Turn Thrifted Glass Bottles And Vases Into An Artsy Garden Feature

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It can be tempting to get distracted by glimmering pieces of breathtaking vintage glass decor and bask in their uniqueness when perusing the aisles of your local thrift store or secondhand shop. These colorful relics from decades past are a charming way to incorporate little pieces of history into your home's decor; however, they may not always be practical for everyday use. Vintage glass is beautiful, but is it safe to drink from, or to have resting on nearby surfaces that come in frequent contact with you and your loved ones? Some experts suggest that when it comes to thrifted glass bottles, glassware, and vases, it's best to keep these items separate from activities that involve food and drink, and away from common areas like kitchens and dining rooms due to potentially radioactive or toxic chemicals, such as uranium or lead.

That doesn't mean you can't still thrift stunning antique glass and showcase it around your home in intentional ways. Upcycle pieces from the thrift store into a piece of art. One clever DIY idea for incorporating antique glass into your home's design is to craft a vintage glass tower in which colorful pieces of heirloom glass are stacked on top of one another to create an eye-catching display. You can achieve this by thrifting glass bottles, vases, and jars in various colors, sizes, and shapes and arranging them into a striking, vertical garden feature. 

This simple project requires no tools and can easily be accomplished using inexpensive materials. Here's what you need to create your own tower of vintage glass to impress guests and add character and charm to your garden.

Most of the materials required to knock out this project at home can be obtained from local secondhand shops, estate sales, thrift shops, or yard sales. To begin, find several unique pieces of vintage glass that vary in texture, pattern, color, and size. Be sure to source some larger pieces of vintage glass, like large vases, that are sturdy enough to serve as a solid base for the tower. If you like the look of a tapering vertical tower, gather increasingly small or delicate pieces of glass for the top parts of the structure. Glass pieces with wider mouths are ideal for this project since these can provide better overall stability.

Once you've acquired your unique pieces of glassware, look for a good base for the structure to hold the glass up off the ground. A sturdy, tiered cake tower or a small stool would work well for this. Make sure it's wide enough to adequately support the size and weight of the glass pieces and that it won't wobble so that you'll avoid the glass tower tipping over and shattering.

You will also need to find flat, round pieces of metal or ceramic that can go in between the individual pieces of glass. These pieces are what you will glue the glass directly onto, so make sure they are the appropriate size and circumference. Old plates, durable metal pie tins, or discarded candle lids should work well. Finally, you'll need a strong, waterproof adhesive like Flex Glue to hold it all together.

When you've gathered all the necessary materials, you're ready to assemble your antique glass tower. Start by cleaning the glassware and flat pieces to make sure they're free of any dust or debris. Glue the bottom of the widest or largest glass piece to the base you chose for your tower, and allow ample amounts of time for it to dry. Then, apply glue to the top lip of the vase, and glue down the round metal or ceramic filler piece. Try your best to make sure all of the pieces are centered when you apply the glue and stack them.

Continue this process with each piece of glass and round plate until you form the tower. Remember to save the smaller pieces for the top to make sure the tower is stable. Once you've completed it, use a stopper or a decorative vintage piece to seal off the top and give it a finished look. 

This colorful vintage glass tower would go well with a variety of styles but can be incorporated particularly seamlessly if your home has a bohemian or artsy design theme. You can use this antique glass display as a centerpiece in your garden or on your patio if weather permits, or place it on your porch or near an entryway to leave a lasting impression the moment someone approaches your home.