19 Ways To Repurpose Vintage Globes Around Your Home And Garden

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Decades ago, door-to-door salesmen persuaded homeowners to buy exquisite and worldly items, such as metal, cardboard, plaster, or wooden globes. Being a once-hot collectable, many people now have these objects in their home. Coming in various colors and showing the world or the stars, this novelty item soon became a forgotten object that collected dust on peoples' desks. However, just because it is old, doesn't mean it can't have a second life. Whether you turn them into garden art pieces or create a floor lamp, there are 19 ways you can repurpose vintage globes around your home and garden. But before you get to work modifying your miniature Earth replica, you'll need to give it a good clean. 

Start by grabbing a microfiber cloth and gently dabbing the dirty spots. For more intense messes, take a damp rag and wring out the water and, again, gently pat at the spots. If the stain still isn't removed, you can also apply a tiny amount of mild soap to clean the globe. Always wipe it down with a clean, dry, and soft cloth. In many of these projects, you may find yourself needing to cut the globe open. While they come in a variety of materials, most globes are made of a thick paper that is hollow on the inside. To open it, first remove the paper seal around the equator (aka the middle). Then, take your handsaw and begin by making an opening. Once it's large enough, take a screw driver and gently pry it open the rest of the way.

No matter what, you can always start by just finding a way to integrate these beauties into your overall home decor. Believe it or not, a vintage globe can easily go with your aesthetic, giving your space sophistication and elegance. Without doing a thing to it, you can just set it out — as long as it makes sense with your current look. This is the simplest and fastest way to cleverly reuse old globes around your home.

Globes, books, papers, and desks all just seem to go hand-in-hand, especially when you have a high school or college student in your household studying world geography, or you need a quick refresher on where a specific place is. Therefore, it's an easy way to bring some personality and useful sophistication to the area. Since these spinning maps can vary in size, pick an option that fits the best with your desk size. You can even include some depth by adding books and other ornamental items around it.

Elevate the outside of your home by turning your retro globe into garden art. While there are many ways to transform this piece, a fun, reflective option you can try involves removing your sphere from its stand or base. Then, glue on any shaped reflective pieces, and don't forget to include other ornamental elements. After you're done and it fully dries, attach it to a pole or base. You can even put it back on its stand. Place it out in a sunny spot and give it a good spin to witness a light show.

A funky way to display or repurpose your antique globe is to use it as bar decor or even as the bar itself. While you can get creative and build your own bar, some retro pieces already incorporate the Earth replica as part of a bar cart. This is a great way to display some of your exported liquors and vacation shot glasses. Match your bar's theme by painting the globe or including additional ornamental items. If you're worried about paper versions accidentally getting wet, use a metal globe.

While you may not be able to do this with larger versions, smaller spinning world globes can be positioned on a tray as a decoration item or a focus piece. You can add other decorative elements, such as flowers or travel photos, to further elevate it. Place it out as a centerpiece on a coffee table or office desk. If you don't like the retro look, you can also paint your spinning Earth to match your home's or room's overall aesthetic.

You can use a globe to build an interesting plant container. For this project, you will need to cut the globe in half. You can then set it on a base and position your plant inside. Make sure to follow all of the planting and care instructions for your specific green additions, and watch for the biggest container-gardening problem. If you plan on placing it on a wall, you'll need to take your half sphere and cut off one side. Then, attach a flat piece as the backing. After that, it is ready to fill. 

Develop a cool feature for a space by making a globe light. To achieve this look, you will take a drill and create holes along the outline of each continent. It may take you a while, and you'll need to use a smaller drill bit because you don't want the holes to be too big. Drill a hole large enough for LED lights and shimmy them inside. Cap off the hole and watch as it brings subtle light to a room. This is also a great night light for a kids room.

A popular art and decoration trend people are taking part in is the altered world globe hack. This is a project where you paint and decorate the sphere, usually with an empowering or fun statement. Some crafters even use additional ornamental elements to take it to new heights. This is the perfect DIY project to make something that fits your overall house's vibe or even as a fun gift for a dormitory or college apartment. These spinning designs work great in kitchens, offices, and even living rooms.

