13 Creative Ways to Use Old Mason Jars Around the House

Are you wondering whether you should throw out the stash of old mason jars you’ve collected in that dusty box in the attic or basement? A treasure trove is waiting to brighten your home and make your life easier. It just takes a little creativity and a few art supplies to use these nifty storage options and make something magical. 

Solve storage challenges and overcome gifting woes with these versatile pots that add a touch of charm for every possible use. Here are the 13 best ways to creatively use mason jars around the house. 

1. Festive Tankards

If you’ve got a collection of different glass jugs, with or without handles, you have the perfect serving set for colorful summer beverages like milkshakes and fruit blends. Decorate them with a slice of fruit on the rim and an extra-wide straw to make drinking easier. This is also ideal for serving smoothies to friends or gym buddies after a workout. 

2. DIY Sewing or First-Aid Kit

The tight-fitting mason jar lid is perfect for keeping your emergency sewing supplies or first-aid stock safe and organized. Add your favorite sewing tools, such as various needles, pins, thread, spare buttons and a craft scissor to the container. For the medical kit, you can add disposable gloves, plasters, bandages, pain pills, a thermometer and wound cream. Keep a list of all the contents inside the lid and replenish supplies as needed.

3. Herb Garden

Line the bottom of the container with gravel and add potting soil with your favorite herb plants or seeds. Water sparingly and place several jars on the kitchen windowsill where the glass glistens in the sun and the plants thrive. Add a few ribbons to the jam pot handles or tie them around the glass bellies. Alternatively, add a sturdy coffee filter filled with soil inside the jar’s ring lid and fill the body with water while seeds germinate into lush foliage fronds in the moist soil.

4. Light Design

With several glass crocks, you can easily make a chandelier or light feature. You’ll need:

• Several containers with lids
• A drill
• Builder’s tape
• Fairy lights or LED lights
• Wire for hanging each light
• Wire cutters
• A steel nail and hammer

Use the nail and hammer to create a small dent at the center of the lids. It’s best to hammer the lids on a flat surface. Also, make two small dents across from each other near the edge of the lid. Now, drill holes ⅕ of an inch in size where the three dents are. Carefully remove any burs with sanding paper. 

Thread the lights through the middle hole of each lid. Cut a six-inch length of wire and bend it on each side before passing it through the lids so the cradle section is outside the jar. Hang the jugs and light up the vibrant lights. 

5. Custom Spice Rack

Beat odd bottles by creating a matching spice rack using mini mason jars. Paint a label using chalkboard paint or stick a rewritable label on the side and funnel your favorite herbs into the set.  

6. Terrarium World

For someone who lacks green fingers, a terrarium is the perfect way to include nature in your home. Simply add some soil to the bottom of the jar with a small succulent or air fern. Decorate it with a few fish tank ornaments and a few pebbles. Spray with water and tightly screw on the lid. Spray lightly with water only when needed. Keep the lid tightly closed. 

7. Portable Lunch Jar

Eating leftovers can be messy when your lunchbox leaks, so why follow the “school” route when you can present your lunch more tastefully? Layer your meal in a medium-sized jar, starting with the largest ingredients at the bottom. Use colorful layers and finish with the top dressing. Secure the lid and fix a spoon and napkin to the side with a colorful ribbon. 

8. Piggy Bank

The safest investment you can make is a jar bank. Use the hammer and nail from earlier to create a line along the lid for your coins to slip through. Drill a couple of holes along the line, overlapping the holes to make a slot. Secure your lid with a ribbon detailing your savings plan. 

9. Creative Gifts

If you love baking for gifts, especially around Christmas, these humble containers offer a beautiful way to share. Best of all, it keeps your baked goods airtight and sealed so they stay fresh longer. Line the glass pot with a colorful paper napkin and edible glitter. Then add your baked goods like rusks and cookies. Secure the lid with a festive message threaded onto a string or ribbon. You can add bells or shells to the lid to make it as creative as you are. 

Alternatively, you can fill the jar with glitter and some DIY Christmas decorations to sparkle up someone’s life. 

10. Sterile Storage

Use a couple of jars to keep your beauty supplies airtight and sterile. One jar can store Q-tips, while another can keep your cotton buds safe. When you travel, keep your shower gel and other beauty products leak-proof in a large jar. 

11. Inspiration or Gratitude Jar

With New Year’s on your mind, why not create a resolution jar or a gratitude collection? Place small notes and a pen next to a large jar and record something you’re thankful for daily before placing it in the jar. When another year ends, examine all the blessings in your jar and feel inspired. 

12. Decorative Alphabet Messages

Paint different pots in the colors of your home or porch, and add a welcome message by painting one letter of the word on each container. Hang the lids with a wire from the side of the jar and fill it with dried flower arrangements or even brightly colored reeds or sticks. 

If you struggle to paint the glass, use colored tissue paper and glue to decoupage the outside. Adding a tealight candle or fairy light will give you a lovely glow to enjoy at night.  

13. Bird Feeders

A birdfeeder is ideal for a collection of wide-mouth mason jars. The best is to use shallow containers that allow the birds easy access. Hammer a couple of nails into an old storage pallet or a section of found wood — you can even nail it into a tree. Secure the jars with a wire tied around the neck or the handle and add a handful of seed, sliced fruit, chopped nuts and other edibles to each. The birds will soon discover their snack parlor. 

Why Are They Called Mason Jars?

The versatile vessels are named after the tin smith from New Jersey — John Landis Mason — who created the first hermetically sealed and reusable lid to preserve food in a wide-mouth glass container. Since then, the handy containers have been called Mason jars. 

Jars Are Your Friends

Never throw out mason jars or glass containers. You can easily recycle them via a local recycling station or upcycle them with any of these wonderful ideas. These airtight containers are perfect for keeping treats fresh, sharing homemade gifts or saving money. Turn them into lights, customize your spice rack or tidy your bathroom with sterile storage ideas. 

What treasure will you turn your glass containers into?