Luxe Mercury Glass Votives for Just $3 Each
Transform dollar store candleholders into expensive-looking mercury glass using mirror spray paint
I'll never forget the first time I saw authentic mercury glass votives at a home decor boutique—they were absolutely stunning at $18 each, which meant my vision of a candlelit Thanksgiving table would cost over $100 for just six holders. Then I discovered this brilliant hack using dollar store glass and mirror spray paint, and suddenly I could create the exact same vintage silvered look for less than $3 per votive. The technique is almost embarrassingly simple—spray paint the inside of clear glass containers and distress slightly for that aged patina—but the results genuinely fool guests who assume you splurged on expensive decor. I've made dozens of these over the years for my own holiday tables, wedding centerpieces for friends, and even sold them at craft fairs where people couldn't believe they weren't genuine antique mercury glass. The project takes about 20 minutes of active work plus drying time, and you can create an entire set in one afternoon while the different coats dry. Beyond the massive cost savings, there's creative satisfaction in transforming those humble dollar store glasses into something that looks like it came from an upscale boutique.
What You'll Need
- Base Materials:
- Clear glass votive holders, vases, or candleholders from dollar store
- Look for smooth glass without texture for best results
- Buy extras to practice technique and account for mishaps
- Cost: $1-1.25 each
- Painting Supplies:
- Krylon Looking Glass Mirror Spray Paint (silver)
- Rubbing alcohol and paper towels for cleaning glass
- Spray bottle filled with water and white vinegar mixture
- Newspaper or drop cloth for protecting work surface
- Disposable gloves to protect hands
- Distressing Tools:
- Sea sponge or regular kitchen sponge
- Paper towels for dabbing and wiping
- Optional: steel wool for additional aging effect
- Optional: acrylic sealer spray for durability
- Total Cost: $2-3 per finished votive
Creation Steps
- Clean glass thoroughly using rubbing alcohol and paper towels to remove any oils, fingerprints, or residue that would prevent paint from adhering properly. Perfectly clean glass is absolutely critical for achieving that flawless mercury glass appearance.
- Prepare your workspace by covering your surface with newspaper or drop cloth and working in a well-ventilated area like a garage or covered porch, since mirror spray paint has strong fumes. Position glass upside down so you'll be spraying the interior through the open top.
- Spray first light coat by holding the mirror paint can 8-10 inches away and applying a thin, even layer to the inside of the glass using smooth sweeping motions. Don't try to achieve full coverage on this first pass—multiple thin coats look infinitely better than one heavy dripping coat.
- Create distressed look while paint is still wet by lightly misting the interior with your water-vinegar solution using a spray bottle, then gently dabbing with a sea sponge or crumpled paper towel to lift paint in random spots. This imperfection creates that authentic aged mercury glass patina.
- Allow to dry for 15-20 minutes between coats, resisting the urge to touch or check coverage too soon since disturbing wet mirror paint creates permanent streaks. Use this drying time to work on additional votives in an assembly-line fashion for efficiency.
- Apply second coat using the same light spraying technique, then repeat the water-vinegar misting and dabbing process to create additional layers of distressing. The beauty builds gradually through these multiple thin applications rather than one dramatic pass.
- Build coverage strategically by applying 2-3 total coats depending on desired opacity, remembering that authentic mercury glass has some translucency rather than solid opaque coverage. You want to see candlelight glow through the silvered finish, not be completely blocked by thick paint.
- Seal and cure by allowing votives to dry completely for 24 hours before handling or adding candles, and consider applying a clear acrylic sealer spray for extra durability if they'll be washed frequently. Your $1 glass has transformed into boutique-worthy mercury glass that nobody would guess cost under $3.
Professional crafters who sell faux mercury glass take the technique beyond basic silver by experimenting with color variations that complement different seasons and decor styles. Try using Krylon's Looking Glass paint in gold or copper for warmer-toned mercury glass that's perfect for fall and holiday tables, or layer silver over a base coat of light blue or blush pink spray paint for subtle color that shows through the distressing. Event designers also love creating an "ombré mercury glass" effect by spraying heavier coverage at the bottom and gradually lighter toward the top, which adds dimensional interest when votives are grouped together. For the most authentic aged appearance, use very fine steel wool to gently buff random areas after the paint is completely dry, then wipe with a soft cloth—this creates natural-looking wear patterns exactly where genuine antique mercury glass would show age. Finally, mix sizes and heights when displaying your finished votives, clustering them in odd-numbered groups on mirrors or silver trays for maximum impact that looks professionally styled.