Lately, I’ve been working on my grandma’s bathroom makeover, and I wanted to add a special handmade touch. If you love unique decor or have a collection of small vases gathering dust, this is the perfect project. Plus, it’s a great way to create a soap dispenser that actually matches your space while being the world’s fastest DIY!

While looking for ideas, I came across a project from A Beautiful Mess that used a vase to make a custom soap dispenser—such a clever way to repurpose something beautiful! With a few simple supplies, I turned a small vase into a stylish and functional DIY soap dispenser, and now I want to share the process with you. Let’s get started!

diy soap dispenser

SUPPLIES

A small vase (at least 3/4″ wide at the opening with a neck)
Soap pump in Chrome or Brass (make sure your vase opening is at least 1/4″ wider than the pump top)
Cork Variety Pack (or repurpose an old wine cork)
Drill and 7/16″ Drill Bit
Sharp craft blade

choosing a vase

When picking a vase for this project, look for one with a narrow neck that gradually widens—similar to a bud vase. This shape helps ensure the cork and soap pump sit securely in place without wobbling.

step 1- Find the Right Cork

To begin, select a cork that fits securely in the opening of the vase. The cork should sit nicely inside the neck of the vase, filling the negative space at the top of your dispenser. If it’s too tall, don’t worry—you can trim it down later!

step 2- Drill a Hole in the Cork

Next, use a drill bit slightly smaller than your soap pump components and carefully drill a hole the size of the pump nozzle. I used a 7/16″ drill bit and that was the perfect size for the Soap pump in Chrome. I also used a 1/2″ drill bit on the Brass Soap pump and that worked great. They’re pretty close to the same size of drill bit and both sizes worked with both pumps.

When drilling take it slow to avoid crumbling the cork. It took me less than 30 seconds to drill out the hole- it’s very easy to do.

Tip- if the cork crumbles too much while drilling, try going slower or soaking it briefly to soften it.

And now, if the top of your cork is too wide, use a craft blade to shave it down. Likewise, if the cork is too long, trim it to fit. The goal is a snug fit around the pump to prevent it from slipping when you refill the soap. Mine didn’t need any trimming- so yours might not either.

step 3- Attach the Pump

Press the drilled cork tightly onto the soap pump. You want a secure fit so that when you remove the pump for refills, the cork stays attached to it rather than getting stuck in the vase.

Step 4- Assemble the Soap Dispenser

Before attaching the pump, use scissors to trim the straw (the plastic tube that draws up the soap) so it’s short enough to sit comfortably inside the vase without bending or bunching. The goal is for the pump to rest neatly on top of the neck of the vase without the straw pushing it upward.

Finally, press the soap pump (with the cork attached) into the vase. It should be snug but still removable. If it’s too tight, carefully shave the edges of the cork until it fits just right. Again, mine fit great and no trimming was necessary.

after

And that’s it—you’ve created your own DIY soap dispenser! This handmade piece adds a charming, custom touch to any sink. I love how my grandma’s turned out!

I also made one for my bathroom at home. Since the soap pumps come in multi-packs, it’s easy to create extras. It’s such a fun and fast craft!

Wouldn’t these DIY soap dispensers make a fantastic gift as well?! It’d be so nice for a housewarming party. Or even at Christmas time.

price breakdown

I thought I’d provide a price breakdown for this project. The soap dispenser set of two cost $7 and the pack of corks cost $7. This is enough to make 2 soap dispensers (plus tons of extra corks). I had the vases on hand- a thrift store vase would be $5 or less and one from eBay would be $25-$35. Since I reused a vase I already owned, it cost less than $15 for this DIY!

This quick and satisfying project proves that small, simple changes can add a lot of personality to a space. Have you ever made a DIY soap dispenser? I’d love to hear how it turned out!

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