Summer trend: glass jars

The jar’s the star this summer

No longer the preserve of jam makers and picklers, the trusty glass jar has come out of the cupboard and into the spotlight and we just can’t get enough of them. From Kilner jars and Mason jars to simple recycled glass jam jars, check out our favourite summer buys and clever new ways with jars.

Serving drinks
Trendy bars have taken to serving up drinks and cocktails in glass jars lately and while it’s easy enough to do the same with your own recycled jam jars, the shops have got some lovely variations on the theme that are also worth a look in.

Serve homemade lemonade from this jar-style drinks dispenser. Garden Party lemonade drinks dispenser,
£29.95, Dotcomgiftshop

Set of four drinking jars with carrier,
£14.95, Dotcomgiftshop

Serve milkshakes and smoothies in these jars with reusable plastic straws. Shake Jar, £4.25 each, Rose & Grey

Check out the meadow motif on this drinking jar with handle. Amber sweetpea drinking jar, £2, Wilko

Displaying flowers
There’s no need to splash out on expensive vases when a jam jar can do the job just as beautifully. Single jars work well for small arrangements and posies of flowers, while a collection of jars with one or two single blooms in each can look beautiful as a table setting.

This printed jar doubles up as a mini vase or tea light holder. Sentiment jar, £3.95, LiveLaughLove

Fake it with this faux arrangement of peonies in a jar. Bright Peonies jam jar, £10, Next

Put your flowers in the picture by wall-mounting a jar inside an empty picture frame.

Use leftover paints to colour the inside of recycled glass jars and bottles.

Make your own hanging display by wiring a handle onto a mini jam jar and decorating with offcuts of ribbon.

Display mini posies in simple glass jars – hang them three-in-a-row for more impact.

Repurpose larger jars to use as vases – old pickle jars or sweet jars are ideal.

Creative lighting
Have a browse round Pinterest and you’ll find hundreds of ideas for re-purposing Mason jars, with d-i-y lighting a popular choice. And lighting designers have switched on to the trend too, with lots of lighting-in-a-jar style designs popping up on the high street right now.

For lighting with a vintage vibe try these lights made from old-style preserve jars. Preserve jar pendant light, £55, Rose & Grey

Preserve jar wall light, £49, Rose &
Grey

These cookie jar pendant lights are a sweet idea. Cookie jar ceiling pendant in antique zinc, £49, Atkin & Thyme.

Fancy trying your hand at making your own jar pendant light? Find out how to do it here.

Create a focalpoint with this cluster pendant light. Jar pendant light, £185, Mia Fleur