Upgrade Plain Tissue Storage With A Thrifted Lampshade DIY

Whether you're an avid thrifter or just have a few special pieces, finding creative ways to display and use them means you get even more out of your treasures. The trend of using various vessels like vases to hold tissues and make them more "stylized" isn't new, but one clever thrift upgrade will give you a designer tissue holder look. Vintage lampshades are so unique, so why not repurpose one as a luxurious tissue dispenser? With this DIY/upcycle, there's no specific design you have to shop for, as any lampshade ranging from glass to patterned fabric will work. It all just depends on your style and what you can find on your thrifting treasure hunt. Then, with a few upgrades, you can use your lampshade as a decorative tissue dispenser in any room.

There are so many ways to repurpose old lampshades around the house, and this DIY is definitely a clever (and useful) option. One of the most important things to keep in mind while searching is the top and bottom openings of your shade. You want a narrower gap at the top that you can pull tissues through without all of them coming out at once. Try to find a bottleneck shape that will create a dispenser. The bottom should still be wide and flat enough that it can be propped onto a table or shelf and remain upright. If you find a lampshade that needs some of the inner metal pieces removed, like the socket holder, ensure you have the tools to cut these off. You may need pliers or metal cutters to get these fixtures out of the lampshade's interior. 

Similar to how people are DIYing glass jars into tissue dispensers, glass, ceramic, or metal lampshades are great options for this DIY. Glass offers an elevated sense of style in any room and can help create natural light with the reflective surfaces. If you happen to find a lampshade that suits almost all your needs but needs a little TLC, consider painting or even replacing broken glass panes so you can get the elegant vintage effect of the original glass. If you don't mind covering up the colors or base, then choose a glass paint that matches your aesthetic.

If you opt for a fabric lampshade, you can either keep it as is, add embellishments in the form of sequins or gemstones, or put new fabric on top to "reupholster" the shade to a color or pattern that suits your vibe. Some lampshades are made of harder materials that can also be decoupaged or painted as well — you just want to stick with a smaller vessel that will properly hold the tissue bundle, so ensure you're keeping size and shape in mind before deciding how to upgrade or decorate your thrifted find. Finally, place the tissue box or bundle of tissues under the lampshade and pull one through the top. This is a simple way to elevate boring tissue boxes to match your home's aesthetic.