Last Updated on September 24, 2026
Have you ever ended up with a box of old glass doorknobs and had absolutely no idea what to do with them? After restoring the doors in my old house and buying bits and pieces here, I’ve ended up with extra glass doorknobs. And then I wondered…How can I repurpose old glass doorknobs?
Maybe they came out of an old house renovation. Maybe you found a few at an estate sale. Or maybe you’ve been saving them for years because they are simply too pretty to throw away.
Those little glass knobs have a history. And while they may no longer have a job opening doors, that doesn’t mean they’re ready for the trash.
BUT…Before You Repurpose Those Old Glass Doorknobs
If your glass doorknobs came from an older house, don’t automatically assume they should become something decorative. (I’m a practical girl). First ask:
- Are they original to your house?
- Do you have a complete set?
- Could they be reused somewhere else in the house?
- Could one replace a missing knob or damaged piece of hardware?
- Are they unusual, especially old, or potentially collectible?
- Would an architectural salvage shop or another old-house owner be interested in them?
Vintage glass knobs can be more than pretty old hardware. They can be part of the architectural character of a house. If you have a complete set of original hardware, I’d think twice before permanently altering it.
But maybe you have a mismatched collection. Or a few damaged knobs. Or extras left over from a renovation.Well, then strap in because here’s a few fun and still practical 😉 ways to give old glass doorknobs a second life.
Quick History of Glass Doorknobs
If you have a soft spot for old houses like me, you probably already know that glass doorknobs aren’t just pretty. They have been around for a surprisingly long time.
The story really starts about 100 years ago, when new pressed-glass manufacturing techniques made it possible to produce decorative glass pieces quickly and affordably. The Corning Museum of Glass considers the 1820s the beginning of an important period in American pressed-glass production.
Glass doorknobs really hit their stride in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. By the 1920s and 1930s, they came in all sorts of shapes, patterns, facets and colors. Clear glass was common, but you could also find beautiful shades of cobalt blue, green, amber, violet and milk glass.
And then, as so often happens with old-house details, tastes changed. By the middle of the 20th century, metal hardware had largely taken over.
Which is probably part of the reason I find those old glass knobs so charming today. They are little pieces of a time when even something as ordinary as a doorknob could have a surprising amount of personality.
Want to learn more? I’m working on a deeper look at the history of glass doorknobs—including how they were made, how their styles changed and how to identify vintage examples. If there’s no link here yet, feel free to send me an email and nudge me to get moving. 😉
11 Clever Ways to Repurpose Old Glass Doorknobs
1. Make Vintage Glass Doorknob Curtain Tiebacks
Skill level: Easy
Time: Afternoon
Best for: Bedrooms, living rooms and dining rooms
It makes perfect sense. The knobs are already beautiful decorative objects, and mounting them beside a window gives them a chance to catch the light again.
Rachel Rossi has a detailed tutorial for making glass doorknob curtain tiebacks, including the hardware needed to mount them. Another beautiful example comes from The Non-Consumer Advocate, which uses thrifted glass knobs and vintage backplates.
See the projects:
DIY Glass Curtain Tiebacks – Rachel Rossi
Glass Doorknob Curtain Tiebacks – The Non-Consumer Advocate
2. Turn Them Into Curtain Rod Finials
Skill level: Moderate
Time: Afternoon
Best for: Living rooms, bedrooms and period-style interiors
Another clever way to use a pair of old glass knobs? Put them at the ends of a curtain rod.
In My Own Style shows exactly how to turn vintage doorknobs into curtain rod finials. It’s a particularly good solution if you want your window treatments to have a little more personality without buying expensive decorative finials. (See? Told you I was a practical!)
See the project:
How to Make Curtain Rod Finials Using Doorknobs – In My Own Style
3. Give an Old Dresser New Hardware
Skill level: Moderate
Time: Afternoon
Best for: Dressers, cabinets and furniture makeovers
An old dresser is one of the easiest places to give vintage glass doorknobs a new job.
Lovely Etc. used a collection of old glass doorknobs to update a dresser, creating a completely different look with salvaged hardware. What I especially liked about her DIY project was that she didn’t have 6 perfectly matching glass doorknobs but still completely pulled it off. I liked how she used smaller doorknobs for the smaller top drawers and the larger for the bottom drawers.
But word of caution – sometimes old hardware isn’t always compatible with modern furniture. Use your judgement on what style bureau goes with glass doorknobs.
Vintage knobs can have different thread sizes and mounting requirements, so don’t assume your old knob will simply screw into a modern drawer.
See the project:
Dresser Update with Vintage Door Knobs – Lovely Etc.
4. Make Vintage Glass Doorknob Wall Hooks
Skill level: Moderate
Time: Afternoon
Best for: Entryways, bedrooms and bathrooms
If you have one or two beautiful glass knobs but don’t have enough for a larger project, use a couple to make wall hooks.
The Vanderveen House created wall hooks from vintage glass knobs and reclaimed lumber. The result is useful, pretty and perfectly suited to an old-house vibe. And can work in lots of spaces – coat rack for entryways, robes for bedroom, towels in bathroom.
