How to Repurpose Old Vases for a New Look ?

Sustainable decor is growing in popularity as more people aim to reduce waste and give new life to old items. Repurposing and upcycling worn out vases is a creative way to decorate your home or give one-of-a-kind gifts.

Breathing new life into old vases has many benefits – it reduces waste, saves money, and allows you to customize your space. In this blog post, we will explore some fun and simple ways to transform tired old vases into beautiful new decorative pieces.

Assessing Your Old Vases

The first step is to look over your collection of old vases and assess which ones have potential for repurposing. Check for cracks, chips, or flaws in the vase to determine if it can structurally hold up to transformations.

Ceramic, glass, and crystal vases tend to be the best candidates for repurposing projects. Carefully clean the vase you select, removing any dirt, grime, or old residue.

Use warm soapy water, isopropyl alcohol, or other cleaning solutions appropriate for the material. Make any needed minor repairs like gluing handles or edges. Then allow the vase to fully dry before you begin the process of giving it new life!

 

Painting and Coloring Techniques

One of the easiest ways to transform the look of old vases is by painting them. The type of paint you use will depend on the material of the vase. Acrylic craft paint works well for ceramic, glass, and plastic.

While spray paint or model enamel paints are better for metal vases. You can fully cover the vase in a new color for a bold solid look. Or create gradients, patterns, and designs using a combination of colors and painting techniques.

Try making ombre effects by gradually blending paint colors. Add fun geometric shapes using painters tape. Paint on freehand dots, stripes, or abstract designs. Finish it off by coating the vase with a clear acrylic sealer spray to protect the painted design.

 

Decoupage and Texturing

For a more tactile transformation, consider decoupage and texturing techniques. Decoupage involves attaching paper, fabric, or napkins to a vase using glue or sealant. Trim and arrange the material in patches, stripes, or fully covering the vase.

Then seal it in for durability. You can create themed decoupage vases featuring maps, sheet music, postcards, comics or photos. For added texture, press materials like sand, pebbles, felt, netting, or mosaic glass into glue before it dries.

Or fully cover the outside of a vase with seashells, beads, or faux gem stones secured with strong hold adhesive. The options are endless for creating unique decoupage and textured vase designs.

 

DIY Mosaic Vases

Turn your old vases into works of art by adding a handmade mosaic design. Start by gathering tiles, stained glass pieces, or broken china. Then lay out the pieces in your chosen pattern on the vase, ensuring they fully cover the surface.

Next, use a tile adhesive, liquid nails or cement slurry to affix the mosaic pieces to the vase shape. Once dry, add grout between the cracks. Consider mixing the color tones of the mosaic pieces, using a combination of textures, or embedding meaningful objects.

Finish it off with a sealer suited for the vase material. Display your finished mosaic vase with a plant or on its own as an art piece.

 

Planters and Greenery

If you have a chipped or flawed vase that can no longer hold water, transform it into a planter! Vases of all shapes, sizes and materials can be repurposed as indoor herb gardens or mini flower pots.

Add a layer of pebbles or marbles at the bottom for drainage. Then fill with a quality potting mix suitable for the plants you choose. Consider succulents, air plants, mini cacti, herbs, or small flowering plants. Pay attention to proper watering and drainage needs. A converted vase planter also makes a wonderful gift!

 

Creative Storage Solutions

Take inspiration from the original storage purpose of vases by repurposing them into organizational pieces. A tall, slender vase becomes the perfect pen or utensil holder. Shorter, wider vases work for storing office supplies, makeup brushes, kitchen tools, and more.

Incorporate repurposed vases into room designs as part of open bathroom shelving, coffee station organizers, or kitchen spice racks. Get creative with mixing, matching, and stacking vases of various shapes to suit your unique storage needs.

 

Accent Lighting

Old vases can be transformed into beautiful lighting features. Turn a vase upside down and use it as a lampshade cover, secured with a lampshade kit. Tea light candles or battery operated string lights work well in thinner vases to create ambient mood lighting.

Turn chunkier vessels into lamp bases by installing electrical components. A retired flower vase also makes a charming candlestick or lantern. No matter what lighting design you choose, use appropriate materials and follow electrical safety guidelines.