My Glass & Bottle Collection On Display
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I decided to put my entire glass and bottle collection on display to celebrate having a mantel in my apartment.
So I gathered the glasses and bottles from here and there around my apartment and placed them on the fireplace mantel.
I’ve never had all of my glass and bottle collection on display at one time before now. The sight pleases me. I love having a mantel!
Collecting Vintage Glass, Jars, & Bottles:
Collecting vintage bottles and jars is a hobby that blends history, beauty, and the simple pleasure of discovering forgotten treasures.
Each piece tells a story, whether it once held medicine, perfume, milk, ink, preserves, or household remedies.
Their worn surfaces, tiny bubbles in the glass, faded labels, and imperfect shapes speak to a time when everyday objects were made to last.
For many collectors, the joy lies in the hunt. A dusty blue Mason jar at an antique shop, a delicate medicine bottle found at a flea market, or a colorful depression-era glass bottle tucked away at an estate sale.
They can all become a cherished addition to a collection. No two finds are exactly alike, making every discovery feel personal.
Vintage Bottles + Jars Decor:
Vintage bottles and jars also bring warmth and character to home decor. Sunlight filtering through green, amber, cobalt blue, or clear glass creates beautiful reflections.
Displayed on open shelves, windowsills, hutches, mantels, they add a nostalgic charm that complements decorating styles. Cottage, farmhouse, grandmillennial, and eclectic.
Beyond their decorative appeal, many collectors enjoy repurposing their finds. Old jars become vases for garden flowers, storage for kitchen staples, candle holders, or containers for craft supplies.
Small medicine bottles can hold dried lavender, while antique mason jars make lovely homes for fresh herbs or seasonal arrangements.
Buy Used Instead of New:
Instead of purchasing newly manufactured decor, collectors rescue pieces of history that might otherwise be discarded. Every chip, embossing mark, and weathered label adds to the item’s unique personality rather than diminishing its value.
Whether your collection fills an entire cabinet or consists of just a handful of treasured pieces, vintage bottles and jars offer more than decoration. They preserve memories of everyday life from generations past while bringing timeless beauty into today’s home.
For anyone who appreciates what came before, these small reminders show that even the simplest objects can have extraordinary stories to tell.
These glass finds need not end up in a landfill to be destroyed.
The jars and bottles look like they’re lit from within. I wound the tiny fairy lights in and around the glass collection in a sporadic fashion.
“True happiness is not achieved when you have a perfect life. It is achieved when you are happy with the imperfections.” ― Avijeet Das
My Vintage Collection:
No matter what’s going on in the outside world, the wars and crime and hate, I have this little spot where I feel safe.
Home is where you go when you’re tired and weary. You have the key to your door, and you can go in and close it behind you.
My mantel displays finds from another time, and I so enjoy gazing at the tableau before me.
Do you have a collection you’re hiding away in a closet or up in the attic, packed away in boxes? Collections are those pieces that you’ve collected over the years. Finds you’ve scooped up while on vacation or visiting another town with a friend.
Celebrate these memories by putting your collection on display. You’ll relive those memories and enjoy the look of your finds used as decor.
See if you can find a place to put your collection out on display so you can really enjoy it. This scene on the mantel has made me smile every time I walk down the hall and see it.
“Be happy for this moment; this moment is your life.” – Omar Khayyam
Love it!! Like having a fire in the fireplace
You are just having so much fun with decorations on the mantle. I love the soft green and lights together. When you are able to get out I think you will enjoy looking at the strings of lights to add for each season or decor. I found pastel ones for Easter/ spring time and they were fantastic to see with some white bunnies and old Easter baskets I used to do my mantle
Your glass jar collection with the fairy lights looks so pretty and homey. I have a double strand of those lights across my fireplace mantel, too. They’re so pretty at night…or even on these cold, dreary January mornings. Even my husband likes them and turns them on if I don’t do so first!
I LOVE the glass jar/bottle display with the fairy lights. Oh it just oozes “cozy” on these cold winter nights ! Absolutely beautiful. I would leave them that way now and closer to spring put some flower sprigs & faux greenery in them to welcome in Spring. This winter I did the mantel above the wood stove with a pine garland that I wrapped a strand of lights around and added pine cones, eucalyptus sprigs and cream colored berry clusters. In the center I have a canvas picture that has wintery pines in rustic containers with colorful ribbons around the containers. On one end I painted two dark wood, different height, candle holders a cream color and placed faux boxwood balls on them. The opposite side, I took a semi tall glass, square vase that I put epsom salt in (snow), sprayed some branch tips from my trees off white and put them in the vase along with faux white pine and pine one stems. The lights from the mantle are the only ones we use at night and it creates a dreamy, warm & cozy space. I also have an oval mirror above the mantle that stays there year round. For Spring, I think I will do the jars/bottles with fairy lights! Thank you for the ideas you share!
Ooh! What you did sounds so pretty!
