Get the tutorial at KA Styles.
65 Brilliant Mason Jar Decor Ideas That Go Way Beyond Flower Vases
Who knew such a little jar could make such a huge impact?
By Country Living Staff Updated: May 10, 2019
Save Article
Getty Images
Leftover foods and tasty smoothies would be nothing if not for Mason jars, but you might not be aware of their many, many uses outside the kitchen. The versatile vessels have quickly evolved from just a simple canning necessity to an essential wedding decoration, easy craft project base, and overall country home staple. There’s truly no limit when it comes to the amount of creative Mason jar decor ideas and at-home hacks there are out there, all of which will make you question why you never thought of them in the first place. Ever considered a DIY Mason jar matchbox, for example? We thought not—and there’s so much more where that came from, including hanging magnetic jars, clever light fixtures, genius space-saving bathroom storage, and, naturally, gorgeous flower vases. Give your home a rustic touch without breaking the bank thanks to these beautiful Mason jar ideas. You’ll never look at these little guys the same again—and that’s a promise.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Toothbrush Holder
The Country Chic Cottage
Your kids officially have no more excuses for a messy bathroom countertop with this Mason jar toothbrush holder.
Get the tutorial at The Country Chic Cottage.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Lid Coasters
More Like Grace
Whether you’ve put your Mason jar to use as a vase or pencil holder, salvage the lids for a project of their own: drink coasters. Mix and match pieces of fabric, then put them to good use on the coffee table.
Get the tutorial at More Like Grace.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Cute Crafts and Ideas to Decorate Mason Jars For Every Season
The tutorial for each project is linked and provided step-by-step directions and a full supply list.
Rainbow Fruit Mason Jars
Fruit has never looked cuter! This simple mason jar craft uses acrylic paint to paint different types of fruit onto clear mason jars! This craft is a great way to spend your free time if you’re looking for a creative craft to do!
Kawaii Mason Jars
These adorable kawaii mason jars are a cute idea for adding a colorful element to your space. This fun craft involves painting mason jars with acrylic paint and drawing cute facial expressions on them! I painted each mason jar a different pastel color for this craft, creating a slight rainbow effect when I lined them up. I then painted different facial expressions on each mason jar to give them a personal touch!
School Supplies Mason Jar Idea
If you’re looking for cute desk accessories, this is the craft for you! This craft is the perfect finishing touch to your desk and is a good use of old mason jars lying around your house! First, I used acrylic paint to paint different school-inspired mason jars for this craft. Then, I painted adorable expressions to give them a personal touch! The finished product looked adorable and is the perfect size for holding school supplies!
DIY Glitter Mason Jars
Who doesn’t love glitter, right? These glitter mason jars make perfect last minute gifts for when you need something thoughtful yet quick! First, I used acrylic paint to create a dripping effect at the top of the mason jars for this craft. Then, I used extra fine glitter to add a bit of sparkle!
Watercolor Mason Jar Craft
This DIY mason jar craft is the perfect way to showcase your creative talents! I used neon acrylic paint mixed with water for this craft to create beautiful designs on my mason jars! This craft makes a great gift or DIY home decor!
Mason Jars Decorated for Easter
These little jars work perfectly for this special occasion! For this craft, I painted mason jars using acrylic paint. I painted one mason jar with a floral bunny and the other with an open egg and a little chick inside! This craft works well for Easter decorations or filling them with candy and goodies for guests to take as they walk out the door!
Painted Halloween Mason Jars
These spooky mason jars are perfect for decorating your home for Halloween! I used acrylic paint to paint different designs on these mason jars, like a witch face, witch boots, and a black cat! I love this craft because it adds a personal touch to your home and uses a little bit of creativity!
DIY Painted Animal Mason Jars
These little cartoon animal mason jars are an easy idea for a quick DIY project! I used 8 oz mason jars for this craft because they just looked cuter to me and made sense! I also used acrylic paint and paint pens to give the animals a vibrant, adorable look! These mason jars make adorable gifts and brighten up any space!
Pumpkin Decorated Mason Jars
This fall craft is an easy way to decorate for fall and get ready for the season! For this craft, I used acrylic paint to paint mason jars. I used colors like orange and white to replicate pumpkins and used the mason jar lids for the stem!
Stained Glass Painted Mason Jar Inspiration
If you’re a fan of stained glass windows, you’ll love this craft! I used glossy glass paint for this craft to get that “stained glass” effect! These mason jars would look amazing on a dining room table or sitting in a window to reflect the light!
Christmas Mason Jars
Celebrate the holiday season with these festive mason jar crafts! This round-up article includes several different ways to use mason jars for the holidays. For example, you can make a mason jar soap dispenser, mason jar lights, mason jar candy holder, and mason jar snow globes!
Painting Glass Jars
Before I share the list of ideas with you, I want to go over the frequently asked questions I get about painting glass. If you’re just interested in the projects, simply scroll past this section (though I hope you do find some useful information).
PS – most of these ideas are painting mason jars on the outside. If you want to paint them on the inside, this is a great post.
Do you need to prime mason jars before painting?
You don’t NEED to. BUT what the primer does is help any paint stick better and make it look less streaky. You’ll also have to use less coats of paint to coat the jar. So I recommend white primer.
Note: before I add glitter to a jar, I always use a corresponding solid paint color. That solid background allows the glitter to really pop off the surface.
How do you get paint to stick to mason jars?
You have two options. Option one: clean the outside with rubbing alcohol and cotton balls. Option two: wash with mild soap and warm/hot water and let dry. In either scenario, you want to remove oils from fingerprints, etc. so that the surface will allow paint to adhere.
What kind of paint do you use on mason jars?
I nearly always stick to acrylic paint. Under that umbrella, I use chalk paint, acrylic paint (multisurface or glass), glitter paint, and chalkboard paint. I also use acrylic spray paint as well. If you use spray
How do you cure painted mason jars?
These methods ONLY apply to glass paint or multisurface paint. For the rest of the paint types I mention above, let them air dry according to bottle instructions.
Bake Method for Curing Painted Glass Projects
- Allow painted item to dry for 24 hours to be sure all layers of paint have dried.
- Place project in a cool oven, as the glass must heat gradually with the oven to avoid breakage; do not place glass in a hot oven.
- Set oven temperature to 350ºF.
- Once temperature has reached 350ºF, allow the project to bake for 30 minutes.
- After 30 minutes, turn the oven off and let glass cool down completely before removing from the oven.
- Cured surface can be washed 72 hours after baking. While painted surfaces can be safely cleaned in dishwasher, washing by hand in warm soapy water is the best way to extend the life of your project. Not safe for use in microwave.
Air-Dry Method for Curing Painted Glass Projects
Paint is cured to the surface after 21 days; however, air-dried projects are NOT suitable for use in the top rack of your dishwasher.
How do you waterproof painted mason jars?
Mod Podge Dishwasher Safe and Mod Podge Ultra are pretty close to waterproof, although not technically fully waterproof. If you use glass paint and follow the curing instructions above this paragraph, you can hand wash the items.
Otherwise you can use a clear enamel spray or something like Minwax waterproof sealer. I always handwash. That’s just how I roll.
Can you drink out of painted mason jars?
You absolutely can. The recommendation from the “experts” is to not paint the rim of the jar or anywhere that your lips will touch. Keep the action below the rim – or if it’s flat, 3/4″ – 1″ below the top. Also keep the paint on the outside (I think that’s a given but just in case you’re curious).
Are you ready to get the jar painting ideas? Check out the list below!
