The Creative Way To Turn A Giant Water Jug Into Upcycled Accent Lights

You love statement lamps and accent lighting that make your home feel more luxurious, yet often cringe when you see the price tag. We get it. But instead of just hoping and waiting to find a piece you can finally afford, why not create your very own handmade designer light? You can do it using a large glass water jug. While such a DIY project might sound daunting, it is surprisingly straightforward, as demonstrated by @trashboy_nyc in his TikTok video. You'll actually end up making not one but two accent lights: a floor lamp and a pendant light. And all without denting your pocket.

For this genius hack, you're going to repurpose that large jug you probably use for water dispensing in your home (or for fermentation projects). Go for the 3-gallon or 5-gallon one for the project. If you don't have one on hand, you can scan the flea markets or the garage sales for one. You'll also need a glass-cutting tool, painter's tape, spray paint in two colors, a bulb, and an LED light. And since there's a bit of cutting and aerosol spraying involved, it's a good idea to cover your eyes and hands with protective gear.

Start by covering your workspace with an old sheet and putting on your safety glasses and gloves. You're going to cut the glass — and this is the most critical step, as you're creating the shape and design of your two accent lights. First, mark out a line right below the shoulder of the jug where the slanting top section meets the straight sidewall. You can draw the line using a marker pen or mark the area using painter's tape. To cut the glass along this line, you can use whichever glass-cutting tool you have handy. If you use an angle grinder with a glass cutting disc, remember to hydrate as you cut to prevent cracking. Alternatively, you can use a pencil-style glass cutter.

@trashboy_nyc

From street find to upcycled statement decor ✨ I rescued this giant glass water jug (yes, the office water-cooler kind!) and transformed it into two DIY checkerboard lights — one red + white pendant light and one orange + white floor lamp 🔥 If you're into upcycling projects, DIY home decor, trash-to-treasure makeovers, or unique interior design ideas, you'll love this transformation. ♻️💡 Watch how a curb-side find becomes bold, modern, one-of-a-kind lighting for the home. #Upcycling #DIYHomeDecor #TrashToTreasure #UpcycledLighting #DIYLighting

♬ original sound – Trash Boy

Now you have two parts of the glass jug to work with. The top section will make the hanging light, and the bottom cylindrical part will make the floor lamp. All you need to do now is apply painter's tape in a checkerboard pattern, spray paint, then remove the tape and spray paint the exposed parts with another color. You can use red and white or orange and white as the TikToker did. However, feel free to use any other color with the white. Alternatively, if the checkered pattern feels too complicated, you can make other, simpler geometric patterns using the tape, like plain diagonal or horizontal lines. Another option would be to creatively repurpose your extra napkins and decoupage these DIY glass light fixtures.

Your upcycled lights are almost complete. To finish up, simply hang the top section from the ceiling and insert your light bulb through the jug's spout, and voila! You have created a stunning DIY pendant light to brighten up your space. For your second lamp, flip the cylindrical part over and place a battery-operated LED light on the inside, securing it to the glass with glue. Place the lamp on the floor or on a table top as a decorative centerpiece.

If this DIY project feels too difficult because of handling and cutting the glass, guess what? You can make these same DIY accent lights using a similarly sized plastic water jug. This will work especially well for making an accent lamp. You can spray-paint the inside gold and the outside black for an industrial-style look. All you need to do is experiment with different designs for your DIY accent lights. Adding your favorite lighting will not only enhance your home's charm but also make it feel more like you.