The Stylish DIY That Gives Old Lampshades A Whole New Purpose

Few things provide more joy than a great thrift find, but it can also be a toss-up as to whether or not your store has the item you need. For example, you can pass aisles full of old lamps at a thrift store, but you might not find a single small table that could work as a plant stand. If you are open to a DIY project, though, your options increase tremendously because you can make your own indoor plant stand with these creative DIY ideas. Not only will you give new life to an old piece, but you will also get a real confidence boost from completing a project.

TikTok user sobrighthome demonstrates one unique way to repurpose old lampshades into lovely plant stands. In a video, the user shows how you can remove the fabric from the lampshade before cleaning and spray painting the wire frame. Then, sand and apply varathane to a wooden round. Once the varathane is dry, drill a small hole in the center of the wood round and connect the wood round to the wire lampshade frame using a screw. The user displays three plant stands of various sizes with potted plants on top.

The results of the project look fantastic, but if you decide to try it out yourself, you should carefully test the wire frame and be cautious about what you use as the surface of your plant stand and what you store on top of it. Otherwise, you might end up with a deformed wire frame and a very lopsided plant stand.

Before you start grabbing lamps at the thrift store, though, think about how you plan to recreate this project and use it once it is finished. The wire frames of lampshades are not designed to hold weight. They are made only with the thought of shaping the lampshade. With this in mind, you will need to be careful about putting too much weight on the wire frame. If you do decide to give it a try, make sure the wood rounds are on the thinner side to prevent excess weight, or find a lighter material such as plywood or particleboard. You can paint or stain these pieces to make them look more finished.

Also, be sure to choose high-quality lampshade wire frames without any damage. Check the frames carefully for any nicks or bends before starting. Finally, try to only place small houseplants in lightweight pots, such as one made of plastic rather than ceramic, on the finished plant stands.

For the rest of the lamp you bought, learn the skill that lets you make any thrifted lamp work like new again and find a new lampshade so you can end up with both a new lamp and new plant stand. Alternatively, you can turn a thrifted lamp into a unique home feature with an easy upcycle if you are still feeling crafty. Either method lets use reduce waste by repurposing the rest of your thrift purchase.