I find vintage planters at thrift stores and estate sales all the time, but I feel sort of bad using them as actual planters.
And a lot of times there are hairline cracks in them or they are in somewhat precarious condition, so I love to give them new life by using them in different ways.
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.
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 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!! ❤️
Robin
I am so excited after reading anf seeing how you are using those cute planters. It makes me sad to see them not being used anymore. I have something inexpensive to start collecting and displaying around my home. Thank you ❤️