How to Make Sea Glass Bottles for a Coastal Tablescape
Do you love the breezy vibe of coastal colors? Learn how to make sea glass bottles for a coastal tablescape or a home decor accessory. It’s a perfect way to bring a touch of the seaside to your home. With summer upon us, this is a great DIY project to make now.
We love sea glass, with its soft, frosted blues and greens, for its natural beauty and calming effect. These pieces start as ordinary glass, tossed and tumbled by waves, sand, and saltwater until they become smooth, matte treasures. Sea glass is sometimes called “reverse gems” because nature does the polishing instead of people.
Sea glass is a favorite in home decorating because its hues evoke thoughts of ocean waves and sunlit shores.
When used in a tablescape, sea glass bottles instantly add a soothing, beachy atmosphere in the summer. The subtle colors of sea glass bottles, especially when grouped together, create a stunning focal point that pairs beautifully with shells, driftwood, or crisp white linens.
Making your own sea glass bottles is surprisingly easy and allows you to customize the look to fit your space. As I recently discovered, by using clear glass bottles and a special sea glass spray paint, you can achieve that signature frosted finish in shades like aqua, sea foam, or icy blue.
I knew the look and feel I wanted for my tablescape – a romantic coastal tablescape alfresco in the backyard. The vision required blue and green colors of sea glass bottles. Unfortunately, at the time, I had none. Not even vases that looked like sea glass.
Inspiration for My Sea Glass Coastal Tablescape
This post contains affiliate links to products used to create this project. If you should order any item from this site, I may receive compensation, but you do not pay a penny more. Your purchase is greatly appreciated as it helps support the continued publication of this site.
I have always loved creating tablescapes. My favorite tablescapes always have something handmade. Recently, I learned how to make sea glass bottles for a coastal tablescape. They were the perfect focal point for an early summer dining experience.
Fortunately, I found the inspiration and the how-to on Pinterest and learned how to make sea glass bottles for my coastal tablescape. It was so easy that I made a tutorial for painting sea glass to share.
My search on Pinterest brought me to this pretty picture by Sadie Seasongoods. Sarah’s project on how to make sea glass bottles was my guide.
In case you don’t have any sea glass bottles, real or otherwise, here’s the tutorial to show you how to make sea glass bottles for any room or area in your home.
My Vision for a Romantic Coastal Tablescape
I knew I wanted a tablescape that was for two, a romantic evening meal, like the ones that Sweet Shark and I like to have on Saturday night. Our patio table in the backyard would be the scene for a coastal theme, featuring the colors of aqua and sea foam.
Preparation
Ready to try it yourself or want tips on styling your coastal tablescape? Here we go.
Find your Bottles
The first step is to find the bottles that you want to use. I collected two bottles from Sweet Shark’s discarded liquor bottle box (we recycle) and my friends Wende and Lezlie donated two more bottles. I had four different bottles, close in size, but with different shapes.
Any shape of size of glass bottle or vase will work for this project. Look at flea markets, thrift shops, garage sales.
TIP: You could use any number of bottles, all the same or each one different.
Clean your Bottles
Next, I used Goo Gone to remove the paper labels and glue. Then I put the bottles in the dishwasher to give them a good cleaning.
Select your Sea Glass Paint Colors
I made a trip to Hobby Lobby for two colors of sea glass spray paint. Krylon Sea Foam and Aqua are the perfect colors to turn clear glass into sea glass.
FYI: I’m thinking forward to Christmas and there is a Krylon Sea Glass in Cranberry! Bring it on!
Before I used the wonderful Home Right Spray Tents, I made a DIY spray box by taping heavy cardboard packaging together. Talking about “jerry-rigged”, but it worked. I took my spray box outside to the garage and placed one bottle at a time in the “spray box” and sprayed until all sides were lightly coated.
This bottle with the pretty “sculpture” inside was one of my favorites.
TIP: Be sure to use spray paint outside. I like the garage because I can open the garage door for ventilation, but it is somewhat sheltered from the wind. You don’t want to spray paint if it is too windy and the dust is blowing.
My bad – I forgot to take pictures during the making of the DIY sea glass bottles!
That’s all there is to it. Just be sure to spray lightly and evenly horizonally your glass bottles.
TIP: A plastic lazy-susan is a great way to turn the piece you are painting without touching it. You can cover it in plastic film or foil to keep it clean.
