Ikea Balso Garden Pot: 1 pot, 3 uses

We picked up one of Ikea's new garden pots for its simplicity and fun texture. When we got home, we realized we could use it for a number of things around the house.

Ikea's Balso Pot drew us right in. We got the medium size, but were tempted to get a whole set to do some container gardening. Instead we got one and tried it out a couple of different ways:

As a catch-all at the bottom of the stairs. Here we used it for the kids' shoes so we don't break our necks tripping over them. But it could just as easily hold outgoing mail, a purse or canvas shopping bags (so we don't forget them).

For its intended purpose, we filled it with tons of flowers for springtime. Normally we opt for succulents which are long lasting and drought tolerant, but as a special case we wanted to bring a burst of color to the patio.

The ever classic fruit bowl. Sometimes even better than cut flowers, this bowl holds a ton of fruit that pops with springtime color and reminds us to opt for the apple instead of the cookie!

Comments (14)

i saw these on my most recent trip. i feel like it *can* be pulled off, but i'm worried about it looking like a giant halved golf ball...

Fun for the golfer.

Not for me.

Closertotheocean, as soon as you said that all I see is a giant halved golf ball. But I don't think that takes away from it's cuteness...

thats all I see too

giant golf ball...
golf ball with shoes... flowers... fruit.

i'm glad i'm not the only one!

...but i certainly don't want to discourage anyone from giving it a try, because i'm sure others could pull it off far better than i could!

Haha! closertotheocean--that's great, somehow we totally didn't see it that way but now that you mention it....

--Laure

Actually, next time you are at Ikea pick up a couple of those folded brown boxes that are near the string area on the way out. Pop them up, and leave them on the step ... just grab the handle and easy to carry up and down with stuff that is meant for downstairs or upstairs. Great small size and sturdy - as we have been fixing the apt. I use it to put in the hammer, screwdriver, etc. and just pick up and walk around.

I would probably drop that half a golf ball en route up if it was me.

At least as far as I've seen, Ikea's pots do not have drainage holes in them. This is really bad for plants--I've killed a number of plants in pots without holes, because the soil gets too wet and the roots rot. I suppose hypothetically one could drill holes in them, but I am confident if I tried that I'd just break the pot.

ha. i thought the same thing, hmm.. a golfball. but to those that are concerned.. why not paint it? super cute in bright colors.. or make a bold statement with black.

i agree that a coat of paint could really make a big difference. i'm thinking BRIGHT yellow! but i second Jenny's concern about using this drain-less planter for it's intended use.

i'm not up to speed on food-safe paints or how to safely coat paint to use it for food... but if there is a way, then this would even make a great bowl to serve the sangria or punch from at a backyard, or back balcony, party. i bet if you stuck it in the fridge it would stay nice and cool for a while once outdoors.

@jenny in dc: jenny, that's true, and it's kept me from buying pots there. But then I saw these, which I really like (they are so simple and plain), and they have drainage holes...

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70075921

I bought this pot last summer and love it - and have actually gotten many compliments on it. Yes it has drainage holes and the one I bought also had a base/tray so the water doesn't drain all over my front porch. I think it would be a little large for fruit bowl though...

Hmm, I only saw one size at our local ikea the other day, and it came home with me. It is sitting on my back stoop, waiting for basil to be planted.