15 DIY Mason Jar Centerpieces That Will Always Wow Your Guests

So many things, from your favorite spaghetti sauce to your go-to pie filling, come in mason jars. These popular containers are recyclable, but they can also be easily repurposed into a variety of home and decor items. One awesome way of reducing hosting costs, as well as saving these jars from ending up in the trash, is by creating centerpieces with them.

Thoughtful centerpieces create a festive vibe, and they can serve as the foundation for fun tablescapes for every occasion. However, they can be pricey, especially when you need a large number of them. By using mason jars, you can create a wide variety of budget-friendly centerpieces for everything from holidays and birthdays to grad parties and sporting events. Even if you decide to purchase the jars new, they are readily available and come at a decent price point. So, start saving those old mason jars (or looking for a sale on new ones), and get inspired by these centerpiece ideas for your next event.

You can make festive centerpieces with mason jars, basic craft supplies, and a bathroom staple you may already have: Epsom salt. To create these lanterns, simply cover the outside of your jar with an adhesive like Mod Podge All-In-One Solution. Then, sprinkle on a coating of Epsom salt and glitter to create a snowy effect. Add a wintertime sprig with a festive ribbon, and insert a battery-powered LED candle. Voilà! You're ready to host that holiday brunch or happy hour. To take these from December to January, simply swap the greenery for a wintery accent like Kinteshun's Snowflake Charms.

Setting up for a pre-game meal or DIYing the perfect Super Bowl party decor can be tough. Luckily, sports-themed mason jar centerpieces are both casual and easy to pull off. First, spray paint your clean mason jars with your base color. This TikTok crafter uses brown to create footballs, but you could use white to make baseballs, orange for basketballs, or bright yellow to create tennis-themed centerpieces. Then, use acrylic paint like Apple Barrel's Vibrant Spectrum Collection to make the markings on the jar and fill it with flowers, card stock shapes, or greenery stems. To really show off your team spirit, tie ribbons in your team colors around the neck of the jar.

Draw your guests' eyes upward with an unexpected mason jar placement. This crafter used a wooden centerpiece box, but you could use a table-mounted decorating arch like Putros Over The Table Rod Stand with Clamps instead. Just make sure you hang the jars high enough that they don't impede the sightlines of guests. You may also want to use battery-powered candles for safety reasons in case a jar falls. Or, use a more lightweight option like Novelinks Clear Plastic Jars if glass ones are too heavy. If you want to take this idea from rustic to glam, use a metallic ribbon instead of the twine.

Light up the night with cute, yet low-maintenance, solar-powered centerpieces. Simply use Mod Podge to wrap the jars with holiday-themed fabric and tie a ribbon around the neck. Then, use a jar filler like Corlcol's Crinkle Cut Paper Shred to create a foundation for the solar stake lights. You can use Halloween ones from Dollar Tree, or opt for Christmas-themed centerpieces with Glintoper's 4 Pack or Figurine Lights. Then, set an event day reminder on your phone to put your centerpieces out in the sun so they can charge up before guests arrive.

For a simple and budget-friendly centerpiece, grab an old mason jar, fairy lights, twine, and some faux flowers. Wrap the twine around the neck, fill the jar with the lights, and arrange your flowers. Pretty-colored flowers and twine create a rustic, whimsical vibe. For a more vibrant look, use brightly-colored yarn to wrap the neck and fill the jar with a multi-colored set like Siuholi's Twinkle String Lights. Since these are waterproof, you can also fill the jar with water and use real blooms instead of faux ones.

Create a seasonal vibe with a super-simple, yet impressive, mason jar centerpiece that you can throw together in minutes. For summer, slice citrus fruits like lemons, limes, and oranges, and add them to a water-filled jar for a cheery vibe. Then, pop a votive, like Tuyai's Floating Candle, on top. If bugs are a concern, use faux slices like Hagao's Artificial Fruit instead. Plus, you can make this idea work for a variety of occasions. For example, during winter holidays, use sprigs of rosemary and cranberries, or toss in a handful of strawberries and blueberries for the Fourth of July.