Depending on how deep you want the color, use one or two coats of sea glass paint. I used one coat for a light look.
The paint dries in under 15 minutes, so I had all four bottles ready to go in about 1 hour.
I wanted flowers in my sea glass bottles. The flower stems needed to be thin to fit inside the narrow necks of the bottles. I thought my favorite bright-colored faux gerber daisies would fit and give a nice touch of summer color.
If you want to paint glass bottles in brighter, bolder colors, here is another super easy way to paint glass.
Here are the finished painted bottles with the Gerber daisies. How easy was that?
As it turns out, since I made these sea glass vases, I found some similar ones at Home Goods and used them to create a summer mantle inspired by sea glass.
Styling My Coastal Tablescape with Sea Glass Bottles
Now I was ready to style our tablescape. The setting for our romantic alfresco tablescape is our backyard on our restored teak patio table.
I placed the sea glass bottles in the center of the table. They set the right vibe for a coastal table.
The little pots of flowers on the hay racks are waiting to be planted.
For my placemats, I chose an aqua placemat that I’ve had for years.
For dishes, I chose aqua salad plates set on white everyday dishes.
Here are the “napkins” that I found at Pier 1. They are actually placemats, but the colors and pattern were just right for my color scheme. They were soft enough for napkins so I just folded them with the fringe at the bottom.
For silverware, I decided to create contrast between the casual setting, dishes, and tableware by using one of our sets of sterling silver. This one is Buttercup by Gorham and it belonged to Sweet Shark’s mother.
I love the contrast between the casualness of the coastal plates and our sterling silver.
For a little bling, I added our silver Derby cups to use as water glasses and our Baccarat white wine glasses. The pattern is Messina and I love it.
Next, I added a white wood lantern with a faux candle to add ambiance to the almost summer evening.
Before dinner, we planned to share a glass of Prosecco while the steaks cooked on the grill. A silver wine bucket will keep the sparkling wine chilled. The champagne flutes are also Messina by Baccarat.
This wine cooler that I gave Sweet Shark several years ago is perfect for keeping a bottle of wine chilled on a summer night.
The tablescape is almost ready. I added a few votive candles for more ambiance. We’re just waiting for the sun to set to light the candles.
I love how my DIY sea glass bottles provide color and softness as a focal point. And, of course, nothing beats candles for romance and ambiance.
After the sun went down, we enjoyed a delicious meal. We enjoyed my Little Gem Salad with Lemon-Garlic Vinaigrette, ribeye steak, roasted okra, and grilled corn on the cob.
Sweet Shark and I had a lovely evening in a beautiful setting, enjoying my romantic, coastal alfresco tablescape, my DIY sea glass bottles, and each other’s company.
I have also used the turquoise sea glass bottles in a fall tablescape, which took on a totally different look. Pretty amazing how one thing can look so different.
I have also used the sea glass bottles in my kitchen cabinets and on the mantel. There are so many possibilities for using DIY sea glass bottles in your home decor; I hope that you will try this easy project.
Here’s another way to use sea glass bottles of a different kind. And you’ll love this fun way to decorate glass with paint for your home decor.
Need more tablescape ideas? Take a look at this Pretty Pink Patio Table Setting.
Be sure to PIN it. Check out my Summer Tablescape Pinterest Board.
These are beautiful! It’s always amazing what a little paint can do.
Such a pretty coastal tablescape, Carol! LOVE those bottles, too! I used the Martha Steward sea glass acrylic paint for some ornaments last year. It’s just such a pretty finish.
Carol, your tablescape is just gorgeous. I can testify to the ease of using the seaglass paint. Sadie Seasongoods is one of the first bloggers I discovered. I made seashore candlecups with thrifted small glasses, jute string or bakery twine as a wrap on some, and shells or ocean charms. That paint is just awesome. Great post!
Hi Carol!
I’m stopping back by to let you know you’re one of my features this week at Homestyle Gathering! Thank you so much for sharing at HG! I hope you’re having a wonderful week!
>>> Kim
Beautiful upcycle how to! I love the results I have to try this one out. Pinning.
Hugs,
Kippi
Ps. It was a joy to meet you last week:)
Love this Sea Glass project! Perfect for summer, but wow, the Sea Glass with the fall colors looks amazing!
Hi sweet friend. I love making things look like sea glass. It really looks awesome for summer.
