13 Creative Ways To Repurpose Old Wine Or Whiskey Barrels In Your Home And Garden

Whether you consider yourself a wine or whiskey aficionado or not, it's undeniable that there is an irresistible charm in the barrels dedicated to these beverages. Crafted from sustainable and timeless materials — various types of wood and metal — wine and whiskey barrels aren't just useful for crafting brews; they are also incredibly versatile when it comes to home and garden decor. If you've been looking for inspiration as to how best to creatively use extra wine and whiskey barrels throughout your interior and exterior, there are a plethora of options awaiting. 

It's hard to imagine a more open-ended item than a wine or whiskey barrel, as they can be used to create furniture, planters, or decor around your property. Use a wine barrel as furniture in the form of stools or high tops, creating a romantic seating area, or you can turn an ordinary wine barrel into a beautiful bird bath. Whiskey barrels can become planters for a variety of different plants, or they can be used to build a garden pond, the likes of which you've never seen before. If you love the idea of a wooden wine or whiskey barrel but don't know where to get one, turn to the internet to see where in your vicinity they are available — local hardware shops may carry them from time to time.

An open wine or whiskey barrel can easily be turned into a planter for your favorite seasonal flowers. Remember to purchase a good-quality potting mix in order to get the best results, then head to your local plant nursery to purchase whatever flowers catch your fancy. Before filling your barrel with dirt and plants, check for drain holes, or you'll risk rotting out the bottom of your barrel.

If you're looking for a way to bring some casual class to your yard, consider converting a wine or whiskey barrel into a high-top table. You can either leave it as is for a more rustic appearance, or purchase a piece of glass for the top to create a smoother and more refined look. Should you be worried about the glass shattering, you can get a circular piece of plexiglass instead, which will provide the same appearance but without the risk of breakage.

Rain catchers are a clever and eco-friendly way to harness the elements. While many rain catchers are crafted from clunky-looking plastic barrels, why not DIY your own rain catcher out of an old wine barrel for your yard? The visual offers an old-world charm, while still providing a functional container for collecting rainwater. Remember to fit yours with a spigot towards the bottom of the barrel so that you can easily fill your watering cans.

Going for a Medieval-type look for your next party or dinner with your partner? Consider purchasing pillar candles of varying heights and covering the surface of the wine barrel in them. If you want to keep the wax from dripping onto the barrel itself, place a round cookie sheet underneath the candles to catch the hot liquid.

If you love the taste of fresh herbs in your home-crafted meals, use a cut-in-half wine or whiskey barrel for your very own herb garden. The benefit of this hack (beyond looking absolutely adorable) is that you can easily control the health of your soil and moisture levels, as well as keep on top of weed growth. For extra appeal, plan out your herb garden in advance so that you have varying heights of herbs lend to the overall visual. Be sure to use the best type of soil for growing herbs in your barrel garden.

You'd be hard-pressed to find a cuter backyard pond concept than this one, utilizing a sawn-in-half wine barrel. Complete with magical lily pads and floating florals, it's just what your garden needs for a little extra charm. It also gets points for being smaller than some garden ponds, making it easier to tend to. Last but not least, its above-ground design makes it distinct from other garden ponds that are usually sunken.

What better way to display your wine collection than by placing it atop of a retired wine barrel? A setup like this would be ideal in your sitting room where you can impress guests with your taste in wine and unique decor; keep it tucked away in the corner if you have pets and kids to avoid any broken bottles.

Trailing plants are beautiful no matter their vessel, but planting them inside a turned-over wine or whiskey barrel will give you extra bang for your buck. You can play around with the type of hanging plant, from burro's tails with their plump bead-like leaves, to colorful purple trailing lantana. Use a variety of colors for even more appeal.

Whether you're hosting a wedding or just a charming garden party, using a wine barrel or two as a decorative piece is a wonderful way to bring more appeal to your space. Since barrels are versatile blank canvases, they serve as the ideal surface to let your individual style shine. Place a lantern and some seasonal florals on top and place a few in your yard — you can even create a distinct theme for each barrel if you're wanting a bit more variety to the look.

Albeit a bit more involved, using a couple of wine barrels to construct a one-of-a-kind bench is an incredible way to marry your love of vino and desire for comfort. Use multiple barrels as a base for a long bench, or fashion a single barrel into a seat; you'd be surprised by just how many variations you'll find to delight your family and friends alike.

If you're of the crafty persuasion, this project might be right up your alley. It consists of using two wine or whiskey barrels to create an outdoor sink; one barrel holds the water reservoir and the other makes up the sink with the faucet. A delightful addition to the rustic but themed outdoor area, this creative repurposing is sure to impress everyone who sees it.

For a relaxed seating area, fit the tops of smaller wine barrels with circular pieces of wood. In order to get secure seating, you should consider using nails or drills to affix the seats to the barrels. Once completed, you'll have unique stools that will be durable and prove enjoyable for guests as they partake in food and drinks at your home.

If you are a birdwatcher, your unused wine or whiskey barrel can provide an ideal birdbath for your avian friends. Converting any barrel into a wide-mouthed birdbath is easy to do — simply fill a bowl with water and place it on top of the barrel. While you can use an adhesive to stick the bowl to the top of the barrel, it might be easier to clean and maintain if you don't attach it.