Turn Empty Bottles Into Beautiful DIY Sea Glass Decor

Seeking beautiful yet affordable summer decor? Transform empty bottles into beautiful DIY sea glass bottles with this easy coastal craft.

Summer is just around the corner, and what better way to kick off the season than with a breezy beach-inspired DIY?

Today, I’m joining the Celebrate the Holiday Blog Hop – Celebrating Summer Edition, where my talented blogger friends share their best ideas for making this season extra special.

Thanks to my friend Carol from Blue Sky At Home for hosting this inspiring blog hop!

If you’re coming from my friend MaryJo’s blog, Masterpieces of My Life, I know you’re excited to try some of the summer salad recipes she shared!

If this is your first time visiting An Organized Season, welcome—we’re so happy you’re here! We’re a husband-and-wife team on a mission to transform our builder-grade house into a home we love, one project at a time. Each season, we tackle home organization challenges, decorate our spaces, and create budget-friendly DIYs to bring our vision to life. Our goal is to inspire you with practical tips and creative ideas to help you craft a home you love, too!

Be sure to visit all the blogs at the end of this post for inspiring ways to celebrate the start of summer!

Now, back to our project!

These DIY sea glass bottles are super easy to make and such a fun way to repurpose old bottles.

Wondering where I got this idea?

My Inspiration

The idea for this project actually came to me back in January when I was wandering through Renninger’s Antique and Collectors Extravaganza.

When I walked into this booth, I spotted these pretty blue and clear bottles in a basket, giving off a beachy vibe.

They were so simple, but I knew I wanted to recreate this look!

Then, in another booth, I saw this…

An adorable small bottle topped with a pretty seashell!

I wondered if I could incorporate both ideas into a single project.

So I tucked the idea away and waited (not-so-patiently) for the warmer weather to arrive.

Now that summer’s on the horizon, it’s finally the perfect time to bring this coastal DIY to life!

Let’s get started!

Supplies Needed to Make DIY Sea Glass Bottles

Believe it or not, you can create these pretty coastal bottles from items you already have at home that you would normally toss in the trash or, better yet, the recycling bin!

• Empty glass bottles (such as liquor bottles, spice jars, and condiment bottles) – Look for interesting shapes and sizes to add variety.
• Sea glass spray paint – I used Krylon Sea Glass Paint in Aqua, which I purchased from Hobby Lobby.
• Twine- white jute twine
• Sand
• Seashells, Starfish, Miniature shells
• Drill
• Super glue
• Hot glue gun, glue sticks
• Finger protectors
• Scissors
• Paint (optional)- FolkArt Vintage White

How to Make DIY Sea Glass Bottles

This project is super simple and totally customizable!

Here’s how to turn those empty bottles into beach-inspired beauties:

1: Clean & Prep the Bottles

• Start by removing any labels from your bottles that can be peeled off.
• Some will be stubborn, so soak them in warm water for about 30 minutes, then peel off the labels.
• If any sticky residue remains, remove it with Goo Gone.
• Wash them in warm, soapy water and let them dry completely.

2: Spray with Sea Glass Paint

The color of your bottles will be determined by the number of coats of paint you apply to them.

The bottle on the left has one coat, the middle has two coats, and the right bottle has three coats of spray paint.

Here are the steps to spray paint your bottles:

• Take your bottles outside or into a well-ventilated area and place them on a protected surface, such as a cardboard box or drop cloth.
• Shake your sea glass spray paint until the balls inside rattle, and then continue shaking for an additional two minutes.
• Hold the can 10” to 12” away from the bottle and apply a light, slightly overlapping layer on each side.
• Let it dry for one minute, then apply a second coat (and a third, if needed) until you achieve the desired color and coverage. Remember, the bottle will look less translucent with each coat.

Tip: Don’t worry if the finish looks slightly uneven at first—it will even out as it dries, giving you that natural sea glass look.

3: Add Coastal Embellishments

Once your bottles are completely dry, it’s time to decorate!

If you don’t have shells to work with, I suggest the mesh bag from Walmart, pictured above.

If you want starfish or miniature shells (to go inside the bottles), check out Hobby Lobby!

Now we’re going to adhere shells to the top of our bottles.

Some have screw-on or wood lids, and others have corks.

• Drill holes into the lids that are not made of cork.
• Paint the lids- this step is optional, but I’m using white twine to cover them and don’t want the dark colors to show through.
• Use super glue to attach the shells to the lids and let them dry.

Wrap the painted lids with twine, securing it with hot glue.

Tip: Be cautious when working with hot glue, as it can cause burns. We highly recommend using silicone finger protectors to keep your fingertips safe while you’re pressing down twine or embellishments.

I’m thrilled with how my DIY seaglass bottles turned out!

How to Style Your DIY Sea Glass Bottles

Once your bottles are painted and prettied up, the fun doesn’t stop there!

I decided to create a coastal vignette with mine by placing them on a tray covered with a decorative fishing net.

Then I added a couple of pieces of coral to complete the look.

Here are some other simple ways you can decorate with them and bring that breezy, beachy vibe into your home:

• Use as Summer Centerpieces– Arrange your bottles down the center of a dining table or picnic table for a laid-back summer tablescape. You can leave them as is or add a few faux flowers, dried stems, or grasses inside.
• Brighten Up a Windowsill or Shelf– Place a row of bottles along a sunny windowsill or on an open shelf. The light filtering through the sea glass paint adds a soft, dreamy glow.
• Turn Them Into Candle Holders– Use larger bottles to hold taper candles or fill them with fairy lights for a magical nighttime glow—perfect for outdoor summer gatherings!

Closing Thoughts

I hope this simple DIY inspires you to save a few bottles and give them a beachy makeover.

It’s such an easy and affordable way to add a touch of summer to your home!

Don’t forget to check out all the fantastic ideas shared in the Celebrate the Holiday Blog Hop at the bottom of this post! Or you can hop over to see Missy from Sonata Home Design now and see how she made beautiful wall art from a tablecloth!

If you enjoyed this post, please consider joining our email list for more DIY inspiration, seasonal decorating ideas, and access to our free printables to help you organize your entire home.

Blessings, Donna and Rich

But wait, don’t leave yet, we have more DIY Coastal decor ideas we’d like to share with you!

More DIY Coastal Decor Inspiration From Our Blog

If you’re as excited for summer as we are, it’s time to make these beautiful decor items, so they’ll be ready when the season begins!

• DIY Coastal lantern made from a pickle jar
• Simple DIY rope wreath with a nautical vibe
• How to make seashell-themed candles
• Easy DIY oyster shell trinket dishes
• Create a gallery wall with inexpensive shell art

Pin It For Later

If you enjoyed this project, be sure to Pin it for later and share it with a friend who loves coastal decor (hover over the picture and click the red Pin button in the top left corner).

Celebrate The Holiday Blog Hop

Click each link below to see what my creative blogging friends are doing to kick off summer!

Bluesky at Home – Summer Picnic Ideas

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