Upcycling Wine Bottles: Creative Ways to Use Your Empty Bottles

If you're a wine lover, chances are you’ve got a few empty bottles sitting around at home. Whether they are left over from a dinner party or are gathering dust in the recycling bin after  relaxing evenings at home, instead of tossing them, why not give those bottles a second life? Upcycling wine bottles is not only environmentally friendly, but it also offers a great opportunity to flex your creative muscles. From stylish home décor to practical household items, here are some clever and beautiful ways to repurpose your empty wine bottles.

1. DIY Wine Bottle Vases

Transform empty wine bottles into elegant vases. A simple rinse and peel of the label can turn a bottle into a minimalist centerpiece. For a more artistic touch, try painting the bottles with glass paint or black chalk paint, or wrapping them in twine, lace, or washi tape. Arrange single stems or a few fresh flowers for a chic look on your table, mantle, or windowsill.



2. Bottle Lights or Lamps

Wine bottles make stunning mood lighting. Use string fairy lights or LED cork lights (which fit snugly into the bottle’s opening) to create a warm glow perfect for evening ambiance. For the more ambitious, you can drill a hole near the base, insert a bulb and socket, and turn it into a tabletop lamp or hanging pendant light.

3. Garden Watering Globes

Keep your plants hydrated with homemade watering globes. Fill a clean wine bottle with water, quickly flip it upside down, and insert it into the soil. The water will slowly seep into the soil, keeping your plants moist while you're away. It’s functional and looks great in your garden or planters. Similarly, you can insert LED string lights into wine bottles and insert upside down into the ground to add a magical touch to your backyard. 

4. Chic Candle Holders

Use wine bottles as candle holders for taper or pillar candles. You can cut the bottles in half for a modern holder or leave them whole for a tall, elegant look. For safety, ensure the candle is secure and always burn in a well-ventilated area, or use battery powered candles.

5. Wall-Mounted Bottle Racks

If you’re into woodworking or metalworking, wine bottles can be the star of a rustic wall-mounted rack. Bottles can be cut and used to hold small plants, spices, or other items. This kind of project takes a bit more skill but delivers a unique and functional conversation piece.

6. Outdoor Tiki Torches

Add flair to your backyard gatherings with wine bottle tiki torches. With the right wick and some citronella oil, your bottle becomes both decorative and practical—keeping bugs away in style. Use a metal bracket or holder to secure the bottle to a fence or railing.

7. Table Number Holders for Events

Hosting a wedding or dinner party? Wine bottles make charming table number holders. Slip printed numbers or signs into the neck of the bottle, or paint directly onto the glass. They add a rustic and elegant touch to any event setting.

8. Self-Watering Herb Planters

Cut a wine bottle in half, invert the top half into the bottom (with a wick threaded through), and fill it with soil and herbs. The bottom half holds water, and the wick keeps the plant moist. These self-watering planters are perfect for windowsills and small kitchens.

9. Melted Bottle Cheese Tray

This DIY project requires some skill and tools that not everyone has available to them, but if you have access to a kiln to melt the glass (a process called warm glass slumping) these cheese trays make superb talking points at a dinner party, or unique gifts for friends. You can paint the bottle once it has fully cooled down, leave it its original colour, or it can be decorated through etching. 

10. Succulent Planter

Upcycling a wine bottle into a succulent planter is a stylish and sustainable way to give new life to glass while creating a unique piece of greenery for your home. By carefully cutting the bottle—typically lengthwise or near the base—you can create a shallow, well-drained container ideal for succulents, which require minimal soil and water. Adding a layer of pebbles or activated charcoal at the bottom helps with drainage, ensuring the plants stay healthy. Once filled with cactus soil and your favorite succulents, the planter becomes a striking, low-maintenance display, perfect for windowsills, desks, or tabletops.

Tips for Removing Wine Bottles:

Soaking Method (Paper Labels)

• Soak the bottle in warm water with baking soda for 30–60 mins.
• Peel the label off gently. Use a scraper if needed.
• Remove any residue with dish soap.
  
  

Oven Method (Strong Adhesive Labels)

• Heat the empty bottle at 200°F (95°C) for 5–10 mins.
• Use oven mitts to remove and peel the label while warm.
  
  

Hair Dryer Method (Glossy/Synthetic Labels)

• Heat the label for 1–2 mins with a hair dryer.
• Peel off slowly from one corner.
  
  

Final Thoughts

Upcycling wine bottles is a creative way to reduce waste and beautify your space. Whether you go for a simple vase or an ambitious chandelier, each project gives new life to something that would otherwise be thrown away. So the next time you finish a bottle of wine, think twice before discarding it—your next DIY masterpiece might be just a cork away!