I learned how to layer items from you! The canvas painting is behind the garland, leaning up against the lower part of the mirror. I used to do everything matching, ie, exact same candles or vases on each end. From you I learned how to blend different items in and balance it out. I have come a long way since reading your blog and picking up tips and ideas from you!
How cute! And your mirror looks great above the fire place! Your light is shining through 💛
That mirror was a perfect fit there.
Cute idea to display the bottle collection…lovely to have a mantel!!
I know. I love it!
I’m loving the fact that you have a mantle too, lol! So far, I’ve loved all the ways you’ve been decorating it. I think this is one of my favorites though. The jars are pretty, and I love the soft glow of the fairy light, and the reflection in the mirror adds some really nice ambiance. It looks very calming, relaxing and peaceful. I bet if you added some pretty fresh cut flowers in the jars, say 1 to 2 in each, you might like it even better. It would be like bringing a bit of gardening into your home to enjoy. Maybe even add a yummy smelling candle for a touch more ambiance. Just a few thoughts. It’s pretty perfect, just the way it is though! How thoughtful of Greg to hang your mirror for you. He’s really gone above and beyond his PT duties for you.
Ps- I didn’t get a chance to respond to yesterday’s post, so I went back and did that just now. Have a great day, Brenda!
The flower idea sounds fantastic!
Magical!
I happen to think so too, when it’s getting dim outside and those little lights shine.
Oh, the glass jars and bottles look beautiful with all the surrounding fairy lights. The soft reflections in the mirror must be mesmerizing. Great idea, Brenda!
I so wish I lived much closer to you so I could occasionally visit you.
Have a wonderful day, Brenda.
Me too. I could use some friends here in town.
Loving the bottles and lights!
Thanks! It’s simple but nice.
Hello Brenda
I really like the jars and bottles with the lights! Great idea! Reminds me of warmth on a cold icy evening. Perfect for this time of year. I left green garland and white lights on my mantle to enjoy during the winter. Love seeing the lights reflect on your display. Very nice.
I love the look. Especially with the mirror there.
The jars and bottles make up a lovely display. I have a few old jars that are pretty big and one gorgeous purple one! I enjoyed your quotes today
Oh, I’d love to find purple bottles. I hear that they’re hard to come by.
So very beautiful…and the mirror is a nice touch..I can feel the peace from here💕
It is peaceful to gaze at.
Love the jars with the twinkle lights. So pretty. I love when just something simple with a little sparkle can make such an impact. Happy New Week.
That’s exactly what I think. What’s more simple than a random collection of jars and bottles?
I had a collection of Boyd’s bears but thinned them down to only the ones I loved the most and they have been on display for many years on a bedroom headboard. I was much happier with extras not sitting in the closet. I do not like a lot of clutter but I do have mainly my kitchen, sunroom and family room filled with things I love. My 3 bedrooms, living and dining rooms only have one decoration piece on the dressers or tables. It gives me a peaceful feeling and my kitchen family room gives me a cozy feeling with more Knick knacks that I love. Seeing some blogs with tons of decor that is stored in a huge basement or an out building is crazy. I just stumbled upon a blog where that was the case. The house was pretty but that’s not for me. My ideal situation is where I have almost everything displayed except for seasonal decor, and basically that is what I have going on. I love the jars and fairy lights on the mantle. I have candles, fairy lights and a small tree in a snowman bucket with white lights that brighten my spirits on the long, dark winter nights. During Covid a neighbor had a large sign that was lit up all winter with white lights and said joy. Seeing that sign did spread joy. We live in a development with wide open spaces and when it snows it is beautiful. I have often thought it would be beautiful if people did keep some white lights outside to light when it did snow since we hardly ever have snow until later in the winter. We are blessed if our homes are a place of peace, and yours most definitely is!
Cindy, I love the idea of your candles, fairy lights and a small tree in a snowman bucket with white lights. I can almost envision it.
Your jars with the twinkle lights are a great idea!!! I especially love the color of old canning jars.
Me too. The blue ones are a little prettier, but I like the plain clear glass ones as well.
Brenda,
Love, love LOVE the glass display on the mantel. And yes, the mirror is a perfect fit there.
Your quilt on the previous post is beautiful. And Ivy hanging off the sofa is as well. 🙂
Also, I do love the lines of your sofa. Classic, cosy and lovely.
Every time I look at my sofa from where I sit at the dining table and eat meals, I think to myself: I love the lines of that couch. I’m so glad I picked it. I think it’s the type of chair that could look classic through the years.
I do have a collection of Bundt pans that I did have out for display. Then I needed the space for other things. I need to get another shelving unit when they go on sale bc having my bundts out and seeing them everyday did make me happier!
Your display is pretty and u should do what makes u happy Brenda!
How about hanging them on the wall? I don’t know if your Bundt pans have a little bit of a lip at the top that would hang off a nail or not though.