Can you fetch me the remote?
I found Rex at a thrift store and decided that he would like to carry remote controls in his back. He’s a helper dog, after all.
I love finding vintage planters and using them for things other than they were intended. Why get them all dirty when I have all this stuff around here that needs organized?
And honestly, a lot of the ones I find look fine on the outside, but may not hold water and dirt very well on the inside.
I have these planters on my kitchen counter to hold coupons, kitchen clutter and pens.
Some charger cords are stored in this Hull planter that I bought for $1.00 last year. That furry item in the background is Lacey sleeping behind the table.
My little vintage McCoy bird planter tends to be used as a purely decorative piece. A tchotchke, I guess.
As is my fun deer planter. When he’s not holding a big number K made out of an old Reader’s Digest, he’s holding mail.
At Christmastime I actually sort of used a vintage planter for what it was intended. I have a piece of florist’s foam in the bottom of the deer and stuck some greenery from the yard in it.
And this swan planter holds succulents, so again, sort of like it was intended.
And just when I thought I was done showing you planters and I was getting ready to hit POST on this story, I noticed this planter sitting on my desk right next to my computer screen! It was just begging to be photographed.
I use it to hold notepads and other crap on my desk. There is no markers’ mark on the bottom, but it looks McCoy-ish to me.
These types of planters are fairly cheap at thrift stores, garage sales and even antique stores and if memory serves me right, I didn’t spend more than $5.00 for any of them.
Ann@A Sentimental Life
I love your Rex! I have a large selection of planters..and you are so right about other uses. I also think bone dishes make great places to hold my reading glasses.
Kim K.
How fun! I especially love how Rex is helping with the tv remote. Brilliant idea, Pam.
Joanne Noragon
I watch out for old napkin holders. They hold things like my checkbook, bills t pay, address labels. Stuff that would lay all over my desk is held upright.
Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME/Doublewide Decor
They look great….I gotta do something like that for our pens…
Veronica
What a great idea! I have several of these vintage planters in the garage! Will bring out this weekend to use as “holders” around the house! Thanks Again! 🙂
Linda @ A La Carte
I love planters and use them all over my house to store things in also. They are so pretty and perfect for that. I also use baskets and vintage refrigerator dishes to store items in. Crazy but it’s way to make my collections useful.
hugs, Linda
NanaDiana
I have a couple of planters that I use like that, too. One stores scissors and one stores my readers. Love your pieces. I don’t think I have ever seen a dog planter before- xo Diana
Happier Than a Pig in Mud
Bet no one forgets where to keep the remote with fido in the room! Fun idea:@)
Olive Cooper
Brilliant use of planters Pam. I always pick them up when I see them too-I can’t help it.
Keeping it Cozy
What a great idea! It’s always fun coming up with new uses for vintage items.
Tricia
You’re just so clever, Pam. I loved the comment about the helper dog, by the way. When my daughter was born, one of my friends gave me a cute, pink and green vintage duck planter…it was filled with baby q-tips 🙂
susie @ persimmon moon cottage
Great way to use those cute vintage planters and have them out to be seen. I’ll be bringing mine out of storage to be used. You have such creative ideas about ways to display our finds.
Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions
Great idea, Pam! I love the bird you have holding your pens. I seem to use clearance tumblers {for the bathroom} quite a bit to hold pens and scissors.
Laurel@chippingwithcharm
I have vintage planters all over my house too…you’ve put yours to great use! LOVE your “helper dog”…clever! Laurel
Donna
Your lassie is so cute. He is the perfect holder for a remote.
Vickie @ Ranger 911
Lately, I’ve been organizing and putting my junk into something not-so-pretty. Gallon size zip lock bags. I think your idea is much easier on the eyes. Woof. :@
Ann from On Sutton Place
These are all just awesome but my favorite is the dog. :o) Happy Sunday Pam!
Into Vintage
Giving new meaning to the term ‘service dog.’
I have a milk glass dish/jar thing on my desk that holds my cell phone. Ever since we did away with the land line, I can’t call my cell phone to figure out where it is in the house…
Honey at 2805
Thank you for sharing your creativity at Potpourri Friday!
awal.ny
I like the way you think. I have some vintage planters that are so cute but I don’t want to hide them with a plant, now I don’t have to.
JunkStuffTreasures
Love the collie! What a great way to showcase your planters!
jaime ♥ raising up rubies
all so pretty! i love this idea to use these as little organizers…thank you for the inspiration ♥
Laura / The Shed by Pet Scribbles
Thanks Pam for the reminder to look at my vintage planters for uses other than just display or plants! It’s an ah-hah moment that if I use them I can also be displaying them… (yes I know…sounds silly, but your post helped me realize this!)
melissa
I have a white swan that I purchased for 65 cents at the thrift store. I put cloth napkins in it. It sits on our dining room table. I love what else you have done with yours! I will keep looking to see what else I can find. Thanks for the inspiration! Stopping by from http://www.singinghoneybee.blogspot.com
Grantham Lynn
I love it. What a great idea. I love to repurpose things. I love the Lassie. I saw this on Pinterest!
Anonymous
My daughter collects the old baby planters that flowers used to be delivered in. She uses them at baby showers for nuts, mints, candies, silverware. Perfect and cheap.;.
Anonymous
I like to put collections of old photos in the planters. Someone can easily pick them up and look through them and yet they stay organized.
Debra Howard
Very cool uses for the planters. I love to use them in different ways and your ideas gave me even more ways.
Anonymous
Love the planters. I have taken small ones, like a kitten, duck, and also a candle holder with 2 angels and filled them with wool roving for pin cushions. I then make pin heads shaped into tiny pears, apples, bananas, flowers, bees etc. with polymer clay. They are very sweet and were popular at out quilt guild annual auction.
mona
I just ran across this on Pinterest…why didn’t I think of that?? duh! great ideas…
Love, Mona
Pam
Thanks! Believe me, I’ve had some setting around the house not doing anything for years and then it occurred to me that they would be just the right size for all sorts of things besides plants!
Cindy Nei
I use them to hold our silver wear. We don’t like using the drawer.
Pam
Great idea!!! I just put another one in my bathroom to hold q-tips and cotton balls. Oh, and I actually planted succulents in one the other day 🙂
Anne Hufdpeth
I used old baby and nursery planters to store napkins, plastic forks and spoons, and baby mo to at s baby shower I had. It was so unique and the new Mom got them for gifts.
Pam
Fabulous idea!!! I need to start collecting some of the vintage baby ones when I see them!
Nancy
Searching for ways to use a Sylvester and Tweetie vintage planter I picked out of a “free” box at a yard sale. Great ideas here! Now I’m torn between using it for candy or using it in the guest bathroom. Thanks!
Pam
That sounds cute! I vote for using it for candy just so you can see it more often 🙂
Maria
I use mine for keys in the entryway, make-up brushes in the bathroom, granola bars on my counter the kids can grab on their way out the door and in my sewing room for my small supplies. :o)
Tammy
Love all of the awesome ideas!! Have to admit I never thoTammyught of using them in that way but now the possibilities are endless!! ? Can’t wait to to go to the Salvation Army, thrift stores, flea markets to get some!! ❤️