Upcycling Household Items as Repurposed Planters
You don’t need to spend a fortune on pretty planters. Take a look around and see what household items you can transform into creative repurposed planters!
Repurposing household items is a great way to save money and hold on to items with sentimental value. Take a look at these creative repurposed planters for inspiration.
Creative Repurposed Planters for your Home
It is my favorite time of the month again. Time for the International Bloggers Club Challenge. We are a group of friends from all over the world who get together every month to share our projects and discuss how things are done in our countries. Last time we shared projects with fabrics. And the month before it was projects that were new for us, I painted an abstract art piece.
This month we are going to work on gardening projects. You know things that grow!
Do I hear you laughing? I’m sure I do, because I am famous for my brown thumb.
I am going to show you what household items I used for repurposed planters – for the plants, you know the ones that are supposed to grow!
As many of you may know I am pretty hopeless when it comes to gardening. But for the sake of my good friends at the Int’l bloggers Club, I thought I’d give this a try.
I also had another motive. I wanted to do a vignette, cause there is no way I am going to grow anything and have it see the light of day. And the vignette would have all sorts of repurposed items that were going to go bye-bye at a yard sale. Since I believe in giving everybody and everything a second chance, they would instead get a new life as planters.
What I used for my Repurposed Planters:
- Various neglected ceramic items such as cups, a sugar and creamer set, and a ceramic swan
- Plants that will not dies soon (fingers crossed on that one)
- One vine plant because I’m feeling brave
- One elephant ceramic
I got these succulents because they are kind of hard to kill although it can be done, I assure you.
And then I remembered this. It was a clay pot that was used for baking food, but unfortunately it had a crack in it so instead I used it as a decorative piece. But the ceramic color was too intense for my current look so what did I do? Why I went over it with a decorative wax in white.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience. If you purchase any of these products through the links, we receive a small commission at no extra charge to you. You can find our full disclosure here.
How It’s Done:
I just plunked that big fat succulent right in there. I’m hoping that it will grow eventually and balance out the pot. I guess I should also add some pebbles on the bottom and then put more soil in? Am I doing it right?
My lovely swan got a Vinca vine. Hopefully this one will survive, if I don’t over water it.
Should I also put it in a bigger pot after a while? Any help is welcome.
Next up is the sugar bowl. I added this succulent to it.
And its’ other half, the creamer… another succulent but in a different color. If he doesn’t make it, I may just swap him out with these lovely potted felt succulents!
And to add a bit of color to the vignette, some dried flowers. Ha, I certainly can’t kill those!
To finish off this unusual vignette I also added a ceramic elephant with gold tusks that I found keeping the swan company in the basement.
Lastly, because we need balance I stuck a yellow daffodil in a spice jar.
You may have noticed that I didn’t use all of the household items I showed you in the first photo. That’s okay, we don’t want to have too much going on here so we end up taking away from the beauty of the plants. At least that is what I think.
See how easy that was? I not only showed you my gardening “skills”…
…but I also got to re-purpose all those ceramic containers that would certainly have ended up in my yard sale.
Let’s hope that the plants stay alive long enough so I can prove myself wrong. I bought them a week ago and they are still green. Now go into your stash and see what you can find from your household items that can be used as planter. As please give me all the tips you can so that my plants will stay green!
More Repurposing Ideas to Explore
If you really like what you see subscribe to my blog and get my adventures in your mailbox. The form is on the sidebar and on top. Your e-mail will never be shared with a third party.
This blog is for entertainment purposes only; my DIY tutorials are not professional advice. Read my full disclaimer here.
I love it when I get your comments and I will try to reply to every one of them. Please do not add a hyperlink to your comment, otherwise it cannot be published.
That looks good, Mary, I hope your plants thrive! Succulents here don’t need much water.
I hope so too. If they start to look sickly I’ll bring my dad in and have him give them some CPR
Good morning Mary, and I have to say your planters are adorable!
One thing I would like to add is anytime I’ve planted something without proper drainage it never really did that well. It seems to be the most important thing (after water and sun). Adding pebbles to the bottom helps, but it doesn’t quite cut it I have found. I would suggest drilling holes in the bottom, but the problem with that is when you water the plants the dirt and water seep out at the bottom. Ugh. Since these are succulents it may be fine though as they need very little water. Anyway, good luck with them!
xxx
Doreen you are so right. I may have to look for some more appropriate planters. The swan is just to pretty to put holes in. 🙁
This gardening business is just too hard.
I have found for indoor planters with holes, to keep dirt from seeping out of the holes, I use coffee filters in the bottom of the planter. Then cover the filters with pebbles to hold in place. Then add the dirt. If you don’t have coffee filters, heavy duty paper towels also work. By the time they have broke down, it’s usually time to re-pot the plant. And to keep water from running all over, I use pretty dishes or tea cup saucers under the planter. Even plain white looks nice and easy to find at thrift stores. For things I don’t want to drill holes in, I plant cactus since they don’t need much water.
Thank you Linda that is timely advice. I am at that point now where I really want to keep them alive.
