8 Ways To Repurpose A Thrift Store Glass Lampshade As Beautiful Home Decor

If youve ever wandered through the furniture or lighting sections of a thrift store, youve probably seen a variety of lampshades, including glass styles. You may have walked right past them, assuming you don't need another lamp at home. Those overlooked lampshades can actually be repurposed into creative home decor around the house. Whether it's a colorful stained glass or a classic 1950s milk-glass hobnail design, these glass lampshades can be repurposed into everything from flower vases and pedestal bowls to tissue holders and succulent planters. And we've got all the details for you.

You can head to your local thrift store any time to scout out the latest lampshades, but just a tip, try going on a Tuesday for the best selection of the latest items. With weekends being popular shopping days, items can go quick and shelves get rummaged through, leaving a bit of a mess for you to sort through. Waiting until Tuesday allows the store time to clean up and restock recently donated items. Then you can casually stroll through without the crowds, taking your time and finding just the right glass lampshade for your next DIY home decor project.

If you have a glass lampshade with a wide enough opening at the top, you can place it over a mason jar or smaller vase for an elevated flower arrangement. Fill the jar or small vase with water, then place the lampshade over it to completely conceal it. Fresh-cut flower stems can be slid through the top of the lampshade into the hidden jar or vase. The setup works just as well with faux flowers; simply skip adding water to the smaller vessel.

Glass lampshades that have narrow, elongated tops can be flipped upside down and used as pedestal bowls. Fill them with seasonal items for a festive mantelpiece or coordinating decor for a table centerpiece. It can also double as a pretty organizer on your coffee table to hold TV remotes or on your entryway table to hold keys. If the opening at the top of the lampshade is big enough for items to fall through, cover it with masking tape or a small piece of cardboard.

If store-bought boxes of tissues leave a little something to be desired, aesthetically speaking, elevate the look instantly by using a glass lampshade that has a narrower top. Open the box of tissues and gently remove them. If you're working with a lampshade with a wide base, lay the tissues flat and set it over the top, pulling one through to start. Some smaller lampshades might require you to fold the stack of tissues in half and slide them inside, turning them so the flat side faces up, and you're able to pull one through the top.

If you're a succulent fan, you'll love this super-easy way to use an old glass lampshade. Choose a lampshade with one or more holes at the top for drainage. Flip it upside down and place it on a plate to catch any excess moisture. Fill the lampshade with potting soil and plant your favorite succulents. This creates an eye-catching centerpiece for a dining room or coffee table. If you have a few smaller lampshades, you can place them around the living room, like on a bookshelf or floating shelves on the wall.

What better way to decorate your kitchen countertop than with an elegant decor item from the thrift store? That's exactly what you can do by flipping a thrifted glass lampshade upside down and filling it with an array of colorful fruit. This simple DIY works with many lampshade shapes, including bell, bowl, and empire styles, which can also double as fruit bowls. This will work equally as well with fresh fruit as it will with faux fruit.

Smaller glass lampshades are perfect to use as decorative trinket bowls. This works especially well with lampshades that have very small or no holes in the top. When flipped over, they can hold a variety of small items throughout the home. Place it on the entryway table to hold keys, in the bathroom for hair accessories, or on a shelf to hold small decor items. You can spray paint the glass lampshade to match your room's color scheme, or simply use it as is.

If you use essential oil diffusers at home, consider this creative DIY for a unique decor upgrade. Thrifted glass lampshades that have an opening at the top can be placed directly over the diffuser, hiding it beneath, so it appears as though the diffused oil is coming out of the decorative lampshade. Be sure to use a lampshade that is big enough to completely conceal the diffuser and has a wide enough hole to allow the air to flow freely. This works best with a lampshade that isn't see-through, like a white milk-glass or colorful stained glass.

If you're looking for some stunning DIY hanging planters you can make to liven up your home, head to your local thrift store and grab a few old stained glass lampshades. When you flip them over, you'll notice a hole in the middle where it is attached to the lamp stand. That will work as the drainage hole for your plant. Simply fill the lampshade with potting soil and your favorite plant. You can buy a simple hanger, like these Macrame Plant Hangers on Amazon, to hang your new planters anywhere in the home.