Don't Toss Empty Spice Jars. Here Are 14 Ways To Repurpose Them In Your Home & Garden

At any given moment, you likely have an assortment of spice jars in your kitchen, ranging from freshly opened and full to those that are just about to run out. They come in many shapes and sizes, made from glass or plastic, typically complete with a screw-on and/or shaker top lid. The next time you want to clear out your cupboard and throw away empties, you may want to consider washing them out instead. There are a number of great ways to repurpose and upcycle these jars, both in the kitchen and elsewhere, for everything from bathroom storage to starting seedlings for your garden.

Reusing your spice jars is an eco-friendly way to keep them out of landfills. It's also a budget-friendly alternative to buying new jars that'll serve similar uses. While you can use them as they are, you can also decorate the sides and lids easily with paint, decoupaged paper, fabric, or other amazing ways to upcycle glass jars to make them fit your aesthetic.

Transform a grouping of small spice jars into a whimsical windchime by wrapping the necks of the jars with wire, fishing line, or twine, and tying them to a tree or beam on your patio. When the jars bump each other, they will make a delightful tinkling sound. You can fill them with flowers, stones, or other small objects to give them some additional weight. Or fill them partially with water and food coloring.

Turn your old spice jars into containers for your lunch. These small jars are perfect for holding condiments on the go, like salad dressing or extra ketchup. Or, use them to hold nuts or candy. You can even use them as an alternative to juice boxes by storing single-serve drinks in them in the fridge so you can grab and go.

For the holidays, turn your extra spice jars into tiny snow globe décor. All you need is some glitter, glycerin, and distilled water. Decorate the interior with small ornaments like plastic reindeer and bottlebrush trees. You can even add small decorations on top and wrap it with ribbon. Use them as toppers for gifts, as part of holiday centerpieces, or line them up on your mantel.

These small jars are great for desk storage. Use them to hold things like paper clips, binder clips, and thumbtacks. You can even leave the shaker lid in place and slide pens and pencils inside. Or, in the kitchen, attach a magnet, then place it on the fridge to hold pens and markers where you can find them.

Use your glass spice jars as containers for small candles. All you need is paraffin or soy wax, a wick, and some scented oils to make lovely small candles that are perfect for burning in your home or giving as gifts. You can also add color pigment or other additives like dried flowers or coffee beans to create additional texture.

Small jars make excellent budget-friendly bud vases. Just fill with water and add a flower or two. You can also retain a lid with larger holes to serve as a flower frog that'll keep buds upright and separated in the jar. Leave them clear or decorate the sides of the jar with paint, decoupage, or wrapped twine. You can also hang them on twine or wire along a wall for a floating installation. 

For some extra bathroom counter storage, fill a small spice jar with Q-tips or use it to hold toothbrushes next to the sink. The shaker tops are also perfect for keeping and dispensing other toiletry items like foot powder or dry shampoo. You can also use the jars to store smaller amounts of shampoo, conditioner, and lotion when you travel.

Tiny jars work great for propagating plant cuttings and seedlings for your garden. Just fill them with soil, rocks, or pebbles (depending on the unique needs of each plant), and allow your plants to take root. Since they are small, they are easy to transport outside for planting in a box or tray when the plants are grown. When the planting season is over, wash the jars and save them for next year. They also make cute desktop planters for houseplants. 

Glitter is one of those materials that gets everywhere if you're not careful. Use a small spice jar to hold and dispense glitter, confetti, colored sand, or similar materials neatly and mess-free. They also work great for stashing small beads and hardware for jewelry-making, or holding things like knitting needles and crochet hooks. You could also keep brushes upright and damp while watercolor painting by using the holes in the lid.

Use an old spice jar to sort seeds for your garden. They are likely to prevent spills better than when you use paper envelopes, and you can utilize the open holes in the lid to help shake the seeds into the ground when planting. Labeled and lined up on a shelf in your potting area, they also make particular varieties of seeds easier to find when you need them.

Take a spice jar of any size and turn it into a small memory jar by putting items from a special trip or event inside the container. It could be something as simple as a walk, or as elaborate as a wedding. A memory jar for a wedding could hold some of the confetti, a flower from the bouquet, parts of your centerpiece, and so on. No matter the theme of your memory jar, covering the contents with oil will help preserve the items. Follow this up by decorating the jar with accessories related to the memory.

Jars with intact dispenser holes on the top are ideal for repurposing in your kitchen to hold items like toothpicks and matches. Just tip the jar and the items will shake out easily. They also make fun containers for holding stir sticks for your coffee station, straws on the counter, or wooden skewers near the grill upright and at the ready.

Create a mini-terrarium inside a discarded spice jar by adding soil, rocks, or wood to the bottom along with moss and plants. These little miniature eco worlds look adorable on a shelf in your home, but also make great small gifts. Or, turn your jar into a tiny fair garden by adding a couple of miniatures among the contents.

For an inexpensive alternative to rattles and sensory shakers for little ones that'll take up hours of play, fill some plastic spice jars with small noise-making objects. You may want to add a dab of glue to secure the lid in place if the contents may be a choking hazard. Great options for materials include beads, cinnamon sticks, candy, beans, and rice.