The Elegant Way To Repurpose Tall Candle Jars For Aesthetic-Looking Storage

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Glass jar candles are beautiful, but once they're all burned out, they can become a bit of a problem. What can we do with them? Sure, there's always the glass recycling bin, but wouldn't it be more fun to keep them and reuse these old glass jars around the house? Well, with this easy DIY, you can repurpose tall candle jars with wood lids into some aesthetically pleasing storage. Once upcycled, use these candle jars throughout the house to store dry foods or even arrange bathroom and vanity items. 

This hack works particularly well with tall candle jars like these WoodWick Hourglass Candles. These have a beautiful hourglass shape that's consistent throughout the brand, so they all look cohesive together, no matter which size you have on hand. The WoodWick candles also have a heavy base that's sturdy even when the wax is gone, so no worries about them tipping over and breaking. And let's be honest, these candles don't come cheap. That price tag is much easier to justify when you find a way to purposefully reuse the jars (and it's a great excuse to keep buying new ones!). 

This hack does not require a ton of supplies: some Fandeli Multi-Purpose Sanding Paper, an electric drill or hot glue gun, and a small knob to add to the lid. For example, look for a small, button-type pot lid handle like this Uxcell Teapot Button Lid Knob. Different types of cabinet hardware can also work for this, as long as they're small.

First things first, clean out the candle jar. If there is some wax still stuck inside, give the jar a bath in some hot water for around half an hour. Or, use vinegar to remove any leftover candle wax in the jar or adhesive left behind from the label.

Clean the lid to remove the WoodWick logo using some sandpaper. This should be fairly easy to do by hand. Next, use the drill to make a hole at the center of the lid, where the screw to attach the knob will go. Adapt this step depending on which type of knob is being used and whether it has one screw or two. If a drill is not available, use some hot glue to attach the knob to the lid. 

Go further and customize the jar even more with some paint to give the wood lid a fresh new look. Consider adding some new stickers to the glass jar, like these Cludoo Kitchen Pantry Labels, to customize it. Write directly on the jar using some acrylic paint markers, which can be effortlessly wiped away and removed. The jars' sleek hourglass shape makes this upcycled project elegant enough to leave on counters rather than tucked away in drawers and cupboards. For more privacy, use some Rust-Oleum Frosted Glass Spray Paint to cover the jar and hide its contents. These jars work great to store sugar, rice, or flour in the pantry. In the bathroom, they can hold cotton balls, hair ties, Q-tips, and even replacements for electric toothbrushes.