18 Creative Uses for Empty Glass Bottles

During a recent visit to a thrift store, I spotted an attractive corked bottle displayed among various items. It wasn’t until I held it and saw the $3 price tag that I realized it was a duplicate of the tequila bottle I had just recycled.

Whether you’re like me and feel awkward about the clanking sound of recycling bins on the curb, or prefer to invest in a quality bottle rather than home decor, transforming empty bottles into artistic creations, light sources, or practical home items is a clever and resourceful choice. Here are several suggestions.

Without a Glass Cutter

Even if you lack a glass cutter or specialized tools, you can still create beautiful items using intact bottles. Start by soaking your bottles in warm, soapy water to remove labels, and for any stubborn adhesive, a solvent such as lighter fluid works effectively.

1. Bird Feeder

A simple wooden plank and basic tools are all you need to convert a wine bottle into a bird feeder.

2. Candy Jar

Instead of a traditional candy bowl on your desk, you can use a clean, dry bottle filled with sweets. Miniature bottles also make fantastic candy-filled favors for adult parties. Consider a stripe of chalkboard paint to label the recipient or type of candy inside.

3. Yard Torch

While it’s common to place a candle in an empty wine bottle, you can craft stylish torches for your backyard with a few supplies from the hardware store. Fill the bottle with marbles and fuel, insert a tiki wick through a metal coupler, and you’re ready to light up your outdoor space.

4. Table Card Holder

A corked wine bottle can serve as an elegant table number holder at a rustic wedding. Simply slice the cork halfway down to create a slot for the card.

5. Vase

An empty bottle is already functional as a flower vase, but you can enhance its appearance by painting it, creating a marbled effect with inner paint, or wrapping it with decorative ribbon after applying adhesive.

6. Candelabra

Align six similar empty bottles and place candles into their openings to craft a casual candelabra. For a more sophisticated touch, apply metallic spray paint to the bottles, or consider purchasing decorative candelabra toppers for a single bottle. Attaching them to a sconce can also create lasting wall decor.

7. Rolling Pin

Save a clean empty bottle in your kitchen for use as a rolling pin.

8. Boot Holder

If your tall leather or vinyl boots tend to flop and crease, fill empty bottles with small stones and place them upright inside the boots to help them maintain their shape.

9. Gift Container

A well-cleaned bottle can be repurposed to house countless homemade delights: infused oils, home-created vodka, bubble baths—there are limitless possibilities. For gifts intended to last, permanently attach a decorative handle to the cork for easy access.

10. Garden Edger

Bury bottles upside down to outline the edges of your garden. This manner of repurposing is best applied in areas away from children, to minimize any risk of breakage.

11. Slow-Drip Irrigator

By drilling a small hole in the cork, filling the bottle with water, and placing it upside down in a planter, you can create a simple irrigation system.

12. Leveling Tool

When hanging pictures, you can use a water-filled bottle to ensure they’re level. Fill the bottle to the top of the label, hold it so the base aligns with the top of the frame, and make adjustments until the water is even.

13. Bottle Tree

Traditionally seen in the American South and steeped in folklore about trapping spirits, colorful bottles on trees can add a striking visual element to your landscaping, especially in winter. Numerous designs exist for arranging bottles on actual trees or custom frames, with blue hues being particularly popular—think Bombay Sapphire, Skyy vodka, and Blue Nun wine.

With a Glass Cutter

Glass cutting tools, ranging from $5 to $30, come in either simple hand tool forms or as drill bits. These tools score the glass, allowing for breaking along the score line. To snap it off, alternately heat and cool the glass, or you can gently strike the scored section with a hammer. Ensure to sand down any sharp edges afterward for safety. This technique opens up various possibilities for repurposing bottles by removing the top or bottom.

14. Hanging Planter

By removing the base of a bottle, you can fill it with moss-wrapped plants, creating an eye-catching, upside-down planter.

15. Drinking Glasses

Many online guides detail the process of repurposing wine bottles into drinking glasses. However, note that freshly cut edges can be extremely sharp and may require thorough grinding and sanding to ensure they are safe for use.

16. Bottle Chandelier

There are countless designs for creating chandeliers using wine bottles. Typically, you’ll cut open the bottle, insert a light, and attach it to a supporting structure that suspends it from the ceiling. This project requires some skill in glass cutting, wood or metal work, and electrical components, but the stunning results can elevate the decor of any room.

With a Drill

With practice, a tile and glass drill bit can be used to create holes in glass bottles safely.

17. Lantern

You can convert a wine bottle into a charming lantern by drilling a hole in the back and threading in a string of small LED lights. This method is also applicable for chandelier creations.

18. Party Lights

Drilling a hole at the base or side of a bottle allows you to insert a string of holiday lights for an attractive lighting option. Alternatively, pushing the lights through the top is also possible, but may not achieve the same aesthetic effect.

If you have other creative uses for glass bottles that we haven’t listed, please share your ideas in the comments!

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