Now that summer’s come to an end, you probably have a towering stack of empty wine bottles lying around the garage or boathouse. But don’t destroy the evidence just yet! Instead of tossing them in the recycle bin—or returning them back to the liquor store for a pittance—give your empty wine bottles a second life by transforming them into everything from succulent planters to bird feeders. With so many DIY projects to test out, you’ll never want to toss another wine bottle again.
Design & DIY
12 inventive ways to repurpose old wine bottles
Wine bottle Lamp
With the aid of a cheap lampshade and some simple wiring, your old wine bottle could serve as an elegant, minimalist lamp. Get the tutorial here.
Self watering planter
In what might be the ultimate example of recycling, both ends of the wine bottle are used to create this ingenious self-watering planter. Get the tutorial here.
Hostess gift
A clear wine bottle makes the perfect vessel for giving away seasonal candy. Simply clean, decorate to your whim, fill with candy and you’re good to go.
Wine bottle tumblers
You’ll need a glass cutter for this one, but it’s deceptively simple to turn an old bottle into a handsome tumbler. Get the tutorial here.
Miniature herb garden
Create a miniature outdoor herb garden by cutting a hole and filling the bottle with the herb of your choice. Bonus points if you can hang the bottle up outside and let rainwater work its magic. Get the tutorial here.
Hurricane lamps
Cut the bottom off an old wine bottle and place it on top of a candle to create a unique centerpiece for your next dinner party.
DIY bird feeder
You’ll feel an insane sense of pride watching birds feast out of this unique, economical bird feeder. Get the tutorial here.
Dish soap dispenser
With the help of a stopper, a wine bottle can easily be transformed into a classy soap dispenser. Get the tutorial here.
Succulent planter
Cutting glass horizontally takes a bit more skill, but with the right equipment you can turn your wine bottles into adorable succulent planters.
Serving plate
An old bottle becomes the perfect cheese plate through a process called “slumping.” Heat the bottle up to 1500 degrees in a kiln, then let it cool. The bottle will naturally fall into a flat resting shape.
Yard art
Bury your old bottles to create unique and snazzy yard art. Get the tutorial here.
Vase
Cut the top off a wine bottle to create an unexpectedly elegant glass vase.