Mary, I love using unusual items as planters. Yours are all so cute and the swan really cool. Succulents are such a great addition to any decor too!
Katrin I hope they grow a bit so I can put them out in the front entrance.
Oh Mary, they all look so lovely together. I’m sure they’ll survive as long as they’ve got the right drainage and get lots of light, they’ll do good. Succulents are so rewarding. Promise me you’ll talk to them in Greek too. I think they like that, since all their names have their roots in Latin.
That is why I chose the succulents Michelle. I knew I would have a hard time with this. Now as for the talking I certainly can do that , and even play a bit of Mozart!
I really like using old household items as planters, but I’m not as brave as you and go on the faux plants way just in case. They look great together and also they will look lovely on different parts of the house.
Pili I am only doing this because I have a back up plan. I will give them to my dad to take care of if I see they are not happy with my care. See I know what I’m doing! Haha!!
I think you will be just fine. I find if I almost ignore my succulents and then decide at the last minute to water them a little they are happy. Sometimes I throw an ice cube in the pot. Now I am no expert but I have had my succulents for years now so we are getting along. The containers are great. What a good idea to tone the one down with wax.
Debra I like the ice cube idea. I was able to grow aloe vera in Greece but that’s about it.
I like how you think, Mary! Who doesn’t have a cupboard filled with household items that could be repurposed into planting vessels like yours. I know I sure do. Except mine would have to be filled with faux succulents because I killed every single one I’ve purchased. I think my brown thumb leans towards dark brown. Pinned 🙂
Oh Marie I am just like you but I did manage to grow the aloe vera in Greece, I think it’s because I left them out in the sun all day and then only watered them once a week. You shouldn’t give up one day they will respond. At least I hope mine will.
Succulents were totally a good choice, and trending, as you know! 😉 Love that cream and sugar set!
I am really happy with this project, let’s hope they survive! 😉
What a great way to use what you have!!
Love this idea!
It was a lot of fun to go scavenger hunting in the house to find all these items Cheryl!
Oh I love that elephant! Cute as can be! Bet I could sell it! I hope you put some pebbles or something in the bottom of your containers to help your plants drain. I’m impressed that you used real plants Mary! Now you just about can’t kill that vinca, but it will need to go in a larger pot eventually. I’d say you have a good start.
Your elephant is loaded with good luck., make sure he is positioned coming into the room. You don’t want you luck facing an exit. Your plants look good too.
Your vignette of the various planters looks so nice Mary. I like how you made them cohesive. The swan is especially pretty. I too have a brown thumb and find succulents are incredibly forgiving.
Thank goodness for succulents Leanna!!
What a great idea! I love the way they look and am always a huge fan of upcycling!
Better saved then in the trash, right Carolann?
What an inspiring post!
Thank you so much Maristella, I hope you also save your old things.
Your planters turned out so cute! I love planting in unusual containers. Thanks for sharing with the Garden Party.
hugs,
Jann
Thank you Jann, it was one of the few times I tried this and I’m so glad they turned out well.
Wonderful idea Mary and they looks so healthy and pretty. Glad to know they are hard to kill. Think I might need to get me a few. LOL! Hugs and blessings, Cindy
Cindy you may say that now but we will see in a few weeks how well they hold up to my brown thumb.
I like your little container garden, Mary! I am famous for killing indoor plants ~ I overwater… Even the roses here I used soil that drains well so I won’t overwater them {as much}. A friend said I need to get a plant tester to tell when they need water. A local garden center said I should water “every six days” due to higher humidity… Why am I telling you all of this? I have NO IDEA other than I have gardening on the brain! LOL!!! 😉
You may need to drill drain holes in the bottom of your planters with a diamond drill bit, but succulents need almost no water so just spraying them and their dirt with water might be just enough. 🙂 Patti over at Hearth and Vine could tell you more/better. <3
Happy spring and I pinned a bunch for you,
Hugs,
Barb 🙂
I too have gardening on the brain Barbara. But I know you do very well with your outdoor garden so I am not worried. I on the other hand am incapable of any type of gardening.
I am handing all the plants over to my dad who has been doing this for more than 70 years.
Succulents are my favorite, but i’ve had a hard time keeping them for long periods of time. I can’t figure out how much water to give them.They don’t require much! Cute planters.
Maria
That’s the problem Maria, it is either too little or too much! In Greece I would water them once a week and they were fine even in the hot sun, but here I am clueless.
I literally have a pile of items like this in my kitchen right now. I have been trying to decide if I should donate them or keep them. Well, now I know!! Great idea!
Yay!! Now you can fill your home with succulents and then pray that they don’t die! 😉
Really fun idea, Mary! I love the elephant in the garden! Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm–pinned!
And to think I was ready to put it in the pile for the garage sale Cecilia. I am now looking at everything with a repurposers eye.
Cute ideas and love how they turned out! Thanks for sharing on To Grandma’s House We Go!
Thank you Chas. It was this or the recycling bin/garage sale.
