It almost feels wrong to chuck a beautiful old wine bottle into the recycling bin. We’re here to tell you: You don’t have to.
From using them in the garden to diving into a fun DIY project to transforming them into beautiful home decor pieces, these glass vessels have much life left in them. Let our list of surprisingly chic ways to upcycle spent wine bottles inspire you.
Bud Vase
Whether you go for fresh greenery or dried florals, wine bottles make for the prettiest bud vases. Add a few stems to the bottle, playing with different heights and textures to create a pretty arrangement. A velvet bow around the neck lends a pretty touch, and you can also group bottles of varying shapes and colors.
Slow-Release Waterer
Slow-release plant waterers work by gradually delivering water into the soil, and you can absolutely repurpose an empty wine bottle to create one versus buying something premade.
Make sure the bottle’s rinsed well, fill it with water, and then add a terracotta watering spike over the opening. Flip it upside down and press the neck about six inches into the soil near the base of the plant. It’ll release water slowly over the next three to seven days.
Candlesticks
Wine bottle mouths happen to be the perfect size for a tapered candle. Simply place the candle into the opening, making sure it fits snugly and stands upright. For an extra charming touch, let the wax drip down the sides of the bottle for a romantic, vintage-inspired look.
Hummingbird Feeder
Invite some feathered friends into your yard by transforming an old wine bottle into a bird feeder. For a nectar feeder, you'll need a wooden feeding station designed to hold an inverted bottle, along with a compatible feeding attachment. Fill the clean bottle, add nectar, and then mount the feeder somewhere birds can easily access it.
Mosaic Projects
Colorful wine bottle glass can be repurposed into mosaic projects, including trivets, picture frames, wall art, and garden stepping stones or pots. Place the glass inside a sturdy bag, wear safety goggles, and then smash gently with a hammer. Use gloves to remove the shards
Arrange the pieces on your chosen surface, securing with a mosaic adhesive. After it’s dried, spread grout between the pieces and wipe away excess with a damp sponge. File down any sharp edges while wearing gloves and eye protection.
Fairy Light Lantern
Add fairy lights to a wine bottle to create a lantern that offers a soft, cozy glow. Make sure the on/off switch is accessible, and group multiple bottles together for extra light. They can make a statement on a coffee table, in a windowsill, or even a bathroom shelf.
Wendy Rose Gould is a lifestyle journalist who routinely contributes to Real Simple, Martha Stewart, Women’s Health, and House Beautiful, among others. She covers home and garden, wellness, and travel, focusing on thoughtful storytelling and detailed reporting. When not writing, you can catch her perusing thrift stores, singing, hitting the gym, and petting any cat or dog that'll allow it.
