I’m always looking for ways to add beauty and elegance my home, although those concepts usually come with a hefty price tag. But here I have an easy idea that costs next to nothing but gives you big bang for your decorating dollar.

 

Simply decant your purchased from items their plastic packaging into beautiful bottles, decanters or containers.

 

Start the search for containers right in your own home. Soak the labels off glass jars and bottles and reuse them. Beyond that, other good places to look for pretty bottles and containers are thrift stores, yard sales, restaurant supply stores and clearance racks.

 

There are glass paints available in craft stores that will give any glass container a lovely translucent wash of color. This is great for taking mismatched jars and making them look harmonious together. Mason jars are wonderful for decanting all kinds of things.

 

You can also use white glue or Mod Podge to adhere decorative paper or inexpensive fabric to cover existing containers. This is good for boxes which can be a little unattractive but we all use them store everything under the sun. Paint a square of chalkboard paint for easy identification to remind you what’s in any container you plan to use multiple times.

 

Make your kitchen sink prettier by decanting dish detergent and hand soap into attractive containers. It makes those tasks a little more pleasant if it looks beautiful. Besides if you’re really a Diva you don’t need people knowing what brand of cheap soap you’re using. Get that bottle under the sink!

 

 

Lots of food items lend themselves to decanting. Olive oil and vinegar, salt and spices are a natural choice. Perk up breakfast by putting milk or orange juice in a pretty pitcher. Want to elevate a glass of water into a rejuvenating experience? Keep a beautiful pitcher of cold water with lemon or cucumber slices in the refrigerator. You’ll feel pampered each time you reach for a drink.

 

 

In my house some helpful person puts empty cereal boxes back in the pantry. Putting foods like cereal into clear containers makes it easy to know when it’s time to put them on your shopping list and they’ll keep longer since these containers can seal. Pasta, rice and beans look beautiful displayed in glass jars.

 

 

In the laundry room, powdered laundry soap looks great in a large, clear cookie jar with a fun scoop and liquids display well in pourable containers with lids. You need to have a lid so the liquid doesn’t dry out. Alternatively, you could cover the large containers those products come in with fabric or patterned paper for a fresh, high end custom look.

 

In the bathroom you can decant shampoo and conditioners into pretty plastic pump bottles. Put bath salts in clear lidded containers with a pretty scoop. Mouthwash is beautiful when put in a pretty glass decanter.

 

Liquor is a natural for decanting. I always think of the old Hollywood movies when the beautiful people in their tuxedos and bias cut satin gowns would pour themselves a drink from crystal decanters held on a pretty silver tray. How glamorous.

 

 

Now, please don’t get me wrong, I’m not suggesting you buy new containers for everything in your cupboards. That’s not frugal in the least. Just decant a few things that you use and see most often.

 

The whole purpose of decanting is to make you smile when you see or use the product inside. Like little touches of grace that elevate the ordinary into something extraordinary. That’s very Diva.

 

You may also like – Paper Bag Floor, The Diva’s Guide to Thoughtful, Creative (and inexpensive!) Hostess Gifts, 11 Cool Uses for Pillowcases