- Painted wooden crates: Upcycled wooden crates have become a sought-after staple for vintage lovers. Small, whitewashed crates make great kitchen window herb gardens while larger crates are ideal for elaborate patio displays. For a fresh, modern take, paint them in bold colours.
- Vintage enamelware: Enamelware is also enjoying a retro revival thanks to the ongoing trend for French-inspired shabby chic. Enamel buckets, pitchers and pails make beautiful indoor and outdoor plant pots – and can be picked up on eBay at a snip.
- An old sink: An old Belfast ceramic sink filled with gravel-topped soil, and an array of alpine plants, makes a stunning patio statement piece.
- Galvanised steel buckets: The receptacle of choice for upmarket florists, galvanised steel buckets, make a chic and stylish alternative to ceramic and terracotta pots.
- Oil drums: Large industrial drums painted in bright colours make eye-catching garden planters while small domestic oilcans with faded logos are an increasingly popular choice for table centrepieces in hipster cafés and coffee shops.
- A wooden toolbox: Traditional carpenters’ wooden toolboxes, with the handle across the top (not the metal variety used by mechanics), make simple vintage planters – ideal for smaller plants and herb gardens.
- Teapots: Bring a touch of Alice In Wonderland whimsy to your garden by filling old ceramic teapots with bright flowering plants.
- Baked beans cans: The humble baked bean or soup tin can be transformed in a flash. Whitewash, decorate, fill with your plants of choice then arrange in a cluster of three as a fabulous country kitchen table centrepiece.
- Colanders: With their in-built drainage system, retro-style colanders make great hanging baskets with a cool vintage twist. Choose from white enamel or a pretty pastel shade.
- Hessian sacks: Small roll-top hessian flour sacks filled with plants make the perfect addition to a country-style kitchen-diner.
- Car tyres: They might not sound like the prettiest addition to a garden but tyres, when painted in bright colours and stacked creatively, open up a world of opportunity for plants – and make for a sure-fire conversation starter at barbecues.
- Kids’ wellies: Create a kids’ corner for your little ones by transforming their old colourful wellies into plant pots.
It's all gone potty! Recycling ideas for plants
Need a new planter? It’s time to think outside the box
The right planter can act as the perfect foil for your foliage. So why stick to the pedestrian plant pot? There are an infinite number of household objects that can be recycled to accommodate your plants – both in the garden and in the home. It’s simply a matter of getting creative.
From the weird and wonderful to the truly whimsical, here are a few of our favourite ideas to help inspire you.
Copyright: HGTV
