How to Make a Globe Lampshade

Use an Old School Globe to Make Unique Lamp for Your Home

Feb 8, 2010
Melissa Howard

Globe Lamp - Melissa Howard

Repurpose an old classroom globe to make a whimsical lampshade for your home.

Old school globes are easy to find. They come in a variety of styles and are fun to use in household décor. If you have a broken globe or simply want something a little different, consider making a lampshade using a thrifted globe.

Supplies

Globe
Old lamp
X-acto knife
Old jewelry, ribbon, trim for embellishing
Adhesive
Drill (optional)

Instructions

Remove your globe from the stand. Most globes are held in place by a bracket that clamps the globe at both poles. Usually, there is some flexibility in this bracket and if you pull it gently apart, you will release the globe. Note: some globes have separate plastic or metal compass pieces at the poles. Save them if your globe has them.
Separate your globe along the equator. Use the X-acto knife to remove the ‘tape’ that binds the equator seam on most globes. Use a butter knife or some other flat, blunt object to wedge between the two hemispheres and begin to carefully pry them apart. It can be difficult to pry to two hemispheres apart. Remain patient.
Remove the shade from your lamp. Most lamps have a finial on top that unscrews from the section that goes around the bulb (known as a harp). Unscrew the finial and lift off the shade. Set the finial aside, you do not want to lose it.
Place the hemisphere of the globe that you want use as the shade on the harp and see if hole at the globe’s pole fits over the threads. If it doesn’t, you will need to enlarge the hole. Most cardboard globes will be too thick for you to do this using a knife. One easy way to do it is to use your drill. Start with a small drill bit and drill a series of small holes around the perimeter of the hole. Increase the bit size and drill the holes again. Continue to increase the bit size until all the holes meet. You should now have a large enough opening for the harp.
Decorate the base of the lamp if you wish. Many lamps have flat surfaces that are perfect for embellishing.
Decorate the edge of your new lampshade to give it a more finished appearance.
Put the globe back on your lamp. Screw the finial into the top of the globe. If the hole is a bit large or unsightly, use the compass piece that came with your globe to cover the hole or find a washer large enough to cover the hole.

About the Sample Project

The sample lampshade was made with a cardboard globe.
The lamp base was decorated with a piece of paper on which the scripture verse “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me,” (John 14:6) is printed. Ribbon and decorative cord frame the scripture piece.
An old snake chain necklace was glued along the equator of the globe and black cording was used to finish the rough edges of the cardboard.

Ideas and Suggestions

Cardboard globes make dark shades that will create dramatic directional light. The light from these lamps will probably not be sufficient for task lighting.
Plastic globes will make beautiful opaque shades with the light shining through the geography beautifully.