Create The Cutest DIY Decoupage Candle Holders From Recycled Bottles

In a day and age filled with minimalists and cluttercore lovers, in an aesthetic overhaul where almost anything works when it comes to interior design, upcyling is certainly one of the best parts of home decor. Whether you prefer minimal layouts or you love to share cherished items, being able to reuse anything is not only eco-friendly, but also just plain handy. And in the spirit of clever DIY recycle/upcycle projects, this decorative bottle might be one of the best things to come out of internet hacks. Rather than spending a fortune on unique candle holders, why not make your own to match your existing home decor with empty glass bottles, napkins, and a little Mod Podge? Yes, you can still have a stylish and chic layout, even if you prefer to lean into the sustainable vibe. Not everything is made of egg cartons when you're environmentally friendly (though there are some fun crafts with these, too).

To get started, clean off your used bottle and remove any labels. You'll be covering the whole bottle with napkins or decoupage paper, so don't worry too much about cleaning off glue or small pieces of stuck-on stickers. You want as smooth of a surface as you can get, but if you want to keep the label, just remove all the other paper except that. Next, paint your bottle in a base color if you want to ensure none of the glass shows through. You can go with white, black, or even bolder colors like gold, orange or blue: just ensure it will be ok if it shows through your napkins. You can even cover the bottle in chalk paint to upgrade it. 

While decoupage paper is fine, napkins are thinner and easier to mold to different shapes like bottles. You can get the print you want by pulling apart the layers of the napkin so you're left with the thinner top piece. From here, cut around your designs to get your coverings. Place each piece down and paint a layer of Mod Podge over the cutout. You can also put a layer of paste down on the bottle before adding your cutout so it sticks, then layer Mod Podge on top to seal. Do this around the entire bottle so it's covered in your print or pattern of choice. If you're using florals, space them out so they don't overlap too much. Otherwise, you can layer until you're happy with the finished product. Add ribbons, faux florals, or anything else you want to elevate the finished bottle.

Make sure your material is all covered with Mod Podge, then allow this to dry fully. You want to use tapered candle sticks to place inside your bottles, but these might need to be cut or shaved to fit. Measure the diameter of the bottle opening, then measure the diameter of your candle. Trim as necessary. If you prefer, you could also ad twinkle lights inside and have them "spill out" instead of candles. While there are a variety of ways to repurpose your old candlestick holders, why not reuse bottles to make your own candlestick holders and save money, too!