Upcycle An Old Pickle Jar Into Adorable Home Decor With This Easy DIY

Feeling sad about reaching the bottom of the pickle jar? We can't help you with your next craving for a salty, vinegary treat, but we can give you a creative use for the empty jar. Once you wash away that pickle smell, turn it into adorable home decor with some macrame cord. Simply glue the cord around the jar until it's completely covered, and then make designs with some extra cord for a personalized, decorative finish.

Starting with an old pickle jar keeps the costs low for this decorative DIY. You can also vary the size of your container based on how big your pickle jar is. And while old pickle jars are perfect for home treasures like this DIY, you can use other food jars or Mason jars as the base for this project. Or, cover a glass vase with a unique silhouette — use a vase you have or thrift one for a low-cost option.

This project might not align with the history of macrame, but the materials of the craft work well for the DIY. Macrame cord is thicker and sturdier than macrame string or yarn, which gives it a distinct look and creates firm rows of coverage that hold their shape. It has more of a rope-like appearance and doesn't fray as easily as similar materials. The cord often comes in different types, including three-ply and braided — the latter is the sturdiest if you want distinct rows on your jar. You can also choose from different materials, including cotton for a soft look, jute for a rougher earthy appearance, and polyester for a strong, durable finish.

Soak your pickle jar in a 50-50 mix of white vinegar and water to remove lingering pickle odors. If you want to fully cover the outside of the pickle jar, start on the bottom by gluing a small coil to the center. Work outward, gluing the cord down as you spiral it, completely covering the glass. Move up to the sides of the jar, gluing the cord in horizontal rows, with each one touching the previous pass. Or, skip covering the bottom and simply start around the lower edge and work up to the rim.

If you want variation in the design, choose more than one color of macrame cord and alternate the colors. You might do one thick band in the middle of a contrasting color with your main hue above and below it. Or make narrow horizontal bands of different colors. Another way to change the look is to let the glass show through in some areas — paint part of it or leave it clear, depending on your vision.

The final step is adding decorative touches to the outside. Create flowers out of macrame cord by making a spiral for the center and oval-shaped leaves around the edges. Or, glue several spirals in different colors all around the jar for a fun, geometric look. For thicker, raised designs, braid together strands of the cord and glue it along the top and bottom edges. You can also combine it with other easy DIY macrame projects, like a hanging planter holder to suspend the decorative jar from the ceiling. If you want some variation, glue on beads, artificial flowers, or other accent materials beyond the macrame cord.