Got a candle jar you love too much to throw away? These empty candle jar ideas give you plenty to try, from makeup brush holders to little light displays.
Keep a pretty label or let a clear jar show off whatever you put inside.
You can keep things simple or get a little creative. Some pictures below show other containers or candles still in use, so treat those as styling inspiration rather than finished candle-jar makeovers.
Start with a clean, undamaged jar for your own version.
Candle jar storage and decorating ideas to try
makeup brushes in matching jars
We’re starting off strong with these cute brush holders. I love the black-and-white labels next to the pink and orange brush handles.
Try a taller candle jar for your big brushes and a smaller one for the short ones. Keep the labels if you like this same look.
a little succulent group
How cute is this little plant collection? The tall cactus sits behind two shorter plants, with soil and pebbles showing through the clear jars.
For your own version, use removable nursery pots with drainage inside your candle jars. Pebbles at the bottom don’t replace drainage holes.
cotton swabs under a lid
If you are looking for something simple to put together, this one is for you. White cotton swabs fill a clear jar with a chunky matching lid.
Try the same arrangement in a clean, lidded candle jar to keep your bathroom essentials covered.
a small desk organizer
I love the little clear pen holder tucked beside the tall white vase. The pink and gold-colored stationery looks so pretty with the speckled mug.
The glowing jar on the left is still being used as a light, but the pen holder gives you a storage idea to borrow. Set a clean candle jar beside your notepad for pens and pencils.
flowers and a white tray
This orange and pale pink flower combination may just be one of my favorites here. The flowers are in a ribbed vase, not a repurposed candle jar, with small lit candles beside them.
Borrow the arrangement for a watertight empty jar using shorter stems. I’d keep that one bright orange flower among the paler blooms.
a neat stack of cotton rounds
Don’t want to add more containers than you need? Try one clear candle jar for your cotton rounds.
The stack here sits beside a toothbrush holder, with the original black-and-white label still on the jar.
Choose a wide opening so you can lift the rounds out without squeezing your fingers inside.
a collection of candle refills
Who else loves the little amber-colored container? This group shows pale wax and upright wicks in several different vessels, with sticks resting across some of the tops.
Refilling is an option only when the vessel is suitable for candle-making. Use a tested method with an appropriate wick rather than treating every empty jar as safe for another candle.
Read also: 20 Vase Decor Ideas Without Flowers, Plus a Few Looks to Adapt
matching labels in a drawer
I am obsessed with how neatly these spice jars sit in the drawer. The pale rectangular labels and matching brown lids make everything look so tidy.
These are spice containers, not confirmed candle jars. Borrow the labeling idea for craft supplies in your old jars instead of assuming a cleaned candle container is safe for food.
Read also: 30+ DIY Mason Jar Christmas Craft Ideas That Sell Fast
a tall hair accessory holder
How cute are those flower clips? This tall clear container holds fluffy hair accessories, pearl-like clips and a big gold-colored claw clip.
Read also: 20+ Genius Hair Accessory Storage Ideas Aesthetic Goals
Try a wide candle jar for your smaller accessories. I’d keep the clips you reach for most near the top rather than buried underneath.
blue checks and little rings
The blue-and-white checks are so cute with this mix of rings. This picture shows a shallow jewelry dish rather than a candle jar, but it gives you a pretty color idea.
You could paint a similar checked pattern on the outside of a short jar for jewelry storage. Keep it shallow enough that your rings are easy to reach.
bathroom storage at different heights
This is another lovely way to group your bathroom essentials. A tall clear container holds cotton balls while a low one keeps cotton swabs within reach.
The labeled jar beside them has a screw-top lid and a little twine bow. Pair different jar heights if you want to borrow this arrangement without buying a matching set.
tiny lights in a clear jar
I am obsessed with this little light display. The fine wire loops through the clear jar, with tiny lights spilling out behind it.
Try battery-powered LED fairy lights rated for this use in an empty candle jar. Leave the battery pack outside so you can reach the switch.
an amber glow and curved sides
The curved sides of this candle container are gorgeous in the sunlight. There’s still a burning candle inside, so this isn’t an empty-jar project yet.
Once a similar jar is empty and clean, I’d let its shape do the decorating. A battery-powered votive would give you a little glow without adding another flame.
little clips and taller tubes
If you have beauty bits scattered across your counter, this arrangement is worth saving. The short pink-labeled jar holds decorative hair clips while taller clear containers hold makeup and tubes.
Read also: 20 Bathroom Organization Hacks for Counters, Cabinets and More
Give each jar one job. Those tiny pearl-like clips are much easier to spot when they aren’t mixed in with everything else.
bright autumn leaf lanterns
How pretty are these red-orange leaves against the glowing jars? I love that you can still see the veins in the large leaf at the front.
For your own version, decorate the outside of a clean jar with leaf shapes and use a battery-powered votive inside. Keep leaves and other decorative additions away from real flames.
a labeled windowsill herb row
This little windowsill garden is so cute. Four jars are labeled thyme, rosemary, basil and chives, with pale stones visible beneath the dark soil.
Borrow the matching labels for a row of candle-jar planters, but use draining inner pots you can remove for watering. Don’t copy the stone layer as a substitute for drainage.
a match striker underneath
Here’s a detail you might not think to add: a circular striker on the bottom of a jar. The picture shows the dark patch beside a lit match, with more circular patches nearby.
If you adapt this as a match holder, choose a purpose-made striker compatible with your matches. Close the jar and move it away from stored matches before striking.
pink and yellow dotted light
Don’t want to keep your jar plain? No problem!
This glowing jar has pink and yellow dots in different sizes, with colorful spots spreading across the surface around it.
Try decorating a jar for use with an LED light. Mix tiny dots with a few larger circles if you like this playful pattern.
a lidded coffee pod container
That oversized loop handle is my favorite part of this storage jar. The clear sides show a pile of coffee capsules beneath the brown lid.
This isn’t confirmed as a former candle jar. For an old candle vessel, borrow the covered-storage idea for nonfood items such as spare buttons or thread spools.
a large jar for the vanity
Last but definitely not least, we have this large pale candle beside perfume bottles and a tray. I love its simple shape, though it’s still burning here rather than being reused.
Once a similar candle is finished and the container is clean, try it as a holder for brushes or combs. Keep it beside your existing tray to bring the little storage group together.
Read also: 20 Bedroom Vanity Ideas With Pretty Mirrors and Clever Storage
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And as you know, I seriously love seeing your takes on the looks and ideas on here - that means the world to me! If you recreate something, please share it here in the comments or feel free to send me a pic. I'm always excited to meet y'all! ✨🤍
Xoxo Isabella