Trying to find ways to reuse your old light bulbs? Read on to find inspiration!
*Pop* your light bulb goes out, and now you need to replace it. But what happens next for the old light bulb? Most people would recycle it, but did you ever think that there might be other options? Let’s go through some DIY ideas that will transform your old light bulbs into something useful and beautiful!
Decorative DIY Ideas
Let's create some eye-catching home décor out of your old light bulbs! Before getting started, please keep in mind that light bulbs are made of glass and are prone to breaking if handled roughly. Make sure you have the right tools and protection before starting on your newest DIY project.
Some of the best ways to decorate with light bulbs are by creating Christmas-themed decorations, and with Christmas just around the corner, this is the time to start DIYing!
Starting with Christmas tree ornaments, it’s easy to create some cute and unique ornaments that will make your tree stand out. One way to do this is to hollow out the bulb and fill with decorative material such as colorful paper, beads, artificial snow, or artificial flowers. Once that is done, then you can wrap wire or a strong thread around the base, tie in a loop, and hang on your tree.
Another way to make ornaments is to channel your inner artist and grab some paint! You can create a unique design using acrylic paint and some felt for an extra touch. Some favorite designs are penguins, Santa Claus, and reindeer, which fit best on either A-shaped or candle-shaped bulbs. Globe-shaped bulbs are also a great option, especially for snowman designs.
Keep in mind that you can also spruce up working light bulbs with a little paint. Swirl some watercolors together for a stained-glass look when the light is turned on!
Using candle-shaped bulbs, you can create a retro wreath by wiring them to a wreath frame. You can either make one row of bulbs or create a layered look with several different sized bulbs. You can also add dimension with garlands, ribbon, and pinecones!
If Christmas décor isn’t what you are looking for, then there are many ways to design light bulbs for everyday home décor! An absolute favorite of ours is to create a hot air balloon mobile out of globe-shaped bulbs and material. This style uses the bulbs as balloons by covering them with colorful fabric and paint around the base. Next would be designing little baskets that attach to the “balloons” with twine. You can even add little figurines going for a ride!
Another way to create everyday home décor out of light bulbs is to turn them into tabletop décor. One way to achieve this is to paint them a neutral color and placing them into a vase as filler. Or you can turn them into a replica of the popular fruit décor! This design uses twine and glue to wrap around the bulbs and creates pears or apples depending on the bulb shape.
Practical DIY Ideas
There’s a certain satisfaction in turning something broken into something useful, and you can get that feeling by repurposing light bulbs! With a few tools, you can transform your bulbs into something beautiful that will enhance your life.
One way of doing this is to make vases out of them. You can do this by hollowing out a normal-sized bulb and using a napkin holder as a base to keep it stable. Then fill with water and voila! You have an adorable little vase that will be perfect for holding spring flowers. You can also do this with larger bulbs that will be perfect additions to your home décor.
Another fun twist to this idea is to create hanging vases. This is best done with A-shaped bulbs and some twine. Follow the same process hollowing out the bulb and then wrap one end of the twine securely around the bulb’s base. Make as many of these as you want and then tie together at different lengths, creating a staggered look. Fill each one with water and flowers of your choosing, then hang in a sunny corner.
For a fun and practical project with kids, you can create terrariums out of light bulbs! Choose a bulb of whatever size you desire and hollow it out. Then start filling it up with soil, plants, rocks, etc. Then you can choose to find a stabilizer to keep it on a shelf, or you can hang it in the window for an eye-catching look.
At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter how you choose to DIY your lights or even if they do not turn out the way you want them to. The important part is having fun and getting those creative juices flowing. So, get started on your next DIY project today!
