“Applebee’s Lamps” Are Having a Moment — and This Hack Is My Favorite Use Yet

When I used to go for date nights to the Applebee’s of yore, I always noticed the branded glass “Applebee’s”-stamped lamps that hung above each table. Those types of lamps are based upon antique Tiffany-style lamps that debuted in the late 1800s and were a hallmark of Art Nouveau style. They’ve had a few comebacks — notably, in the 1970s, when my parents used to have one just like this that hung above our dining room table — and this year marks their latest revival.

Real-deal Tiffany lamps sell for thousands at auctions, but you can still find actual retro Tiffany-inspired lamps at thrift stores and on Facebook Marketplace. But some inventive DIYers aren’t just displaying the lamps as is: They’re taking it a step further and figuring out new and different ways to put these lamps to work. Case in point? The stained glass light that Instagram influencer Carleigh Bodrug transformed into a planter.

In the reel that she recently posted, Bodrug takes a $15 Tiffany-style lamp that she scored on Marketplace and completely transforms it with the simplest hack. First, she flips the lamp upside down to create a bowl shape, then she lines it with coir before hanging a planter chain around the lamp (tested for security!) and potting flowers inside. The result is a whimsical glass planter that looks way more expensive than it actually is.

Bodrug hangs her planter outside, but be warned that outside, where it’s subjected to the elements, it’s at risk of damage. As one person who’s a stained glass maker commented, rainwater will eventually destroy the lead solder between the glass pieces. And in winter, freezing and refreezing can cause the glass to crack.

With that in mind, it’s wise to aim for a piece that’s around $20 or under — or to skirt the issue altogether by using this only as an indoor planter. It would be best to keep the plants inside it in grow pots so you could take them out to water them (minimizing the soldering’s exposure to moisture); you’d also need to put a drip tray underneath the lamp to catch any extra moisture.

Many of the commenters on the reel noted how much they love this DIY, with one describing the planter as “dreamy” and “like a carousel.” This intricate, handmade glass planter is definitely eye-catching!

Want more ideas for showing off your plants at home? Check out these stylish DIY planter ideas.