Creative Ways To Fill Glass Jars To Use As Unique Budget-Friendly Home Decor

Empty glass jars can be boring and don't add much decorative appeal on their own. The good news is you don't have to break the bank to make these home decorations more aesthetically pleasing. All it takes is a little creativity and some budget-friendly jar fillers to upgrade glass jars and vases into perfect decorative accents.

Seeing as they're made of glass, you can fully customize transparent jars and vases inside and out, giving you complete freedom in decorating as you see fit. And you may not have to buy any jars at all if you repurpose what you already own. Raid your pantry cabinet for old sauces, preserved fruits and vegetables, cooking oils, and vinegars. Find any nearly empty or expired products, clean them out, remove the stickers, and you have a glass canister ready to be filled.

Below are thirteen jar-filler ideas that you can stick in these containers at little to no expense. You can also purchase mason jars, glass vases, and other similar containers for cheap at most major retailers. Many of the items you'll be filling these glasses with are either free or extremely affordable, making this home decor enterprise budget-friendly all around.

On your next beach trip, scavenge for seashells and shark teeth to fill glass receptacles around your home. It's a way to showcase memories and add a coastal vibe to living spaces. If you don't live near any beaches and don't have any vacations planned, find budget-friendly mixed shells at stores like Michaels and Amazon for under $10. Dress up the glass pieces with burlap ribbon, colored sand, or wicker rope to create a more beachy look.

Glass jars don't have to be purely aesthetic — if the lids screw on or have rubber gaskets, fill them with candy. Hard candy comes in various shapes and colors and holds up well in these types of containers. Many people also use gummy candy, which retains shape and flavor as long as you keep your home at a cool temperature with controlled humidity. Pick an eclectic mix or a specific combination matching your interior design's color scheme. Any TikTok-inspired treat jar filler adds a whimsical and personal touch to bedrooms, kitchens, and living rooms.

People have used dried flowers for decorative purposes since ancient times, and this trend isn't dying off any time soon. Dry and style flowers for home decor, or find dried flowers for cheap on Amazon ($12) and at craft stores like Hobby Lobby ($4). These crafting materials are sold in bulk for candle and soap making, and it's easy to stock up on various colors and scents that add a rustic, but classic, look. The dried flowers should last between two to three years, making this decoration idea as long-lasting as it is affordable.

Putting feathers in glass jars is an affordable way to add a unique touch to many interior design styles. You can use fallen feathers gathered from pets or wild birds, or pick up authentic and faux designs from local craft stores. Before using any feathers collected from live creatures, ensure they're properly sanitized. Clean them with warm water and mild dish soap, or follow the Museums for Digital Learning's recommended method using a gentle vacuum and a makeup sponge, which is less likely to damage or discolor them. 

Filling glass vases with Christmas baubles is a common holiday decorating tactic. You can use ornaments with different shapes, colors, and textures to fill transparent glasses and add festive, but elegant, accents to any room. Be gentle when dropping ornaments into glass receptacles — you may want to stick to all lightweight bulbs or make sure heavier ones are on the bottom to avoid crushing the lowest layers. A base of polyester filler ($10 on Amazon) can also emulate snow and pad ornaments from the hard glass bottom.

Discarded and broken glass scavenged from the ocean often has a smooth crystallized shape, and it's become a hot commodity for artsy individuals. Whether literally fished from the sea or purchased at an arts and crafts store like Michaels or Hobby Lobby, this material is a beautiful and budget-friendly jar filler for various interior styles. Depending on the color, sea glass in decorative jars befits coastal, elegant, and maximalist interior design themes, and you can try a motley of colors to add complexity to the glass.

Water gel beads are a TikTok home decor hack that level up glass vase arrangements, and they're available for as cheap on Amazon. Fill vases with these jelly-like beads and any decorative objects of your choice, such as artificial flowers, ornaments, or sea shells. Adding water makes the water beads disappear and creates the illusion that your decorations are floating. If you don't like how the vase turns out after adding water, simply drain it and let the beads re-dry so you can try a different design.

Battery-powered fairy lights or string lights are sold for cheap at most big box stores and home furnishing retailers. Tuck a strand of these lights in a glass jar and power them on to illuminate tabletops and shelves with aesthetically pleasing glassware. Make these jars even prettier by dressing up their lids with ribbons, artificial greenery, or other decorative embellishments. If you want to go the extra mile, combine several glass jars filled with these lights to make a DIY rustic chandelier on a budget.

Bring nature inside by turning jars into tiny terrariums. Build this project at no cost by re-purposing old sauce and pickle jars, and foraging rocks, soil, and tiny plants from your yard. However, if you have a small budget to work with, this starter terrarium kit on Amazon is only $20.95. Another option is to combine river rocks and preserved moss, sold at Michaels for under $20 combined. Set up these jars around your home to add a rustic and homey vibe.

Glass gems and marbles are some of the most common jar fillers. They come in many shades, making them suitable for any color scheme, and they befit classic, coastal, contemporary, and eclectic styles. Popular chain stores like At Home, Hobby Lobby, Michaels, and Walmart often carry bags of these gems for $10 or less. Fill the entirety of the glass jars and vases or leave room on top for candles or artificial flowers and succulents for a more nature-focused feel.

If you live near natural pine trees, fallen pinecones and store-bought lighting is a cheap and easy way to fill glass jars. Gather pinecones from your yard and wash them thoroughly with warm water and mild soap. Pile the pinecones in a glass vase, weaving in faux greenery and string lights for an extra rustic touch. You can also use pinecones to encase a lit candle. Just ensure the glass receptacle is made with thick and authentic material (not a plastic look-a-like), so it doesn't melt from the flames.

Using fruit as home decor evokes a joyful and organic ambiance, making natural crops a great jar filler for kitchen and dining room settings. Fill a glass with fruits and vegetables that don't need refrigeration until they're ripe, such as avocados, mangoes, melons, nectarines, peaches, and pears. Splay faux greenery, like these from Hearth & Hand for $5 at Target, out the top to add to the glass's decorative appeal.

Nearly everyone is embracing maximalism, and what better way to do so than to showcase your random trinkets and memories from over the years? Go through your drawers and pull out small pieces of memorabilia, souvenirs, toys, and jewelry that otherwise lay forgotten. Dump these belongings into a glass jar to create an eccentric tabletop piece that sparks joy and conversation. If you don't have enough trinkets of your own, Amazon sells small charm collections for under $10.