18 Amazing Ways To Upcycle Glass Jars Into Unique Home Decor

If you have glass jars lying around, save them for reuse — it's even more eco-friendly than recycling them and there's so many creative things you can do. From clever ways to reuse old glass jars around the house to using them to level up you gardening game, you can find a ton of ways to repurpose the jars in your collection. Here, we focus on ways to upcycle glass jars into home decor.

These project ideas are easy to make and they prioritize aesthetics, using old glass jars for decoration, rather than just storage and organizing (though those are two great uses too). The projects ahead take advantage of jars big and small, so you can find a use for bulk pickle jars, miniature yogurt jars, and everything in between. 

First, prep the jars using hot water (this method cleans off labels with nothing but water). If that doesn't work, there's a hack you can try to remove stickers from glass with the help of nail polish remover. If your jar has a lingering smell inside, try this deodorizing method for pickle jars — it will deodorize more than just pickle smells. Now, with your jars prepped, you can create one of these home decor projects ahead.

With beads like Aqueens 14mm Natural Wood Beads, some wooden skewers (you might even already have these at home), and a glass jar saved from the recycling, you can create this fun bubble vase for around $10. That's well under the $100 or more price tag of buying some similar products. Plus, this DIY bubble vase is made with wood beads, so you can easily customize the color. A neutral white or beige color will make this vase suit modern spaces, while a colorful shade, like the bright lilac shown, is more bright and eclectic.

An oversized bubble vase is an elegant addition to a contemporary space. Using larger half-spheres that are spaced out, this version is more sophisticated and looks less youthful than one with small, crowded spheres above. Its excess of curves is ideal if you really need to add some softening roundness to a shelf or table with lots of straight lines. It's possible to buy wooden half balls like these Hesmartly Half Wood Balls for a budget-friendly price and then you can paint it your chosen color. Just make sure to use a paint that's suitable for both wood and glass.

Dried flowers and a warm yellow light make this glow jar look gorgeously rustic. It's a charming decoration for all sorts of cozy decor styles, from rustic to shabby chic to cottagecore. The finished project is lovely for a shelf or side table where you need a little bit of light; it won't provide enough to actually illuminate a room, but it can offer a soft glow that brightens dark corners or simply add a decorative touch.

This project is a good option if you're not too artistically inclined: You can print out a simple design and stick it inside the jar. A battery-operated candle illuminates the silhouette and highlights the shape. This is a kid-friendly DIY and you can use a silhouette of a fairy, bunny, cat, or other favorite critter to create decor for a child's room. If you're placing it in a kid's room, just put it well out of reach (or even consider using a clear plastic jar) to prevent it from getting pulled down and breaking.

This DIY project creates a candlestick holder that you can customize to your heart's content. It's possible to make using jars of various sizes, as long as they're large enough to support your candle. There's lots of opportunities for creativity when decorating, from glueing rattan, patterned paper, or stickers on the outside, to filling the interior with faux plants, shells, or decorative pebbles. You can even add a battery-powered tea light or strand of fairy lights inside to make a glowing base. It's difficult to find a similar product on the market, so you'll be creating a distinctive decor piece (and not to mention, an affordable one too). 

It's always possible to decorate your glass jars with glass markers or paint, but for even more visual interest and texture, consider using a hot glue gun. This project idea is a great way to dress up glass jars in an understated way that might better suit minimalist decor styles. Once dry, the clear glue is low-contrast on the glass (compared to a high-contrast medium, like bright paint) and blends in, offering subtlety in its design. The finished project is well-suited to use as a vase or decorative storage vessel.

Macrame is associated with the boho decor style, but you can use the rope for much more — for instance, to wrap a glass jar! This DIY is very easy, only requiring enough rope and a hot glue gun. As a bonus, you can add a string tassels to make it look even more boho. Optionally, opt for jute cord if you want a more rustic look. Or, if you add something blue, or alternate between white and blue stripes, this project can also suit a nautical decor theme.

If you know how to braid hair, then you can make this macrame-inspired glass jar project. At first glance, it looks like more difficult-to-learn macrame, but it really only involves doing a three-strand braid and then gluing down all the lengths of rope. Brush out the end bits of string to create tassels that better suit a shabby-chic or boho room. If you want the finished project to look more polished — like for modern farmhouse or Scandinavian decor styles — omit the tassel step and cut the string right at the mouth of the jar.

