Cover Old Prescription Bottles With Paint To Create Vintage-Inspired Decor Gems

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Do you have a mountain of empty prescription bottles clogging up your medicine cabinet? It can feel wasteful to throw them away, but with new prescriptions each month, they add up quickly. Rather than tossing them, there are tons of clever ways to reuse prescription bottles. With a little paint, they can become a gorgeous, vintage-style decor display. In a YouTube tutorial, Loli Ds Creations showed how each prescription bottle can be turned into a miniature pedestal perfect for holding small decorations.

The DIYer used flat wood rounds and a strong adhesive to transform the plastic container into a column shape with base. To get that elegant, vintage look, she decorated the bottle with white chalkboard paint, added green paint on the top, and used rub-on transfers of green leaves to decorate the sides. At Michaels, a 6 pack of 3 inch wood circles is about $6, making this project very affordable. While the DIYer got her transfers from Dollar Tree, they're not always in stock. Look for them online; Amazon carries a 12 pack of vintage rub-on transfer stickers for about $10.

Once finished, this timeless stand can be used to display electric votive candles or small figurines. Alternatively, decorate it with a miniature vase of florals or a small potted plant. This brilliant way to reuse old plastic containers around the house is a simple and inexpensive project to bring more vintage-inspired charm to your space.

First, Loli Ds Creations removed the label from the prescription bottle for a smooth surface. Then, she glued a wooden round onto the bottom of the container. She secured another to the top to create the shape of a traditional column stand. With different size prescription bottles, you'll be able to craft stands of various heights. Alternatively, glue the bottoms of two bottles together to create a taller structure before attaching the wood.

To hide the orange plastic bottle, the DIYer painted it with a white chalk paint. Once covered, the ridges in the bottle's lid looked like an accent or trim around the top of the column. To give this piece more a vintage feel, she painted a muted, sage green color over the wooden components. However, consider using other vintage-inspired colors, such as a soft brown or gray hue.

After sealing the painted bottle with Mod Podge, the DIYer applied the rub-on transfers to the cylindrical bottle. If you don't love this look, pieces of lace can be glued around the painted pedestal, or you might decoupage the decor with pretty paper or fabric. For more vintage accents, add ribbon or strings of pearl-like beads onto the DIY decor stand.

Make a few of these pedestals to beautifully display your knick-knacks and get rid of more leftover prescription bottles. Since the top wooden circle is only attached to the lid and not the bottle, the container may still be able to open after it's been decorated. Take the two pieces apart before painting to ensure they don't get stuck together. This allows you to turn your empty prescription bottles into mini organizers that disguise their contents as decor. Now, you can hide small clutter in the center of your decorative pedestal. For example, you might store matches or a lighter for a candle directly inside the stand holding it.

These small pedestals are perfect for arranging decor on a tabletop or mantle. They could also bring a little vintage style to a bookshelf. Alternatively, your upcycled prescription bottles could be used as the base for a stunning centerpiece. Place two or three pedestals of varying heights beside each other to create a dynamic display. Besides decorations, these stands could also help to organize counter space. Prop up your jar of q-tips in the bathroom or your spice containers in the kitchen for a vintage-inspired look.