DIY Wall Vases
We’ve been eyeballing wall-mounted vases for a while now. They are such classy and simple accessories that easily fill small spaces with interest, and bonus – you can switch out the flowers or other fillers as often as you’d like.
There are lots of big box versions out there – we especially like these tear drop vases that will run you an easy $4.95 each from CB2.
Luckily before we rushed to the store, the DIY light bulb went off. You can drill through wood, steel and tile – so why not glass?
A quick trip to Goodwill produced 3 small vases for a total cost of $2.16 and a much more eclectic look then you’ll find with a store-bought set. Look for vases that are not made of super thin glass, but also aren’t really heavy. Sounds like a tough combination but when you’re sifting through discount vases you’ll realize what we mean.
The only other step in this quick and easy project is to drill small holes in the vases so that they can be mounted to the wall on a nail. Because all of your vases may be shaped differently, just hold each one against the wall to determine the best location for mounting.
Once your holes are marked with a permanent marker, use a drill bit made specifically for glass and tile to drill your holes. You can find these in any hardware store for about $10.
We used a 3/8” bit made by Bosch. The pointed end kept the bit from skipping around the surface of the glass. It is important to use just the right amount of pressure when drilling through your glass. The thicker the glass the less likely you are to break your vase.
The most important tip is to have patience! Drilling slowly will keep you from breaking the glass, but it will also take a few minutes depending on the its thickness (We found this out the hard way – enter one spare vase from under the kitchen sink).
Once your holes are drilled just clean your vases and mount them to the wall with a small nail and fill with your favorite blooms. In keeping with the holiday spirit we’ve added tree trimmings to our vases that are now hanging in our guest bathroom.
$2.16 (we already had the special drill bit) gave us a completely unique set of wall vases that we’re sure no one else has in their home. We’re pretty proud that there was only one casualty in our first glass-drilling experiment.
What about you guys? Anyone been drilling into glass forever? What sorts of things have you created? Don’t you guys think these would also make great homemade Christmas gifts?
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where is goodwill in Durham? you seem to have decorated most of your house with little gems from there.
We usually hit up the one on Garrett Road just past 15-501, it’s open until 8 PM most nights which is easy on the schedule too. However I am sure there are others around. We actually need to figure out where all the good thrift stores are hiding in this town.
Try the Salvation Army store on Hillsborough and Durham Rescue Mission Store (Saved Treasures?) on Hwy 55 too. There’s also a Goodwill on Roxboro Rd just north of West Point on the Eno (where the festival for the Eno is held).
Awesome! Thanks!
Hmmm… I bet this idea would work on some cool retro tumblers too! I love you guys!
xo
Mindy
I think vases on the wall is a great idea. It enhance the beauty of the wall.
We did it! Two busted vases & one cut hand {then he used leather gloves} later, they are hanging above our headboard that I bought at Goodwill for 30.00. I am pleased!
That’s awesome Brenda! We would love to see how they turned out – with that steal of a headboard too! chadandamy@trianglehoneymoon.com
Hi There-
I stumbled across your blog and have been reading through. I really like this post. Such a creative idea. I am going to give this a try in my bathroom I just repainted. My husband was just talking about getting a glass drill bit and so I will be able to get his help. Thanks for the inspiration!
Jen
Great! I am so glad you’re going to give them a try. Just drill slowly and buy and extra glass in case you break one. Gloves are a good idea too. Good luck!
Love your blog! I’m still in an apartment but all of the DIY home remodeling you all do makes me dream of having my own house soon. I love this idea for wall vases and my only question is: how do you pound the nail into the wall from inside the vase? I’m having difficulty visualizing…
Also, for people that don’t want to go looking for vases and like to drink beer or wine I think a mix of cool beer/wine bottles on the wall would be awesome and free!
I like it! Oh, and about the nails. We used a glass drill bit to drill holes that are slightly larger than the end of a paneling nail so they just slide right on. Hmmmm… you’ve got my wheels turning with that beer bottle idea. That’s something the hubs would definitely get on board with!