This project idea is low-effort for a lovely finished product — another good idea if you aren't too crafty, since it just involves gluing items onto your jar. Choose dried flowers and greens depending on your decor style. Colorful flowers look more bright and cheery, if you want to add color and character. White and beige flowers (those that are dry enough to lose their color) suit modern and minimalist styles. Omit flowers entirely and use dried leaves and stalks to achieve a more understated and natural look, which goes well in a Scandinavian or Japandi room.

Using affordable jute cord (such as the PH PERKHOMY Natural Jute Twine, which comes in a 600 feet roll for under $5), this DIY creates a relaxed centerpiece. Jute cord is more affordable than macrame rope, and you don't need to use very much to create this design, so this project is an excellent choice for those on a strict budget. The finished jar suits boho or rustic dining rooms, or is perfect for outdoor summer get-togethers.

A flower-filled cloche has a fairytale aesthetic that's lovely for adding more whimsy to your space. It's possible to buy an assortment of dried crafting flowers online, like these Auroray Real Dried Flowers, and you just need to attach them to the lid, standing upright, with a hot glue gun. Choose a color scheme that matches your space: bright and cheery if you like a lot of color, or more toned down white and light brown hues if you're more minimalist. Then, simply display the jar upside-down and you have yourself a mini cloche!

Old glass jars have their own charm. Using them as-is, with the goal of upcycling, really suits design styles that incorporate lots of thrifted items and knick-knacks. If you want the jars to fit a vintage aesthetic even better, give them a light wash of color. This project produces an antique look and it's very easy to do, using just Mod-Podge and food coloring. The finished jars will suit a range of decor styles that love old-fashioned touches, including shabby chic, eclectic, and cottagecore decor.

If you have an extra-large and sturdy glass jar that you're not sure what to do with, this is an impressive project that's not too difficult to do. Don't fret if the thought of wiring makes you nervous, as a product like the Creative Hobbies Make a Lamp or Repair Kit is designed for hobbyists, so it has step-by-step instructions on how to put it together. The finished look of this project really depends on the jar, lightbulb, and the right lampshade selection. For example, if you choose something plain and sleek, it will suit minimalist spaces, while an ornate old-fashioned lamp shade will lean more traditional.

The simple glass jar project is great for contemporary rooms where you just want to add a bit of color, but not much design or pattern. To make them even more minimalist, consider using neutral paint colors; even white or black will make a bold statement on a plain glass backdrop. Otherwise, choose colors to your heart's content. You can match a room's color scheme to seamlessly integrate these into your style, or paint them a contrasting shade to add small pops of color throughout a room.

More than just decor, this project idea is sentimental and sweet. It involves attaching a photo to the lid using a thin piece of string, so it hangs in the middle of the space. While this idea uses fairy lights and dried flowers to decorate the area around the picture, you can get creative with this step, drawing inspiration from the photo or memory. For example, if the photo is at the beach, fill the jar with sand and scatter some decorative shells. If you're looking for a glass jar decor project you can gift, this is a good one.

The cluttercore design trend rejects minimalism and encourages you to display the little things that spark joy. If you have a fun collection that you want to show to the world, using old glass jars is a pretty and eco-friendly way to do so. This project idea is very easy, but has a lot of visual appeal and you can really use any small items that you have a collection of, including rocks, shells, buttons, marbles, and more. Just choose a suitably-sized jar that you can fill near to the top; it looks more intentional and decorative than a half-empty vessel.

A flower frog is very helpful for arranging blooms, especially small ones that are too little to form a bouquet of their own. With this project, you can make a beautiful floral display using a DIY flower frog and a glass jar. You can also use it for plant propagation. This easy project uses air-dry clay, so you can create a frog perfectly fitted to your jar. If you want a plainer look, go without the ruffled edge. The simple finished project will really suit any decor style — after all, who doesn't love some fresh flowers? 

If you love greenery, you'll love this glass jar terrarium idea. It uses moss and succulents to make a zen mini terrarium that will look nice in many rooms where you want a little plant life, including modern, Japandi, and especially biophilic spaces. Since there's no drainage from the jar, it's best to use plants you don't need to water, like air plants or fake greenery, making this truly as low-maintenance as it gets.