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10 Cheap Fall Decorating Ideas with Thrifted Old Bottles and Jars

Looking for easy and cheap ways to decorate for fall? What about decorating with thrifted old bottles and jars? If you are like me, you’ve probably picked up a few vintage bottles, such as canning jars, old milk bottles, vintage Pepsi bottles, old Coke bottles, etc. Here are some ways to use those vintage finds for creative fall decorations.

Where To Find Old Bottles and Jars?

Did you know that I have found many old bottles and jars in junk piles?

That’s right, living in the country has some advantages.

On a few of our hikes, we stumbled across old junk piles. Many of my vintage bottles were found by doing a little digging. These old green bottles were found on one of our hiking adventures.

Adding jute twine and dried flowers create a cheerful fall vignette in the greenhouse.

Old Bottles to decorate for fall - thrift store and junk pile finds with dried hydrangea and vintage tool box

My father-in-law was a land surveyor, and we inherited many of his junk pile finds. Here are just a few of my favorite old bottles.

Inherited amber and blue vintage old bottles for fall decorating.

However, I have also found many of my old bottles in thrift stores.

I recently found several small old vintage milk bottles at a ReStore for $.50 each. They are the perfect size for small floral arrangements for small or narrow tables.

Thrift Stores and consignment shops will most likely have the best price points.

Thrift store vintage milk bottles

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Pinterest Challenge

Today’s post is part of Cindy at County Road 407’s monthly Pinterest challenge.

Today’s inspiration comes from Kelly at Live Laugh Rowe. Kelly was inspired by a Pottery Barn jar and created this beautiful fall centerpiece.

If you are joining me from Cindy at DIY Beautify, thank you for stopping by. I know you enjoyed all of Cindy’s creative ideas. You can link to all the other inspiration at the end of my post.

Inspiration fall glass jar with candle and acorns.

This similar style was used to decorate my front porch a few years ago.

The thrifted glass container is filled with acorns and hickory nuts, which surround a candle in a glass jar. A foraged rustic grapevine surrounds the container, which rests on a chippy, rusty metal stool.

This was one of my favorite fall porches, and you can see the entire porch on Fall Farmhouse Porch Tour.

Thrift store glass container with candle and foraged acorns surrounded by foraged grapevine.

Table Centerpiece

While I was thrifting, I was lucky enough to find two of the same glass containers and used the second one similarly but as a table centerpiece.

Almost everything about this Thanksgiving table was thrifted, and you can see the details on Thrift Store Thanksgiving Table.

Thrifted vintage candle holder with acorns and grapevine wreaths for a Thanksgiving table centepiece.

Old Bottles: Vintage Milk Jars

Another old bottle collection that I’ve increased over the years is Vintage Milk Jars. I have both large and small represented. However, my favorites include the name of the milk company embossed on the jar.

Just group the old jars together to decorate for fall and add simple stems.

The foraged sweet gum ball stems are free and easy to make. You can see how easy they are to make and other ideas for using sweet gum balls on 10 Tips For Free Fall Decorating.

Vintage old milk bottles with sweet gum ball stems in a wooden rack for fall decorating.

Vintage Amber Bottles

When it comes to decorating for Fall, my favorite old bottles are, hands down, vintage amber bottles and jars.

Their color alone adds a warm cozy fall ambiance.

Vintage Blue Canning Jars

Another favorite is vintage blue canning jars. Some are old with galvanized lids, and they are my favorite for fall decorating.

They are perfect for adding fall stems from your garden or filled with wildflowers.

You can decorate any old jar by adding a DIY sunflower. This flower is a leftover from my DIY Sunflower Wreath made with Pinecones.

Vintage Pepsi and Old Coke Bottles

Do you have any old soda bottles? They are a fun way to add color and rustic style to your home.

Vintage Pepsi Bottles and other vintage soda bottles inside a wooden Coke crate makes a unique centerpiece for this outdoor.

Late fall blooms from the garden are added randomly to the bottles.

Vintage Pepsi Bottles used for a flower centerpiece inside a wood coke crate.

A vintage Coke bottle trio is gathered inside an old galvanized grain scoop to create a fun late-summer floral arrangement The stems can be changed seasonally for year-round decorating.

Old Coke Bottles inside a vintage grain scoop for fall decor.

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Fill Old Bottles with Unique Finds

In addition to acorns, you can find an abundance of nuts, sweet gum balls, and other items foraged from nature to fill your old bottles.

You also consider adding other small collectibles, such as marbles, bottle caps, scrabble tiles, etc., to add interesting decor to your fall vignettes.

A thrifted glass hurricane creates an interesting candleholder with a brass candlestick and hickory nuts.

These simple and inexpensive ideas will surely add a rustic but stylish flair to your fall decor. When you save money on thrifted old bottles and forage for fall supplies, you can then splurge on other items you desire.

Additional Inexpensive Decorating Ideas

Be sure to check out these additional ways to save money on home decorations.

Now it’s time to check out Niky from The House on Silverado with her late Summer Hydrangea Decorating ideas.

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10 Cheap Fall Decor Ideas with Old bottles and Jars

Carol@BlueskyatHome

Tuesday 29th of August 2023

Rachel, you are so lucky to have such wonderful old glass bottle finds. Love the green ones. Glass bottles are a never-ending resource for accessorizing around our homes, inside and out, for any season. Thanks for sharing your ideas.

Rachel

Wednesday 30th of August 2023

Carol, Thank you so much.

Lora Bloomquist

Wednesday 23rd of August 2023

Great round up of glass jar and bottle ideas, Rachel! Fun to see what you've done with them through the years; you're so creative!

Rachel

Wednesday 23rd of August 2023

Lora, I really appreciate your encouragement.

Cindy

Wednesday 23rd of August 2023

So many fun ideas here Rachel!

Rachel

Wednesday 23rd of August 2023

Cindy, Thanks for stopping by.

Michelle |Thistle Key Lane

Wednesday 23rd of August 2023

Fantastic roundup of bottle and jar ideas Rachel. I especially love the vintage jars with glass lids. So simple and pretty with the acorns. Pinning!

Rachel

Wednesday 23rd of August 2023

Michelle, Thank you so much for stopping by.

Wendy McMonigle

Tuesday 22nd of August 2023

So many beautiful bottles Rachel. I too have an obsession for old bottles. I love how you styled the ones in the shovel, so clever.

Rachel

Wednesday 23rd of August 2023

Wendy, I'm glad you like them. Thanks so much.