Repurpose An Old Aquarium And Pea Gravel Into A Unique Outdoor Light Feature

Do you have an old aquarium just gathering dust in your garage? Even if it's a little worse for wear and you can no longer keep fish in it, there are so many other impressive ways to repurpose it to add interesting decor to your home or outdoor living area. For example, you could incorporate a terrarium table for an attractive statement piece. Or if you've got a green thumb, you could use your old fish tank to DIY your own hydroponic garden. Another clever idea, courtesy of Instagrammer Sarah Teresinski, is to turn that old fish tank into a unique outdoor light feature that will impress your family and friends and make a stunning focal point for the center of your table.

This gorgeous decor piece is so simple to make and turns an item that's no longer fit for purpose into something truly distinctive.  What's even more special is that this feature is not just decorative, but will also stop your candles from being extinguished if a warm breeze happens to spring up while you're out entertaining your guests. All you need is your old fish tank, some pea gravel or fancy stones, and a selection of candles in various sizes and heights. 

Before you start getting creative, make sure you give the aquarium a really good clean to remove any dirt and dust so that the glass gleams. If there are any cracks in the rim, you can quickly cover these up by applying a few pieces of electrical tape. Once your fish tank looks almost as good as new, it's time to magically transform it into a delightful centerpiece. Place your tank on your table or a bench where you want it to sit permanently before filling it. 

Put a layer of pea gravel or any other decorative stones you might have on hand to cover the base. You could go in a flashier direction with items like these FANTIAN Flat Glass Pebbles or even pretty marbles, as long as you can create a relatively flat surface for the candles to sit on. Finally, you want to gather your candles and arrange them attractively inside the aquarium before lighting them. 

While white candles would look great, mixing them with black ones might add just a little touch of luxury. You could even change these out depending on the seasons or festive occasions. Or, if you're not fond of candles, you could get some battery-operated twinkle lights like this 6-Pack of Fairy Lights from HOBAYS and place them inside your aquarium instead. For a bit of extra fun, why not get some cute vinyl fish or turtle decals to stick around the glass sides? If you want to lean into the fish tank aspect, consider placing some jellyfish lights inside the tank to add an aquatic touch to your home.