Turn Empty Medicine Bottles Into Chic DIY Home Decor Instead Of Tossing Them Out

It's common to have a medicine cabinet full of bottles, and not just from prescriptions. Many households accumulate pills for upset stomachs, headaches, and pesky colds. Even vitamins can contribute to a cluttered medicine cabinet. But after the pills are gone or expire, what should you do with the bottle? Instead of trying to recycle these old containers, you can upcycle them into stylish home décor. Now, it may be hard to imagine empty aspirin bottles as being something you'd want to display. But with a few added supplies and decorative touches, they can become gorgeous pillar candle holders.

Before jumping into the DIY project, it's important to get the bottles all washed up first. Start by peeling off any stickers or labels, then fill a sink with warm water and add a few drops of dish soap. Toss them in and one by one scrub the insides with a brush. You can also fill the bottles with the mixture, place the caps on, and shake them for a thorough cleaning. Rinse the containers off and let them sit to air dry.

To make this budget-friendly candle holder, you'll need round wooden plaques from a craft store. Each holder you make requires two, such as these Pllieay Natural Pine Circle Plaques from Amazon. Dollar Tree sometimes carries craft items like these, too, so keep your eyes peeled in order to get them for a lower price! You'll also need paint and embellishments like small puffy stickers and stringed wooden beads.

Take two similar pill bottles and add a strong adhesive to their bottoms, then attach them together. Make sure to keep their caps on. Glue a wooden plaque to each of the caps so that it essentially is starting to look like a pillar candle holder. Attach a string of wooden beads to the center of the piece where the two bottles meet. Next, place tiny puffy stickers around the centers of the bottles or the rims of the wooden plaques. You can also make a shorter version of this holder by only using one bottle. All of the other steps will be the same, except you can glue the beads around the edges instead.

How it really comes to life is with paint. Consider using charcoal gray, black, or white so that it can turn into a sophisticated piece of home décor. For a rustic look, you can also apply chalk paint and distress it with a brush. After your candle holder is fully dry, set a battery-operated candle on top. Use it to add ambiance when guests come over, or group them together for even more of a stunning display.

Let this project inspire you to stop tossing out your pill containers and instead repurpose them in creative ways. You can also turn them into adorable mini vases by wrapping them with jute cord or simply painting them. Add tiny faux flowers and line them up near the kitchen window. Surely no one will ever guess they started out as medicine bottles.