Love the sea glass bottles and your tablescape is simply gorgeous. All of the colors just seem so comfortable with each other and very inviting. Great job! TFS
Hi Carol!
Your tablescape is lovely as are your sea glass bottles. I bet the reflection of flickering flames from the candles looked beautiful dancing on the blue bottles. Thanks for sharing at Homestyle Gathering! I love having you at the party! I hope you’re having a wonderful weekend!
>>> Kim
Carol this table is so summer welcoming! The pale blue reminds me of the beach. Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm! xo Kathleen|Our Hopeful Home
Kathleen, the beach theme was definitely in my mind. Sometimes a swimming pool has to stand in for the real thing.
Hopped back over to share your beautiful tablescape on my Blog FB page, and pin! 🙂 ~Rhonda
Rhonda, thank you so much. You are on my Pinterest board Tempting Tablescapes and my Instagram. What a sharing and giving community. It’s our readers who benefit.
This is so pretty, Carol!! You are so talented and it really shows in this gorgeous tablescape. Sharing on Facebook. 🙂
Oooh I love how your whole table looks like seaglass! So gorgeous. I especially love the bottles and the striped napkins. Beautiful!
Thanks Sarah, so happy you liked my tablescape. It was so fun to plan and execute and enjoy.
Absolutely stunning with a capital S!!! Every detail is just perfect. Love the colors, the subtle elegance and the whole vibe! (Just wish there was a vertical pic of the table so I could pin it… 😉 Will do one of the detailed ones,but the whole table together is just so lovely.)
Lory, thanks so much for the capital S! I pinned the pics just fine, so you might try it. Wish we could have met at Haven.
Carol, I finally made it to your beautiful blog today, its been a pleasure knowing you! Your back yard is gorgeous, I love how you blended the Crystal and the Blue vases together it looks so chic and stylish. The blue is actually one of my favorite colors. See ya tomorrow.
Maria
Maria, it was so much fun hanging out with you at Haven. Thanks for your comments and compliments! Blue is such a beautiful color with so many variations and possibilities for use in home decor. That’s probably why we all love it so much.
I love all of the different blues that you used on your table! Those blue striped napkins are amazing too! Such a fresh, romantic and soothing tablescape that is perfect for alfresco.
Emily, I’m so happy that you enjoyed my tablescape. I do love those placemats turned napkins.
Carol, your tablescape is absolute perfection. Your setting, the chairs, the fabrics, the sterling, and those gorgeous blues. If only I could sit there with you and enjoy your wonderful meal! This is so pretty, it should be on the cover of a magazine. I loved seeing how you put together everything. This has been an extraordinary week, and I am honored to have played with you!
Oh, you have made my day. If you have any magazine contacts, please send them my way! It was such fun and a joy to become acquainted with so many fabulously creative ladies.
I love the variety of blues that you used, so soft and serene!
Susan, how sweet. It was a lovely evening ~ before the 100 degree heat hit!
What a fabulous colour combo! So soothing and romantic! I really like how you took us through the round up of the items you wanted to use on your table and then revealed the beautiful finished look to us. So many pretty details like the silverware, the wine cooler, the napkins on the back of the chairs and the especially good idea of using the lovely bottles to hide the umbrella pole. This Alfresco Tablescape blog hop has been so much fun and I’ve certainly enjoyed my visit here – would have loved to have been a “third wheel” at your dinner for two!
Lori, we would love to have you! I would have brought out another wine glass and poured you a glass! Thanks so much for commenting. This week has been such a blast. Maybe we can do it again.
Caro, you have created an heavenly table mixed with romance and coastal. There are so many pretty elements to compliment the theme. Loving the color blue you chose and the bottles are such a great addition. I do love the look of the napkins as well, on the table and across the chairs. The pool shot photo is lovely. You have created a lovely coastal table with plenty of romance.
Linda, thanks so much. You never know if everything will come together to make your vision come true. I was fortunate that I either already had or found the pieces I needed. Guess who I’m having dinner with tonight? Stacey and Jemma! We were just talking about you! All good.
Your table is so tranquil and serene. The mixture of different shades of blue in the napkins and bottles truly makes me feel like I am walking the beach for sea glass. I love the anchor candleholder. The chilled wine in the silver decanter adds to the poolside setting. I can almost feel the cool breeze and the desire to dangle my feet in the water at poolside. Very calming and inviting.
Marsha, thanks a bunch for your sweet comments. I do have to dip my toes in the pool to stay cool. THe chilled wine helps too. We love our patio and pool and feel very fortunate to have them.
