Turn An Old Plastic Container Into An Artsy Plant Vase

Constantly throwing away plastic feels extremely wasteful, so why not consider a brilliant way to reuse old plastic containers around the house? One of the most fulfilling repurposing projects to try is creating a cute and functional piece of decor, and with the right supplies and inspiration, it's utterly effortless to pull off. With a cylindrical or tall container or bottle, you can easily upcycle plastic into a vase for your home. To add an artistic twist to this eco-friendly DIY, use a bit of tape and an old book cover to wrap the basic plastic and transform it into literary-inspired decor that's perfect for any bibliophile's space.

Old plastic containers make for great vases, as they will hold water for real flowers, are washable, and come in tons of different shapes and sizes that could enhance your decor. A variety of plastic that would otherwise be garbage will work wonderfully for this project, such as a plastic food jar, a disinfectant wipe container, a juice bottle, or a shampoo bottle. Even old coffee containers may evolve into modern vases that'll elevate any flower arrangement and add a lovely decoration to your room. Larger containers with wider tops may work better to hold more flowers, or you can use a small bottle for a little accent vase for the bookshelf. When decorating your vase, using jackets from thrifted books will keep this project sustainable and cost effective.

After washing your plastic container, you won't need to worry about removing stickers or labels, as your book jacket will conceal them. Consider cutting off the top of the container or bottle to make a wider opening for your plants. When upcycling containers that have a screw top, removing this portion of the plastic will give your finished project a more seamless look and disguise that your vase is really an old container. After taking off the top, cover the plastic in tape (in case it has a sharp edge from being cut), or sand the rim of your vase until it's smooth.

To DIY the perfect book lover's vase, pick an attractive book cover that matches the existing decor in your space. You might opt for a title you love or pick a book jacket with beautiful art. Wrap the cover around your plastic to see where it extends past the container, and trim the top and bottom of the jacket to fit the vase's dimensions. If the cover wraps around several times, cut it so that the portion you like fits perfectly around your vase. Secure the overlapping ends of the book cover tightly with a little tape or glue so that there are no wrinkles in the paper. Alternatively, you could paint the plastic surface with a base color and then decoupage the book jacket around it with Mod Podge for a more permanent transformation. Adding extra embellishments like ribbons can further help to personalize your project. Finally, fill your DIY vase with vibrant flowers or lush plants, and set it on your bookshelf, mantel, or counter to freshen up your space.