything that went into it:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Bowl<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

found this at Target for $18 LINK <\/a> similar shape, similar feel, honestly just as good. if you want to see the original $80 version i was going to get, i’ll link that too [ADD LINK HERE] so you can do the side-by-side yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Florals<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

grabbed everything from Michaels LINK<\/a> I went with faux stems that matched the vibe i was going for in the room. soft, neutral, a little organic-looking. the kind that photograph beautifully and won’t die on you two weeks later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Florist Foam<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

this is the secret weapon LINK<\/a> . if you’ve never used florist foam for a faux arrangement, it’s a game changer. it holds your stems exactly where you put them and keeps everything looking intentional instead of just… dropped in a bowl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Rattan<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"florist<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"faux<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Back up Bowls If Sold Out<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

How I Put it Together
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honestly it took maybe 20 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. cut the florist foam to fit your bowl snugly<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. start with your tallest or most structured stems first to set the shape<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. fill in with softer, smaller stems around the edges<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. adjust until it looks natural uneven is actually better here<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. step back, move one stem, call it done<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    that’s it. no special skills required. just patience and a willingness to move stems around until your eye stops twitching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The Result<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    it fits the dining room perfectly. it looks intentional. it looks expensive. and when i tell people the whole thing cost under $30 with the florals included, the reaction is always the same \u2014 genuine disbelief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    this is exactly why i don’t stress about “the perfect piece” selling out anymore. nine times out of ten, there’s a better version waiting at Target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    shop this post<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    everything i used to make this centerpiece \ud83d\udc47<\/p>\n\n\n\n