Carol- your alfresco table is simply gorgeous- and right up my alley- all “coastal blues, greens and seaglass”. It’s been so fun joining the blog hop! Hope you are having a fabulous time at HAVEN- tell the girls hello and I MISS you all!!
Kristy, I really value your opinion so this means so much. I figured you would like my Tablescape even though I didn’t have any seashells! Haven is great. Holly, Diane, and Gloria are here and we miss you.
Carol, this post was one where I couldn’t wait to scroll down to the next picture! After seeing this gorgeous tablescape, I needed to know more about you, so I read your About page and we are sisters from another mother! I too love travel, family, home, southern cooking (actually all things southern!) and Christ – not in that order of course! I’m pinning this creation! You’ve done what we all strive to do in the blogworld. You’ve inspired me! I can’t pick a favorite, because I love everything!
Kim, you are making me cry! We never know where our passions lead us, and this crazy blogging adventure has opened the doors to so many new friends and “sisters”. I’m so happy that you wanted to read my About Page and discovered we have so much in common. I’m at the Haven Conference right so it’s kind of crazy. When I get home next week I plan to go through everyone’s blogs with a fine tooth comb! Southern girls rock!
You have put together such a pretty table! I love all of the blue, it really does evoke the feeling of the sea with all of the shades of blue! That candleholder is stunning, as are your striped napkins. I loved Sadie’s sea glass bottles, too, and the combination of colors you painted yours are very sea-like. This table makes everything feel cool, which I need here in Florida these hot summer days! Thank you so much for being a part of the tablescape blog hop!
Chloe, this Tablescape blog hop has been so much fun. It’s so hot in Texas too, so we have to do anything to feel cool. Blues, especially aqua, are my favorites so I knew I had to use them. I may not have the ocean nearby, so the pool has to make do.
Love love your sea glass bottles and palette! The Pier 1 plates you found are so perfect, the whole setting is totally dreamy and romantic… the placemats on the chair backs are a special way of saying, please sit here! I think silver and elegant elements are so delightful in an outdoor setting, they make it magical like a fairy tale! I will be off to Hobby Lobby soon to get some of that spray paint 🙂
Jenna, thanks for your comments. I love the sea glass bottles too. Now that I know how to make them ~ they are so easy ~ I want to make some more. I love mixing dressy and casual elements in home decor. IT’s like wearing your pearls with blue jeans!
Wow, Carol! Your table is so pretty. It is romantic and fun. You creatively put the soft color and patterns together. Blue is my favorite color and I love these soft shades especially for summer. I have found much to imitate here. Couldn’t help but love your silver since I have the same pattern. I adore Buttercup!
I like how you used the soft stripe colors in the napkins and how you used them on the back of your chairs. That was clever and very effective. Love your silver mint julep cups all frosted for a cool drink of ice water. I’m inspired now to try my hand at frosting some bottles and I actually have been saving some.
It’s been a fun week meeting new people and being inspired. Can’t wait to hear about Haven and what you learned.
Bonnie, thank you soooo much for your sweet note. I’m so glad that you liked my tablescape and are inspired by it. Isn’t is funny that you have Buttercup, too? I love that pattern. It belonged to my husband’s grandmother. I found those mint julep cups in Savannah GA in May. Planning to get them monogrammed!
Beautiful! The pool on the background adds the perfect ambience and color. Lovely!
Thanks Jenn. Having the pool is a great help in keeping the patio cool and pretty.
Now this is nautical done right! The tablesetting is so pretty! And the bottles you crafted are the perfect touch! I just love it all! 🙂 ~Rhonda
Thanks so much Rhonda. We make what we love.
Carol, what great colors in your tablescape – reminds me of the Caribbean. I loved Sarah’s project, and you certainly did it justice. Your use of the Pier 1 and HG bargains really pulled your look together – very nice. Have a great weekend!
Rita
Rita thank you so much for your sweet comments. I loved puttin the Tablescape together.
Carol, what a beautiful table. You nailed “coastal” and “romantic”! Love your painted bottles with the Gerber Daisies, the anchor candle holder was the perfect addition! You mixed the elegant with the casual in a gorgeous way! I have enjoyed hopping with all of you talented ladies! Pam @ Everyday Living
Pam, thank you so much. I’m so happy that you liked my vision of the coastal and the romantic.