We were invaded! The world was taken over! Not by the green Martians, or insects, or extreme temperatures of my young nightmares — but by plastic.

Do you remember when we were young? Who didn’t have a glass jar of ketchup or mayonnaise in the fridge? Who didn’t have a blue glass jar of Noxema on the edge of the tub? Even dishwashing liquid came in fabulous glass bottles in wonderful shapes. Not any longer. Plastic has invaded our cupboards and closets.

Everyone has bottles. I’m willing to bet there’s at least a few dozen in your home right now…. in the basement, garage, refrigerator, pantry, and probably, in the trash. Few of us use bottles to decorate. What a waste!

Glass bottles and jars are some of the most over-looked and forgotten items that can be used to decorate your home. They have outstanding colours, beautiful shapes and textures, and character that would add charm to any decor. They can make your mundane tasks more enjoyable and can capture memories. They can be used creatively and artistically. Not convinced? Take a look at some examples.

COLOURS

The colours can be vibrant or muted. Even clear bottles have appeal.

SHAPES AND TEXTURES

As an artist, my friend, Regina, is all about texture. She fell in love with one bottle with great texture. Then she found another. She now has a great grouping on display in a bedroom. I am expecting a few pieces to be added over the next few years.

CHARACTER

Bottles have their own “character”. They can fall into a category and the list of categories is endless: canning jars, liquor, perfume, apothecary, pharmaceutical, milk and snuff bottles, just to name a few. They may have labels or embossing that is uniquely theirs. Just group bottles in the same category to add some personality to a room.

MEMORIES

My friend, Jean, has a passion for travel and for old canning jars. She combines her passions into a fabulous display. She collects shells, sand and other “finds” from every beach she visits. Each beach is displayed beautifully in her collection of Ball jars.

CREATIVE AND ARTISTIC

Did you know you can use bottles creatively? My friend, Rhonda, was feening for a bottle tree. She could have bought one at Gardeners Supply Co for $39.95, but she is talented and creative. She opted to make one instead!

Take a peek at a few other creative ways bottles have been used.

This Balvenie Whiskey Bottle Pendant Light was made by iD Lights.

DIY Easy Crafts gives you instructions on how to make these nautical Bottle Fish.

Paper Blog – Second Life really did give bottles a second life with this gorgeous stained glass window!

Leave it to HGTV to integrate an antique bottle into home decor. With the help of host Drew Scott, homeowners Abby and David Dixon picked out these antique pulley, rope and bottle pieces to give their living room some elegant character.

MAKING MUNDANE TASKS EXTRAORDINARY

Years ago, Irene bought a spigot for $1.79. She put it on an old bottle and filled it with dishwashing liquid. The colour in the bottle was fabulous! Who says a kitchen sink has to look drab?

Don’t stop with the dishes! Buy a few pumps at Uline for $3.50 each. Cut the tube to size and replace your grocery store plastic bottles with beauties! You can transfer hand lotion, shampoo and conditioner, just about anything into gorgeous glass bottles. Poke a hole through a cork and insert the pump tube through it to add even more character.

DISPLAYING YOUR COLLECTION

Collecting them is easy. Displaying and using them could be another story. If you’re anything like me, you’re not quite sure what to do with them. Right? Don’t despair. It can be as simple as filling a jar with marbles, putting a few bottles under a cloche or on a windowsill or just adding a few vintage pieces to your bar. Here’s a few ideas. One just may speak to you.

You don’t have to buy priceless antiques. Almost every bottle has a beauty all of its own. Collect bottles that speak to you; make it personal.

CREDITS:

The majority of these photos were found on Pinterest. Whenever possible, I traced the photo to it’s originator and have linked the photo to their site. Click on any photo to visit their site.