Take your mason jar centerpieces to the next level (literally!) with a few candlesticks you have around the house or from a second-hand store. Match each one up with a mason jar and paint the candlesticks and the lids the same color with spray paint. Glue the jar on the candlestick to create cute elevated containers. You can stick with brightly-hued paint and fill the jars with colorful candy for a playful display. For a sophisticated look, go with a glam finish like Rust-Oleum's Metallic Spray Paint in Pure Gold or Pearl Mist. Then, add butter mints or white M&Ms for a stunning, monochromatic centerpiece.

Save your mason jars from recycling, and turn them into glam centerpieces in mere minutes. Grab a can of glue, like 3M Super 77 Multipurpose Spray Adhesive, and coat the outside of the jar. Then, sprinkle on a coating of glitter that matches your event's color scheme. If you want to streamline the process, use a can of Montana's Glitter Coat Spray Paint. Then, fill your shimmering jars with card stock like this proud grad did. You can also affix photos to bamboo skewers and insert them in the jars to add a personal touch to graduation party tables or to decorate for a baby shower.

A centerpiece box allows you to display your mason jars in a polished way. You can purchase a custom box from Etsy or make your own using simple tools. This gives the jars a more substantial presence, which is helpful if you are mistakenly using the wrong centerpiece for a long dining table. Plus, you can switch out the jars to customize your centerpiece according to the occasion or the time of year. Create fall-themed jars with warmly-hued spray paints and autumn stems, then swap them for silver jars and pine branches for a wintery look. Or, just fill the box with plain jars and your favorite floral stems for a centerpiece that looks stunning on your dining table all year long.

Create custom mason jar centerpieces with tons of texture using just a few embellishments. First, wrap the jar with Mod Podge and tissue paper, allowing it to crinkle for an organic look. Then, glue small embellishments to the jar for three-dimensional charm. This TikTok crafter used adorable ladybugs, but you can tailor the accents to the theme of your event. Use Hapy Shop's Tiny Sea Shells for a beachy theme, or affix various-sized rhinestones for a more glam event. When you're done, fill the jars with flowers, glittery stems, or greenery that plays off the embellishments.

A photo mason jar centerpiece is a perfect personal touch for everything from engagement parties to milestone birthday events. First, spray paint the jar in your choice of color, and print photo stickers and affix them to the outside of the jar. If you don't have a sticker maker, simply print photos on regular paper. Then, apply a layer of Mod Podge to the jar, and place the photo on top, adding another layer of glue on top to seal it. Once your jar is adorned with photos, add flowers or greenery to complete the look.

TikTok user @mrs.jessica.cole uses cylindrical vases to complete this project, but you can use mason jars to create these glowing centerpieces as well. Fill the container with cotton balls, add your figurines to the outside, then insert a glow stick in the center. Adorn the tops with stems, turn off the lights, and watch the containers glow. You can alter this project to decorate for Valentine's Day using red or pink glow sticks and filling the outside with little hearts like Haddiy's Valentine's Day Gems. Or, use a blue stick and star and moon shapes for a celestial look.

Think outside the box when it comes to fillers for your mason jar centerpieces. This Instagram crafter used Easter candy and tulips for a springy touch. You could also fill your jars with beads and add purple and yellow floral stems for a Mardi Gras fête. If you want a rustic look for the Fourth of July, use a filler like Dicobd's Wooden Craft Beads and add flags for a charming, patriotic vibe. Hosting a birthday party for a LEGO lover? Fill the jars with the bricks and add a few photos of the guest of honor.

Create your own luminary centerpieces using mason jars, Mod Podge, and tissue paper that matches your event. Luckily, tissue paper comes in a nearly endless variety of prints, from florals and plaids to holiday themes. So, pick the best one to match your occasion and use Mod Podge to adhere it to your jar. Then, add embellishments like rhinestones to up the customized look. For a simple way to illuminate your new jars, you can order Solar Mason Jar Lights that fit right on the top. Just don't forget to charge them in the sun before your event.

One of the most unique mason jar centerpiece ideas is creating unconventional vases using unexpected objects. The mason jar can be used to hold flowers or decorative stems, and then nestled into another item like the pumpkin in this TikTok. Or, to create centerpieces for a backyard luau, hollow out pineapples and place mason jars inside. Then, fill it with tropical flowers or exotic-looking foliage like Serra Flora's Artificial Greenery Spray.