See the project:
How to Make Wall Hooks from Vintage Glass Knobs – The Vanderveen House
5. Create a Vintage Jewelry Holder
Skill level: Easy–Moderate
Time: Afternoon
Best for: Bedrooms and dressing areas
Old glass doorknobs are surprisingly well suited to organizing jewelry.
Mount several knobs onto a piece of wood and you have a place to hang necklaces, bracelets or scarves.
This is another project where mismatched knobs can actually be a benefit. Different shapes and colors can make the finished piece look collected rather than perfectly coordinated.
Nancy Lefko came up with this clever solution after looking for a more attractive way to store her growing necklace collection. She attached her collection of vintage glass doorknobs to decorative wood blocks, then mounted them on the wall.
I especially like this idea if you have a collection of mismatched knobs. Different shapes, colors and patterns become part of the decoration rather than something you need to hide.
See the project:
Sweet Storage – Nancy Lefko
6. Turn Them Into Photo Holders
Skill level: Easy
Time: Under 30 minutes
Best for: Family photos, old-house photos and gifts
This one is super cute. 2 Bees in a Pod turned vintage doorknobs into photo holders using wire. And one of the glass knobs used in their project had actually come from a house they previously lived in.
That makes this idea particularly fun for an old-house collection.
Imagine using one to display an old photograph of your house—or a photograph of the family who lived there.
See the project:
Vintage Door Knob Photo Holders – 2 Bees in a Pod
7. Make Tiny Glass Doorknob Bud Vases
Skill level: Easy
Time: Under 30 minutes
Best for: Shelves, tables and entertaining
This is one of those projects that makes you wonder why you didn’t think of it yourself.
Mandy Forlenza Sticos of Little Vintage Rentals turned antique glass doorknobs into tiny bud vases—perfect for a single flower or small sprig of greenery. A collection of them would make a beautiful centerpiece or a simple accent on a shelf or mantel.
Before using an old glass doorknob as a vase, check it carefully for chips or cracks and make sure it can safely hold a small amount of water.
See the project:
DIY: Glass Door Knob Bud Vases – Pretty Little Inspiration
8. Use Them as Garden Hose Guides
Skill level: Easy–Moderate
Time: Under 30 minutes
Best for: Vegetable gardens and flower beds
Okay, this one is clever. Instead of letting your garden hose flatten your flowers (or run through your vegetable garden) use old glass doorknobs as decorative hose guides.
A Cultivated Nest came up with this idea using vintage glass knobs mounted on inexpensive metal poles. The knobs help guide the hose around the garden while adding a little decorative sparkle.
It’s practical and pretty. Kind of like me (I’m KIDDING!!!!)
See the project:
DIY Blinged Garden Hose Guides – A Cultivated Nest
9. Make Decorative Garden Stakes
Skill level: Moderate
Time: Afternoon
Best for: Flower gardens and cottage gardens
And if your garden hose is already tamed, then you can turn old glass doorknobs (especially ones with color) into decorative garden stakes just to add a little more personality. Like garden gnomes, but more sophisticated….
Unique Creations By Anita combines glass doorknobs with recycled jewelry and other decorative pieces to make colorful garden stakes.
This is also a great way to use knobs that don’t match. In the garden, a collection of different colors and shapes can look intentional and wonderfully eclectic.
See the project:
Beaded Garden Stakes – Unique Creations By Anita
10. Add a Glass Doorknob to a Birdhouse
Skill level: Moderate
Time: Afternoon to a weekend
Best for: Gardens and outdoor spaces
Even birds deserve a little class…..
Create & Babble used a stray glass doorknob as the perch on an upcycled shutter birdhouse. The result is a fun combination of salvaged materials.
BUT warning – be careful about making sure the knob is securely attached and won’t create a hazard for birds.
See the project:
How to Make a Rustic Birdhouse From an Old Shutter – Create & Babble
11. Turn One Into a Bottle Stopper
Skill level: Moderate
Time: Afternoon
Best for: Kitchen, bathroom or decorative display
Here’s another idea I hadn’t considered until I started researching this roundup: turn a small glass doorknob into a bottle stopper.
In My Own Style shows how to modify a cork and attach a vintage doorknob to create a decorative stopper for a glass bottle.
You could use something similar for a decorative bottle filled with bath salts, a kitchen container or simply as a pretty piece of vintage-inspired décor.
See the project:
Repurpose a Doorknob Into a Bottle Stopper – In My Own Style
Give Those Old Knobs a Second Life
There is something satisfying about finding a new purpose for an old piece of hardware (versus throwing it away). Especially when that hardware has already spent decades opening doors.
So before you throw that box of old glass doorknobs away, take another look.
Maybe one belongs back on a door. Maybe another becomes a curtain tieback.
And maybe that odd little leftover knob becomes the prettiest garden accessory you didn’t know you needed.
That’s the beauty of reusing old-house pieces.
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