How to Upcycle a Vintage Glass Lampshade: DIY Tissue Holder

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Where to Find Glass Lampshades

Many thrift stores will have old glass lampshades that survived broken small lamps, ceiling fans, and pendant lights. They are usually cheap because they are random styles and patterns. Be sure that the globe is open on both ends and has a standard fitter opening. The shade necks should be between 2¼-3¼ inches. Almost all shades have the standard neck; however, you may find very old ones that don’t. In addition, some antique glass lampshades may be too small. Keep in mind that you will need one that is large enough to hold a boutique-size or cube-style box of tissues. I’ll show you how it works.

I found the milk glass shade in an antique mall and the clear glass one at a Habitat ReStore. Although it was clear, I had a plan to paint it so that the tissues would be concealed. So don’t overlook a good deal on a glass lampshade because I’m sharing some easy workarounds.

Why Milk Glass Lampshades Work Great for Tissues

I was so excited to find a milk glass pendant lampshade to use as a tissue holder. The opaque finish is perfect for concealing the tissues inside. I will show several ways to display the tissue holder in your home.

How to Make a Clear Glass Pendant Lampshade Work

Unfortunately, the clear glass pendant lampshade will not work because you will see the stack of tissues inside. I decided to paint mine using the DIY Mercury glass technique I used on my discolored glassware. You can see the easy instructions in this DIY Mercury Glass makeover tutorial.

It turned out perfectly and only took minutes to update. It’s perfect for holiday decorating.

How To Make A Tissue Holder With A Lampshade

To make a tissue holder using a glass lampshade, you will need a base so that the tissues will not fall out. I’m sharing several options, from plates to doilies, in my styling.

I’ve already mentioned that the size and diameter of the neck are important.

Once you have a base and an appropriate size and shade, you can add the tissues.

How To Add Tissues To Glass Lampshade Tissue Holder

Here is how to easily add the stack of tissues to the glass lampshade.

• Begin by pulling one of the tissues up from the box without pulling it loose.
• Then open the cardboard tissue box to reveal the full stack.
• Place the stack into the glass lampshade from the bottom, ensuring that the pulled tissue goes in first.
• Once inside the lampshade, pull the loose tissue up through the neck opening of the shade.

How To Decorate The Lampshade Tissue Holders

Once you have the tissues inside the lampshade, you can decorate the shade if you prefer.

I found that adding a ribbon added to the charm of the milk glass shade. If you prefer a more rustic style, you can use jute twine or burlap ribbon.

You can also change the feel of the tissue holder by changing the base. Below, I used a velvet ribbon and a small blue & white dish for an elegant holder, and then I switched to a jute twine bow with a wood base for a more rustic style.

You can also dress up your glass lampshade tissue holders for the season by adding a colorful red ribbon and adding some sprigs of cedar. A simple ironstone saucer or dessert plate works perfectly for the base.

Where To Use Your Glass Lampshade Tissue Holders

The best thing about these decorative glass tissue holders is that you can keep your tissues handy without sacrificing style. You can decorate your side tables in your living room, bathroom countertops, bedside tables, and more. Anywhere you want to keep tissues available will now look stylish.

The milk glass lampshade works in both bedrooms with an update on the base. I used one of my DIY Crochet Doilies as the base in our guest bedroom. In the primary bedroom, I used a vintage milk glass plate as the base.

The same shade is used on the baker’s rack with a clear plate, and a brass tray is used as a base on the bathroom countertop.

Our living room side table is ready for the holidays with the Mercury Glass Tissue Holder.

Conclusion

If you are looking for a unique and stylish way to keep your tissues handy, consider shopping for some vintage glass lampshades. It only takes seconds to upcycle them into stunning decor for any room in your home.

Thrifting with the Gals

Today’s post is part of our monthly series, Thrifting with the Gals. If you are new to our series, we are friends who share a love for vintage and thrifted decorating. We all live in different parts of the country, but we come together once a month to share thrift store shopping ideas and tips on decorating with your treasures.

Here are the Gals:

• Ann from Dabbling and Decorating finds her treasures as she travels between Vermont and Maine. She decorates both homes with so many vintage treasures.
• Robyn from Robyn’s French Nest loves to travel and bring her vintage treasure to her lovely Florida Home.
• Lora from Lora Bloomquist Create and Ponder is thrifting and picking up amazing roadside finds to decorate her home in Minnesota.
• I am from North Carolina and love filling my farmhouse and beach cottage with thrift store finds. I focus on budget-friendly decorating and DIY projects.

Ann’s – Decorating with Vintage Copper / Robyn’s – 5 Things To Prepare for Christmas / Lora- Thrifting for the Booth Holiday version –