Old Glass Bottle Stoppers Aren't Trash: 6 Genius Ways To Turn Them Into Home Treasures

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A classic crystal or glass bottle is a home decor staple. We've seen them used for drinks, centerpieces, flower vases, and unique light features. But broken bottles happen, resulting in a perfectly good glass or crystal stopper with nowhere to call home. Keep those glass stoppers out of the trash, and use these ideas to turn them into an upcycled treasure for your home or garden.

Glass bottle stoppers (or toppers) pair with crystal or glass decanters and have long been used to keep wine, medicine, perfume, and spirits covered. Stoppers gained popularity in the 17th century for their ability to keep air out of beverages, allowing them to last longer. If you have one or two, and need more for a project, antique glass bottles and stoppers can be found at estate sales, thrift shops, and online sites like eBay. Some are lucky enough to find them while beach combing. These little baubles shine on bottles, but they are often overlooked when old glass is reused for DIY projects. With a little imagination and inspiration, those glass stoppers can get a second life.

It's entirely possible to create a bird feeder out of thrifted items like glassware, and the right epoxy or glue. Repurpose glass stoppers into your design as embellishments or as part of the main body. There are several YouTube tutorials that give step-by-step instructions on how to make your own, like from YouTube creator My Little Slice of Paradise. Or you can snag an upcycled feeder already made on sites like Etsy.

When it comes to statement necklaces, the brighter, the better! Use an old, glass stopper as the statement on your neck. Pair with colorful beads, gold elements, or keep it natural with a contrasting leather tone against the glass. Jewelry maker Hopetown X Hunter shares her upcycled necklace, a one-of-a-kind piece made with vintage beads. Make your own glass stopper necklace with beading wire, or grab a jewelry making kit for beginners at your local craft store.

The bright prisms at the end of your glass bottle stopper may work better upside down, as seen by Instagrammer PrimeChime. Hang your glass stoppers with beads, crystals, or other glass ornaments to create a sun catcher for your windows. Hang one of your glass stoppers with wire or twine from a curtain rod or attach with a hooked suction cup to the window, and let the light shine in. Or gather a few of them and dangle the glass stoppers from a natural wood branch. The more, the merrier for this DIY.

Garden totems are decorative pieces that add color and character to any yard. Unlike garden stakes, these glass designs aren't for holding up plants. Like sun catchers, they reflect natural light through the garden. Your glass stopper could be the mini disco ball on the top. YouTube crafter DIY handwork chooses colorful glass to get beautiful streaks of light. Use a rod dowel is as a base, and a strong glue can hold it all together. It also should be noted that glass can freeze and crack in extreme cold, so some garden decor should stay inside through winter depending on climate.

Glass bottle stoppers often wash ashore as sea glass, and can be found while beach combing or simply playing in the waves. Some pieces of sea glass may have once been bottle stoppers, churned and polished by the sand into a smooth surface. Reuse the whole glass bottle as a base to hang charms, with the glass stopper among your finds. Or use driftwood as a hanging base for extra beach charm. And if you love the look of glass stoppers as sea glass treasure, but haven't been lucky enough to find one in the wild, crafty creators like ShimmeringKDesigns on Etsy sell them.

Ready for a centerpiece that really catches the light? Fill a vase, jar, or candle base with glass stoppers. Try using a large vase, and placing a candle in the middle. Use the glass bottle stoppers to circle the candle. This is a DIY anyone can try; clear glass reflects light and colored (like green and blue) glass stoppers can create a stained glass effect. Mix them up or layer for an ombre effect. Crafters from all over, like those in the Facebook group Kiwi Vintage Bottle Collectors New Zealand, love this easy, cute, and functional DIY for repurposing old glass.