​Ideas for using glass storage jars at home

Glass jars have so many uses and benefits in the home. They are affordable, eco-friendly, beautiful and extremely multi-functional, so their use is really determined by your imagination. From the bathroom to the kitchen and beyond, you'll find a place for glassware in every room - reducing your reliance on plastics in the process.

Glassware throughout the ages

People have been using glass storage jars at home since the mid-seventeenth century. Before this, pottery and earthenware vessels were commonly found, but the Industrial Revolution meant that glass became available to all. At this time, cobalt blue bottles and green bottles were very popular, often used for medicines and tonics in Victorian times. Over time, different manufacturers began to make their own distinctive bottle shapes with raised lettering, such as Tabasco and Kilner.

Glass bottles grew further in popularity with the advent of soda or 'pop' and the Coca-Cola brand, and glassware became increasingly affordable and a popular choice for home cooks. Today, as the interest in eco-friendly living grows, we're turning away from plastics and back to sustainable, environmentally-friendly materials such as glass.

With that in mind, here are some of our favourite ideas for using beautiful, eco-friendly and highly functional glass jars in the home:

In the kitchen

Mason and Weck jars are the obvious choices for storing your home preserves, jams and jellies, and tall versions of these jars are also great for storing colourful cordials, fruit gins and other creations. Place them on display shelves or in the pantry so that they look lovely. If you're storing jam in glass jars, then it's a striking touch to make your own fabric lids and add pretty labels so that they become a design feature in their own right.

Wide neck or angled storage jars also look beautiful on a countertop when filled with homemade fudge, nougat, bonbons or brightly wrapped sweets. Why not welcome grandchildren by layering up cookie mixes inside smaller jars for a little project? In the utility room or pantry, use glass jars to store all of your dry goods from lentils to granola. This approach to storage makes it easy for you to use the no-waste shop too, to stock up whenever you need kitchen ingredients without the cost or waste of disposable packaging.

Place those glass jars in your fridge to help with meal planning and add layered salads packed with protein, seeds, crunchy vegetables and other extras. Simply place the dressing at the bottom and upturn the lidded jar before you eat it so that your dressing covers the contents. Delicious, healthy, 'green' and far more affordable than buying ready-made!

In the bathroom

Choose the right glass storage jar and your bathroom can achieve any number of looks - country, coastal, minimal, French... glassware is not only affordable but very easy to customise to create beautiful looks. Why not store your own handmade coloured bath salts in shades designed to coordinate with your design scheme? Food colours and essential oils can create any number of colours and fragrances and you only need some basic supplies to make your own. Otherwise, decant coloured bath foams into glass bottles or jars, and stack bath fizzers up in wide-necked confectionary-style glass jars for a pretty finish. Cotton wool buds also look lovely in glass jars, especially if you can find pretty pastel varieties.

In the playroom

Glass storage jars also work very well for the playroom where you can make and store your own cleaning clothes and wet wipes. Gather faded clothes and strips of fabric and layer them up in your glass storage jar. Add an eco-friendly handwash to one to create wet wipes and a natural cleaning solution to the other. Pop on lids, allow the solutions to saturate the cloths and use them whenever the playroom - or your children - need a freshen!

In the craft room

If you're lucky enough to have a craft space, then glass jars are also the perfect choice for creating Insta-worthy storage that inspires your next project. Use them to store embroidery threads, pens, ribbons, fabrics, stamps and other essentials and line them up along shelving for a beautiful finish. Mini glass jars are also great stored in a box for your Christmas craft projects - more ideas on these to follow!

Discover our range

We sell a wide range of glass storage bottles and jars at Wares of Knutsford, with all kinds of sizes, shapes, colours and styles. What's more, we're always adding to our product ranges and we offer highly competitive prices on our products and delivery. Our customer service team is also on hand whenever you need help, so drop us a message or call during working hours and we'll be delighted to help. Browse and buy today: https://www.waresofknutsford.co.uk/jars/storage-jars/

What's your favourite way to use glassware in the home? Share your ideas and projects with us online and sign up to our newsletter too to join the Wares community!