Disco balls are a once-popular '70s decor trend that's making an unexpected return, and you can build one with your vintage globe. First, grab some mirror mosaic tiles in any color you choose. Use glue and adhere them to your round world's surface. To make it easier to attach them to its outer layer, remove the globe from its base. You can also repaint the stand to match whatever look you prefer. Let the tiles dry, and then situate it out as a funky decoration item. Place it near a sunny window and give it a good spin to see a glittering display.

Who says you can't upgrade your vintage globe by giving it a paint job? This is one of the easiest ways to elevate your antique spinning maps without much effort. You can paint it just about any color to match your home, whether you want a toned-down modern version or a more bright and colorful one. You can even go along the outline of the continents and generate a contemporary world map. Just remember to follow your paint's instructions and drying time. Then, place it out where it can shine or complement the rest of your home.

Add some worldly nods by building hanging light fixtures out of retro globes. For this project, cut your globes in half or remove the bottom section. Take one half and drill a hole in the center at the top big enough to hold a light bulb or a battery-operated light source. Through the opening, secure your light by adhering it in its proper position. Then, take a chain to hang it from above. This is a cool statement piece in your home, whether it is a kitchen fixture or office light decor.

An old-fashioned globe can be cleverly transformed into holiday decor. There are so many different ways to help it match the holiday. One option is to cut it in half, making an Easter basket with the curved section of the stand serving as the handle. Other people have created Christmas scenes on the miniature Earth or glued on a Santa Claus and reindeer, showing off their Christmas Eve travels. With enough imagination and other ornamental items, you can make your 3-D map work for just about any holiday. 

Vintage globes come in multiple styles, with some being very large while others are small enough to fit on a compact shelf. Take multiple world spheres of various sizes and stack them on top of each other, building a standing floor lamp. First, remove all the bases and accessories. Take the largest Earth and drill a hole in the center and place it on the bottom of the base. Do the same with the other globes, but don't stack them yet. Instead, shimmy its electrical components inside and finish with a lamp shade. Sit it near tables or the living room couch.

Did you know that some globes were even made into bookends back in the day? That's why you can easily reuse these older 3-D maps for that same purpose. While you most likely will stick them on a bookcase, these vintage bookends can be used to clear kitchen clutter, too. Some people redecorate these worldly items while others keep them in their original condition. But you don't have to limit yourself to only using small antique ones; larger globes can be used as bookends for deeper, taller shelves.

If you're an avid traveler, you're going to love taking your vintage globe and tracking all of your adventures. There are many ways you can do so, such as by placing a mark or pin on the spot where you went. Did you take a road trip? Create a trail of your adventures with a marker or twine. Then, display it for everyone to see this subtle, precious memory of yours. If you plan on writing on your Earth, make sure to choose a tool that works on your material.

Reuse an old globe for a DIY storage solution travelers will love by turning it into a decorative bowl. This geographical piece is a decent size, making it big and deep enough to hold a variety of items. First, start by cutting your world sphere in half. Glue feet on the bottom or add a solid base; you just need something that will keep it upright. Paint it to match your current home's aesthetic or keep it as-is for a fun, adventurous home. Then, fill it with decorative items or anything else you can think of.

A globe can become one-of-a-kind if you découpage it. This is a fairly popular globe project for people to do. All you need is découpage, such as Modge Podge, and whatever stationary or tissue you want. Follow the directions on the bottle and layer on your items. Some people stick to old-fashioned photos while others may choose quotes from books or stickers. If you go the tissue route, stick to napkins or tissue with a fun design or style. Once your creation finishes drying, set it out with other vintage items or objects that complement it.

Sewing lovers will enjoy the look and convenience that comes with a spinning pin cushion holder made from a vintage globe. For this project, you'll only need the globe's base — but keep the sphere for another DIY project instead of tossing it out. Then, attach the cushion sphere in place, making sure it can fully turn. Once secure, you can then stick your sewing pins in it. You can even paint the base to make it match your sewing supplies. Once complete, you'll be able to easily spin your cushion to find pins effortlessly.

If you are a globe lover, a great way to repurpose many of them is by making a statement using groupings of them. Nothing makes an impact like a sea of different sized globes, instantly giving the space depth and dimension. For this hack, you'll mix a variety of tiny Earths, creating various eye breaks. You can display all the colors together or create mini groupings from specific brands, sizes, hues, and styles. Then, simply set them out on a flat surface, such as a table or shelf, for everyone to see.