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DIY Impossible Light Bulb, Plus 6 More Ways to Repurpose Burned Out Bulbs

A miniature ship in a light bulb, floating on blue water.

The next time a light bulb burns out in your house, don't throw it out. Believe it or not, burned out light bulbs aren't entirely useless. Besides creating an extra task on your to-do list, they can be hollowed out and used for a variety of different things from home decorations to miniature indoor gardens.

Interested in turning your own junk light bulbs into something creative and useful? First, a quick tutorial on how to safely hollow out a light bulb.

Now, here are some of the most innovative things you can do.

Gardening

You can grow a variety of small plants in a light bulb, almost like a mini greenhouse. If you don't have a green thumb, just use it as a vase.

Succulent plants in light bulb planters on a wooden surface.

James Hobson

Plant growing inside a light bulb on a wooden surface.

LinuxH4x0r/Instructables

A light bulb vase with water and a green plant sprouting from it.

arte sano/Instructables

Light bulb vase with green plants on a table.

Readymade

James Hobson

LinuxH4x0r/Instructables

arte sano/Instructables

Readymade

Fish Tanks

You can use a regular size light bulb to make a home for a tiny fish, or bigger one for a mini aquarium. Or maybe a bunch of hanging ones.

Glass globe lamp on a wooden surface with blue blinds in the background.

Sgt Waffles/Instructables

A goldfish swimming in a glass bottle with a plant.

StarRedesigns/Etsy

Sgt Waffles/Instructables

StarRedesigns/Etsy

Terrariums

A larger one also makes a great DIY terrarium for a small reptile.

Light bulb terrarium with greenery and pebbles.

TheHipsterHome

Or without a reptile...

Moss-filled light bulbs hanging on a wall.

Monica Bogliolo

Salt & Pepper Shakers

Poke holes in the cap from a soda bottle to make your own salt and pepper shakers; a 16 oz. bottle cap is the perfect size for a standard light bulb.

Salt and pepper shakers filled with salt and black pepper.

Readymade

Or you can make a whole spice rack with cork stoppers...

Collection of sample vials on a display strip.

Inhabitat

Lamps

This one may not be very far off from the original use, but you can make tons of cool lamps and light fixtures with light bulbs, like a simple DIY oil lamp.

Decorative light bulbs with flames inside.

Magnelectrostatic/Instructables

Light bulbs with flames, showcasing a unique artistic design.

Magnelectrostatic/Instructables

Or, if you have more bulbs than you know what to do with...

Chandelier made from wine bottles with a warm light.

Bulbs Unlimited

Creative decorative light fixtures in a modern setting.

Bulbs Unlimited

Ship in a Bottle

Okay, so it's not a bottle, but close enough. You could also try something a little different like a submarine or tiny scuba divers if you're feeling creative. If you want to make your own, here's a ship in a light bulb tutorial. What other "impossible light bulb" scenarios can you come up with?

A miniature ship with a sail inside a light bulb on a cork base.

msolek/Instructables

Light bulb sculpture with a ship inside, displayed on a wooden base.

White's Nautical Antiques

msolek/Instructables

White's Nautical Antiques

Concrete Wall Hooks

Tired of using the same old hooks for hanging your coats and hats? Try pouring some concrete in the old bulbs and turn them into sturdy wall hooks.

Concrete light bulb model held in a hand.

whamodyne/Instructables

whamodyne/Instructables

As you can see, the possibilities for old light bulbs are nearly endless. Do you have any other ideas? If you've done a similar project, show us how you did it!

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