DIY Guide: Turn 10 Common Household Items Into Planters

When it comes to creating great planters, it’s important to focus on an object’s potential rather than its intended purpose. You can turn worn novels into book planters or make a few tin can planters to spruce up an area. For a list of easy DIY planter ideas, see below:

1. 1. Dresser drawers: Drawers are a great item to convert into a DIY planter box. Upcycle an old wooden dresser drawer into a hardy vegetable planter by drilling holes in the bottom for drainage, then layering in your soil. Stack your wood planters asymmetrically to create a tiered gardening tower.
2. 2. Plastic bottles: Plastic containers, like empty shampoo or water bottles, make great little flower pots or planters, especially for small spaces. Plastic planters are easy to cut, and you can decorate them in a variety of ways. Use a scissor to cut a bottle in half and punch a few holes in the bottom. Add some gravel and some potting soil, then repot your small plants. If you can suspend the bottle securely, you can cut a hole in the center and pull the plants through, creating an upside-down planter. To plant bigger crops, use a whole plastic bucket.
3. 3. Old tires: Tires can make great outdoor planters for various greenery. Cut the upper portion of your tire while it’s on its side to open up the planting area. Fill with soil, then either plant seeds or other vegetation. You can also decorate the outside of the tire planters with spray paint or wrap with yarn for a more polished finish. Avoid planting edible crops in tires because they heat up quickly in full sun and can potentially biodegrade into the soil.
4. 4. Paint cans: You can upcycle old paint cans or regular tin cans into planters for cut flowers. Drill drainage holes in the bottom to grow new plants in these cans. You can also paint the outside to complement your home decor or add a pop of color to your green garden. Add potting soil, followed by the flowers or herbs of your choice.
5. 5. Mason jars: You can transform these glass jars into wall planters for an indoor area by a windowsill or an outdoor space. Line the bottom with gravel or beads and fill with soil. Since mason jars don’t feature drainage holes, you’ll need good air circulation within the soil. After preparing your soil, set up a few jars at a time to start your own herb garden.
6. 6. Colanders: Give your old strainer a makeover by turning it into a creative DIY garden planter or hanging basket. Lay a piece of thin, porous fabric or coffee filter along the colander’s bottom to keep the soil from spilling out. Convert it into a hanging planter by securing twine to the handles and tying it to a sturdy beam or awning.
7. 7. Wheelbarrows: Wheelbarrows can make an eye-catching alternative to a garden bed. Use an electric drill and large drill bit to create five or six holes in the bottom of the wheelbarrow. Dig the wheel into the ground to keep it steady, then fill with soil. Choose plants with shallow roots, like kale, Swiss chard, or flowers.
8. 8. Teapots: Teapots make great planters for a tabletop or windowsill. Line an old teapot with an inch of gravel, and fill the rest with potting soil. Place a trailing plant (like an ivy) into the teapot, draping the vines over the sides.
9. 9. Shoes: Turning old shoes into planters is a fun and quirky way to repurpose your favorite pair of sneakers. Small shoes work well as cacti or succulent planters, while larger shoes might be good for a leafier plant like pothos. First, punch some holes into the bottom of the shoes to give them drainage. Layer perlite or aquarium gravel at the bottom to give your plant’s roots room to breathe, and some weight to stabilize them. You’ll need to water your shoe planter often as plants dry out quicker in smaller spaces.
10. 10. Wine bottles: If you have a glass cutter and a steady hand, you can make a beautiful glass planter out of wine bottles. Use the glass cutter to etch a circle two inches below the base of the bottle’s neck. Pour hot water over the etched glass, then immediately place the glass under cold running water, repeating this process until the bottleneck separates from the body of the bottle. Dull the edges with a buffer (like sandpaper), and flip the neck upside down, placing it into the cut bottle’s body. Fill the base of the bottle with water, and the neck of the bottle with rocks or marbles. Place your plant into the bottleneck, and your wine bottle planter is complete.

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