We've always got our eyes open for things we can reuse into planters. Not only are we cheapskates, but we also love creating a unique and one-of-a-kind garden for our outdoor space. While we make no promises on how effective any of these ideas below would be (someone more expert than us will have to guide you on whether or not a plant would enjoy being planted in say, a book), we do think these DIY planter ideas from around the web would certainly be fun to play around with!
TOP ROW:
1) Vintage refrigerator drawer planter
2) Old books
3) Tea cups (though let's be honest, this might be a bit small for veggies)
4) DIY hanging jars (for those who don't have a lot of ground space)
5) Old glass ceiling fan globes
BOTTOM ROW:
6) A seashell (via Curbly)
7) Painted can planters
8) Old wine barrels (via Design Squish)
9) Muffin tins
10) Metal toolboxes (via Nest in Style)
(Images: As credited above)
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The re-purposed junk/found object trend is still going strong. The refrigerator and tool box planters would coordinate nicely with an old car up on cinderblocks with the transmission sitting rusting beside it. Maybe one could add a few old tires to the yard to finish the look.
Seriously, I guess this stuff is interesting in an artistic sense but looks impractical for the most part.
Repurposing objects is resourceful and utilitarian; not words I'd use to describe trendy. I sincerely hope it never goes out of style and for me, growing up in a low-income household, it was instilled in me to never be wasteful, and actually, I've grown to embrace the challenge of working with what's available before deciding I need something. The "cutesy-ness" and novelty factor are what's trendy about it.
I do agree most of these ideas are poorly executed and not nice to look at.
I found some of them, like the books and the seashells, are very poetic
I like all of the ideas. And for those who think it's an abomination to cut up a book to use for a plant, well, I guess you haven't read some of the really badly written stuff out there. Yes, there are books that are better off cut open to house a plant instead. Should some books be so lucky.
(I'm very particular about my literature. There's a lot of garbage out there.)
I love the ideas. Thx! I have a few of these integrated into my decor (indoor & out). Will be looking for tool boxes and muffin tins!
I have three of that same vegetable bin shown and I wish I had three more. I use mine to corral like items in my pantry. When I'm not sure which of the many vinegars I have to use, for instance, I can just slide the bin toward me and take a look. Those things are indestructible and will never wear out (or even rust like the one of the left, if you keep water off them).
I had a wagon the kids had outgrown and a spot out front where the dirt was too hard to grow anything, so i use the wagon as a planter!
I like using teacups for little plants, and the hanging jars are really cute... But they're all a bit small. I wish there were a way to have space-efficient planters that still let the roots spread out more!
I've out together a garden wall with assorted objects: tea tin, hello kitty lunchbox, and olive oil tin. (The stove-top espresso maker doesn't do so well.) https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150272241777507&set=a.10150272241067507.329278.607942506&type=3&theater
Those are all nicely contained, flowering weeds. :-)
I'll have to try some of these out. I especially love the DIY hanging jars!
@ particleman - LOL! So, you've been snooping in my backyard, have ya!!! LOL!!! *Snork*