Empty wine bottles are an excellent source of DIY project potential. With some basic tools and a bit of creativity, you can make a long list of fun and functional decor by upcycling them. If you’re looking for a way to use old wine bottles or just want some fresh new DIY ideas, here is a list of some suggestions.
Bird Feeders
Wine bottles have a shape that makes them great bird feeders. Because they are long and narrow, they restrict the amount of bird seed that flows out so that you don’t overfeed your feathered friends. There are multiple ways to make bird feeders with wine bottles and most of them require making a hole in the glass. You’ll need a special drill bit for this task but once you’re done, you can fill the bottle full of seed, glue a saucer to the bottom and place it wherever you want.
Soap Dispensers
Soap dispensers are simple to DIY and using a wine bottle adds instant upcycled charm. If you have a bottle with a nice label, you can keep it visible. You can also paint the bottle in a variety of ways (metallic or matte paints, solid colors, prints, designs and more). Then, just fill with the bulk hand soap of your choice and attach a soap dispenser handle. You can purchase the handles in various sizes at your local hardware or home goods store. Try this in the kitchen too to dress up your dish soap.
Tiki Torches
You only need a few materials to make your own tiki torches and wine bottles make perfect vessels for the oil and wick. You can either attach them to long stakes or hang them from wall brackets. Another option is to leave them as-is and use them for fun and festive tabletop lighting that lasts the whole night. For added functionality, try citronella oil to ward off mosquitos and other bothersome insects.
Lanterns
The dark green color of red wine bottles looks beautiful when lit from within by string lights or votive candles. The simplest way to make a lantern from a wine bottle is to cut off the bottom with a glass cutter or glass drill. Simply place the bottomless bottle over your favorite tea lights, twinkling fairy lights or artificial candles. For more color variety, try painting the bottle first.
Wine bottles are incredibly versatile as a DIY element. These are just a few project ideas for repurposing wine bottles and most of them will work well with other types of glass bottles, too. Try these ideas the next time you want to make something beautiful from recycled materials.
About the Author
