Mason Jar Fillers: What to Put in a Jar for Display

A clear jar does not need paint to look finished. The right mason jar fillers turn plain glass into a small display of texture and color, and you can change the contents in a minute when the season or the room changes.

Everything suggested here is dry, decorative and non-food. The fillers are sorted by the look they create, followed by notes on layering, fill height, lids and keeping a filled jar looking fresh.

Prepare the jar first

Fillers show every smear on the inside of the glass, so start with a clean jar. Check it for chips and cracks, and recycle it if you find any. Wash it in warm soapy water, avoid sudden temperature changes, and remove any label residue from the outside.

Let the jar dry completely, inside and out, before you fill it. Leave it upside down on a rack and then stand it upright in the open air for a while. A jar that is closed while still damp will fog on the inside, and natural fillers can turn musty.

Natural fillers

Natural materials give a quiet, rustic look and suit almost any room. Most are neutral in color, which makes them easy to mix.

• Pinecones: small cones fill a jar quickly and add strong texture. Shake them outdoors first to remove loose debris.
• Preserved or artificial moss: a soft green layer that sets off harder materials. Buy it from a craft supplier so that it arrives dry.
• Smooth stones and pebbles: heavy and stable, good as a base layer. Rinse off any dust and dry them fully.
• Shells: pale and varied in shape. Use clean, dry craft shells, and place fragile ones near the top.
• Others: acorns, twig slices, bark pieces, dried seed pods and wine corks.

Anything gathered outdoors should be thoroughly dry before it goes into a jar. Spread it on paper in an airy place for several days, and leave out anything that still feels soft or damp.

Craft fillers

Craft supplies make cheerful fillers, and they have the advantage of being useful. A jar of buttons on a shelf is decoration until the day you need a button.

• Buttons: sort them into one color family for a calm look, or mix them for a brighter one.
• Small yarn balls: wind scrap yarn into balls about 1 1/2 in (4 cm) across. Three or four shades of one color look deliberate.
• Wooden beads: unfinished beads in two sizes give a clean, modern look.
• Thread spools: wooden or vintage-style spools stack well in a wide-mouth jar.
• Others: clothespins, ribbon ends rolled into coils, pom-poms and folded fabric scraps.

Seasonal fillers

Seasonal fillers let you update a shelf without redecorating it. Keep one or two clear jars as permanent pieces and change only what is inside.

Season	Fillers	Colors to try
Spring	Artificial moss, faux eggs, silk petals	Soft green, cream, pale yellow
Summer	Shells, sea-glass-style pebbles, sand	White, sand, pale blue
Fall	Faux leaves, acorns, small faux pumpkins	Rust, mustard, brown
Winter	Shatterproof ornaments, pinecones, faux berries	White, silver, deep green

For a full set of autumn projects that go beyond fillers, see the collection of fall mason jar crafts.

A short strand of lights tucked among ornaments or faux leaves adds a soft glow in the evening. Use battery-operated LED string lights only, follow the maker’s instructions, and read the guide to mason jar fairy lights for where to hide the battery pack.

How to layer fillers

Layers work when each one looks clearly different from the one beside it. Change the size, the texture or the color between layers, and ideally two of the three.

1. Start with the heaviest and smallest material, such as pebbles or sand, to a depth of about 1 in (2.5 cm). It steadies the jar.
2. Add a soft middle layer, such as moss, about the same depth. Press it gently against the glass so that small pieces from above cannot fall through.
3. Finish with the largest pieces, such as pinecones or ornaments, and turn the best side of each one toward the front.

Three layers are plenty for a pint or quart jar. More than that starts to look striped and busy.

Fill to different heights

When several filled jars stand together, vary the fill level. One jar filled to the shoulder, one about two thirds full and one half full look more relaxed than three filled to the brim.

Large fillers such as pinecones can rise slightly above the rim of an open jar. Small fillers such as buttons and beads look best when they stop at or below the shoulder, where the glass begins to curve in. For advice on arranging the finished jars with books and plants, see the guide to mason jar shelf decor.

Lid on or lid off

Both choices work. A closed jar looks neat and keeps dust out, which suits small, fiddly fillers. An open jar looks more casual and suits large pieces that rise above the rim.

A middle option is to use the screw band alone, with no flat lid insert. It finishes the rim with a line of metal and keeps the jar open. If you close a jar, make sure the contents are bone dry first.

Keeping fillers dry and dust-free

Dry fillers and water do not mix. Do not add water to a jar of moss, pinecones, wood or shells, and keep filled jars away from sinks, steamy rooms and windowsills that collect condensation.

• Dust open jars every week or two with a soft, dry brush.
• Empty the jar every few months, wipe the inside with a dry cloth and refill it.
• Keep jars out of strong direct sun, which fades moss, fabric and dyed materials.
• Throw away any natural filler that smells musty or shows spots.