Those common garden tools can be saved for the next planting season or put to use with container garden ideas or house plants indoors, of course. But if you don’t want them taking up wasted space until the next outdoor planting opportunity or you’re not sure you want to tackle plant parenting again, there are options. You can give these planters new life by repurposing them for other projects, both indoors and out. Take a look at these planter ideas from experts, and you’ll be reconsidering whether you even want to pick up new plants come spring.
Use one as a side table
If you have a large planter that’s empty (and clean), simply flip it over to make it into a table. “You can decorate it however you want to match the aesthetic of the room, whether you paint it, drape a cloth over it, or add a slate to the top,” says Lauren Grech, CEO of LLG Events in New York.
Let them eat cake
Bring smaller planters into the kitchen and use them as dessert stands. “Next time you’re hosting your kid’s birthday party or a holiday dinner, you can make a cute display by placing trays of cupcakes and cookies on planters of different sizes and heights,” Grech says.
Organize footwear
Have a shoe-free home? Nicole Alexander, founder and principal designer at Siren Betty Design in Chicago, suggests placing a large planter full of soft slippers by the front door so your family can easily swap out their shoes for a pair when they get home. (It’s nice to have extras on hand for guests to put on, too).
Repurpose as a wastebasket
Alexander says to scrap the plastic trash baskets and swap in a medium-sized planter to hold waste. This planter idea can fit in well as decor under desks, especially when painted.
Mount one to the wall
You can use empty pots as mounted storage for items such as hand towels in the bathroom. First, spray paint the pot a nice color to match the color of the room, says Monique Capanelli, principal designer with Articulture Designs in Austin, Texas. If there’s already a hole in the bottom of the pot, add a washer and mount with a screw. (If there isn’t one, use a masonry bit to drill through terra cotta, Capanelli says). Be sure to mount on a stud, or use a drywall anchor to hold it in place.
Corral little items
Smaller pots make an excellent holder for pens and pencils on your desk, utensils in your kitchen, or even tools on your workshop table or art studio, Capanelli says. To avoid having it look like a plain old planter, “spray paint or wrap the pot with a fun fabric print to make it a beautiful addition to your space,” she says.
Use them to bolster other plants
You can use planters to help keep your still-growing plants alive. For example, toss empty ones over plants in a garden when mulching at the end of the season to prevent them from getting covered in mulch, says Pol Bishop, a professional gardener and plants expert at U.K.-based Fantastic Gardeners. He also recommends using old pots to protect existing plants from frost at night.
Stash one in the guest room
“Oversized planters are ideal for displaying extra guest towels, especially when you have family visiting for the holidays,” Alexander says. Simply roll up the towels and place them in the planter vertically for a display that looks much prettier than stacking them on the bathroom counter.
Turn it into a present
For a cute gardening-themed gift, pick a small planter and stuff it with gardening gloves, a few small hand tools and seeds for next year, says Elizabeth Tulipana, founder of Anticipation Events in Chicago.
Light it up
Place votive candles inside small planters to create romantic outdoor lighting for your patio, Tulipana says.