Used household items make some of the cutest planters. I think your succulents will do find as long as they get sun, and you don’t over water them like I did.
Sun? What is this thing called sun? It has been raining non-stop for a week. My girls are in shock Linda, they have never seen anything like this in May.
Hi Mary, your gardening skills sound about as good as mine, but you can’t beat cactus and succulents for hanging in there. I like your old baking pot the best, the white wax make sit look really nice. I also like the jug, my one concern is that the ceramics don’t have drainage holes. Do plants mind?… I really have no idea!
xx
Debbie, we won’t tell them so they won’t mind at all. After all they are there for as long as they want to be. I don’t want to discourage them. 😉
Great ideas – I love how they turned out. Thanks for sharing with Party in Your PJs!
Thank you Lynda I’m glad I was able to save them.
Not only am I terrible at gardening, I don’t have a creative bone in my body. But I found your site and I think I might be able to copy some of your ideas. The repurpose household items as planters is a wonderful idea and I will definitely give this a try.
Thank you Marion for stumbling onto my site. Sometimes I feel as if I too am stumbling around here. Believe me when I tell you that I am just making things up as I go along so you don’t need to be creative to do what I do. We can learn together. 🙂
Mary, love the concept. Be careful if you move the vinca outdoors as it is very invasive so do not let it touch the ground. And yes, you will need drainage holes if you keep the plants in the pots for an extensive period of time.
Deb I gave them all to my dad so I can sleep at night. Haha, imagine if I left them home, they’d be dead by now. Thanks for all your great tips.
Deb I bought the Vinca at a Home Depot and the label said nothing about this. Thanks for telling me.
I love using quirky things for house plants. You have a good selection here.
You just need to be careful with drainage, plenty of pebbles at the bottom, especially if you are planting straight into the pot. An sparing watering, so nothing drowns.
I have learnt these things the hard way! Apparently more plants die from overwatering than underwatering. – I read that somewhere so it must be true!!
Julie I definitely believe that . I am so scared I will starve them that I tend to over water.
Repurposing households items as planters – I love the idea. I’m sure I have tons of items in storage that I can use. Thanks for the inspiration, and sharing on Sunday’s Best.
Thanks Rhonda. It would have been a shame to get rid of them without giving them one last repurposing shot.
Yes, thank heavens for dried flowers!
I so agree Michele. I decorate with them all the time. My real plants are given to my dad who is the real gardener of the family.
I loved how you repurposed items.Succulents are perfect for these planters #Bloggerspitstop
They certainly are the perfect plants for the smaller planters. And they tend to withstand my abuse.
What a cool idea? I might have to look around my house and see what I can find!
http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com
A quick look around and I’m sure that you will find much more than you ever expected!
That plant vignette turned out perfect!
Happy Spring,
Kippi #kippiathome
Thank you Kippi and the best part is that it cost nothing. We always have so much stuff at home that can be reused.
What a great idea! I keep thinking I need more flower pots, but maybe I don’t? Now I’m going to look in my cupboard, maybe start some herbs or micro greens in those old cups and creamers. Thanks for the inspiration!
That is such a wonderful idea Leslie. We all have some cups that are remnants from a set that is no longer a set. Or one of a kind pieces!
It looks like you found the perfect homes for the plants! I love them! Thank you for sharing at Celebrate It!
Thank you and they are so happy to have a new home.
This is gorgeous, Mary! I love using things that I already have around my house. It’s such a great way to freshen things up. How did you do with the succulents? I’m pretty sure I’ve killed succulents before… I am okay with outdoor gardening but I can’t keep an indoor plant alive to save my life. Oh, well. Thanks for sharing!
Same here Amy. I left the succulents in the care of my girl and a month later it had died. She had neglected to water it, even though it only needed a little.
Hallo dear Mary!
Your arrangement is so wonderfull. A lovely idea that looks so great. Thank you for inspiration.
Thanks so much Simona! The best part is that I had all this stuff.
Great post! I just love the little elephant! So cute! I have so much fun making planters out of garage sale, thrift, and flea market finds. It’s a great exercise in creativity to find new uses for things like this.
It truly is and I have a hard time controlling myself every time I go out to a garage sale.
I used to collect those little creamers and thus I have a bunch of them. I no longer display them, but they would look adorable with little succulents in them. Hmmm, maybe
a Christmas gift idea?
That sounds like a really sweet gift to give. And if the recipient is like me, a brown thumb, they can still use the creamers.
Hi Mary!
Thanks for sharing at Best of the Weekend! I’ll be featuring this post tomorrow!
Thank you so much Liberty!
I love this. I had plans to thrift tomorrow. This is on my to do list to create. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you Chrissy. I hope you find lots of great stuff!
HI Mary
Judging from all the comments you nailed this blog post! I am featuring it on Inspire Me Monday on my blog, Everday Edits ! laura
Thank you so much Laura! It’s always great when a project has lasting appeal.
Mary,
Love the timelyness of this post. You’ve given me some great inspiration. Thanks!
Libbie
Thank you so much Libbie. It is so easy to put together a vignette with simple household items.