15 Ways To Repurpose Drinking Glasses That No Longer Match Your Dishware

Like other kinds of glassware and dinnerware, drinking glasses are one of the pieces that have a variety of uses beyond simply holding your favorite beverage. This is particularly true of vintage glassware, which often sports unique designs and shapes. If you are a collector or lover of vintage dishware, you may find your cabinets filled with more glasses than you have use for. Or you may have some old mismatched glasses hanging out that don't fit with your current dishware set, but are still too pretty to throw out. Luckily, there are a number of fun and easy DIY projects using drinking glasses that create everything from simple and stylish décor items to lovely lighting fixtures.

For these DIYs, you can use glasses you find in your own cupboards or thrifted pieces that have tickled your fancy, making these projects, even with other elements like fixatives, very budget-friendly to create. They are also perfect for keeping old glass out of landfills, as well as for filling your home with unique and distinctive one-of-a-kind pieces.

Use the outside of any drinking glass as an opportunity to add some texture using materials like beads, glass gems, pebbles, or foam balls. Paint the surface of the vase before you add the three-dimensional elements, or you can do it afterwards. To affix the pieces, use hot glue or a sturdy adhesive like E6000. For a luxe look, create a mosaic from other broken pieces of glass mixed with beads and gems. Use the container as a vase for flowers if it's a tall glass, or turn a short glass into a votive holder or small planter.

For a fun beachy candle holder, wrap the bottom of a glass with raffia rope or twine, securing the edges with hot glue. Affix some other elements like shells, stones, or sea glass as decorative accents on the outside of the twine or around the very top of the glass. Fill the bottom below where the rope line hits with sand or aquarium gravel, then add a votive candle for a chic piece that compliments coastal or bohemian décor. They also make great centerpiece additions for a summertime party or a wedding.

You can add acrylic paint to any glass to create an adorable planter perfectly sized for small plants like succulents. Begin by cleaning the glass before sanding it just a little to create a surface more amenable to paint. Add a solid color as a base then use a thin brush or paint marker to add details and patterns to the glass. You can also use a stencil to help you with your design. Fill the planter with soil or pebbles and your plant. Small and compact, these work wonderfully on a window ledge or your desk.

For another great candle-related use for old glassware, use a shorter tumbler or highball glass as a pretty decoupaged holder. Cut out images like flowers, butterflies, or pretty patterns and add them to the exterior of the glass with Mod Podge. The thinner the paper you are working with, the more the light will shine through. When you've completed and laid out your design, add another coat of Mod Podge in a matte or glossy finish to protect it. Fill the bottom with sand or aquarium gravel and set a real or LED votive candle inside.

Combine drinking glasses and other glassware like bowls and saucers into a charmingly rustic chandelier. You can attach the pieces together with E6000 glue in a stack with the glasses at the top, where they can hold candles or battery operated LEDs that offer a warm and soft glow. The project above uses old glass electrical insulators as the base that fits into the frame, but you can modify the design according to how your pieces fasten into the chandelier frame. Stick to clear glass for a classic look, or a selection of beautiful colored glass.

Many ingenious DIYers have taken to creating adorable glass mushrooms for their garden with bits of vintage glassware. All you need is a taller piece like a drinking glass or vase and a bowl. Place the bowl over the top of the glass with a circle of hot glue. You can even paint the pieces to be a solid color or add white spots on top. Insert twinkle lights, an LED puck light, or a solar bulb inside the bottom of the glass to turn them into fun outdoor lanterns.

If you're looking for a fun DIY project that makes a perfect addition to your décor or a great gift, try using distinctive vintage glassware pieces as containers for hand-crafted candles. Use a paraffin or soy wax base melted down in a double boiler or in the microwave. Place the wick inside with an adhesive tab at the bottom and pour in your wax. You can also add other materials like dried flowers, glitter, or colored pigments, as well as essential oils or scents designed specifically for candles.

Create a stunning cloche for your décor by combining a wine glass or water goblet with a bowl with roughly the same size diameter. Add a bottle stopper, small crystal, or wooden bead to the top of the overturned bowl to make a handle to lift the lid. Use the cloche as a candy dish or a spot for décor like flowers, candles, pine cones, or pretty pebbles. These cloches make a great addition to a centerpiece to create height and levels. They also look lovely on a mantle filled with seasonal accents during the holidays.

Use a candle pedestal to create a stylish elevated jar that is perfect for décor and functional storage. Affix the bottom of a glass of any size to the pedestal using hot glue or E6000 glue. Decorate the glass to fit your décor. Great options include stencils, adhesive sticker sand trims, beads, and glass gems. Place these jars as part of a table centerpiece to hold candles or flowers, or use them to stash items like cotton swabs, small soaps, and cotton balls on your bathroom vanity.

Use a wine glass or goblet as a base for a holiday centerpiece that looks like a magical snow globe. Add fake snow or cotton to the bottom of the glass, then glue in vintage bottle brush trees, small seasonal ornaments, or tiny figures like reindeer, snowmen, or Santas. You can also include a dusting of glitter for some sparkle. To finish, tie a ribbon or other holiday accents around the stem of the glass. Use these distinctive pieces as part of your holiday decorations created on a budget or give them as adorable customized gifts.

Turn two ordinary drinking glasses and some simple round mirrors into glam wire-free sconces. Glue two glasses together with E6000 end to end, then place them in a metal camp affixed to the mirror. Fill the interior of each glass with a set of battery operated twinkle lights, which can be secured by gluing the battery pack on the inside of the glass. Use clear lights or select colored ones to match your décor. The mirror backing will reflect the glow even more, but you can also use wood for a more rustic look.

Wrap the bottom of a wine glass or water goblet in raffia twine for this fun botanical votive holder that looks like a real flower. Use a thinner gauge twine secured with dabs of hot glue around the base of the glass, wrapping your way upward. At the top, where the twine meets the glass, form a few small wrapped leaves that taper and wrap around the candle. To finish, glue on other accents like beads, pearls, and faceted stones to add more sparkle and interest. Add a real or LED tea lights or votives in the bottom.

Create a lid for any drinking glass by cutting down a round cork coaster to create a perfect jar for holding items on your bathroom vanity like cotton balls or swabs. This is a particularly great idea for pretty vintage glasses that you would rather use for décor than risk damage during frequent dishwashing. Add a handle to the top for a vintage rustic look made out of a large bead or block of wood. You can also use a small drawer pull or knob.

Use some lightweight plastic tumblers to make adorable shades for string lights. Cover the outside of the tumblers with fabric applied with hot glue and add a little bit of trim or fringe around the top of the glass. Cut or drill a hole in the bottom big enough to accommodate the bulbs of the light string. Use them as decorations for your next party. While the fabric covering is best used indoors, you can also paint the cups and add a polycrylic coat that will protect them for outdoor use.

You can turn any boring drinking glass into a distinctive DIY etched piece of custom glassware using an etching powder solution and a stencil. Just tape the stencil to the glass to keep it in place and mix and apply the etching material over the entire design. You can also use the liquid to draw and create freehand designs or write words on the exterior. They make cute customized candle holders for events like weddings, as well as great personalized party favors for guests to take home.