DIY
Charming DIY Planters from Repurposed Items
There’s something incredibly satisfying about turning “junk” into joy — especially when that joy blooms in your garden. Whether you’ve got an old colander, a pair of boots you can’t part with, or a broken chair just sitting there collecting dust, it’s time to give it a second life.
These DIY planters from repurposed items are budget-friendly, eco-conscious, and downright charming. Plus, you’ll never look at your trash pile the same way again.
So grab your spray paint, a few drainage rocks, and let’s turn yesterday’s throwaways into today’s garden treasures.
What You Might Need
- Old containers (mugs, boots, baskets, drawers, colanders, etc.)
- Drill (for drainage holes)
- Potting soil
- Gravel or small rocks
- Outdoor spray paint or chalk paint (optional)
- Plants or seedlings
- Liner (for fabric containers or baskets)
- Scissors and gloves
1. The Boot Planter
Have a pair of rain boots your kids outgrew or a stylish-but-wrecked pair of garden boots? Perfect.
How to do it:
- Clean the boots and drill 2–3 drainage holes in the sole.
- Add a layer of small rocks or pebbles inside.
- Fill with potting soil and plant herbs, succulents, or cheerful annuals.
- Optional: Give the boots a fresh coat of outdoor paint or stencil a cute design.
Set them on the porch, line them up by your garden path, or hang them on a fence for a quirky vertical display.
Picture This:
A pair of bright yellow boots overflowing with cheerful pansies sits beside your garden gate. Dirt dusts the soles and a tiny snail crawls nearby. The whole scene feels playful, as if the garden itself is smiling.
2. The Colander Catch-All
Those old metal colanders with handles? They’re meant to be planters — they already have built-in drainage.
How to do it:
- Clean the colander thoroughly.
- Line the inside with a bit of landscape fabric or burlap to hold in soil.
- Add soil, plant your greenery, and hang the colander using the handles and a bit of chain or twine.
Bonus: If it’s colorful enamel, you don’t even need to paint it!
Picture This:
A sky-blue colander dangles gently from a shepherd’s hook, trailing green vines and delicate white blossoms. Its speckled enamel catches the sun as bees hover nearby. It looks like it belongs in a fairytale.
3. Drawer Planters
Before you toss that old nightstand or dresser, take out a drawer and give it new life.
How to do it:
- Drill drainage holes in the bottom.
- Line it if needed to prevent wood rot (especially for untreated drawers).
- Paint the exterior with bold outdoor colors or seal the original wood.
- Fill with a mix of soil and plants — trailing flowers like petunias and ivy work beautifully.
Stack multiple drawers at angles for a tiered planter look.
Picture This:
A mint green dresser drawer spills over with purple petunias and dusty miller, perched atop an old milk crate. A ladybug scurries across the worn handle, and nearby, a garden gnome watches proudly.
4. Tea Time Planters
That chipped teapot or mismatched teacup set at the back of your cupboard? It’s about to become adorable.
How to do it:
- Drill a small hole in the bottom of each cup (carefully).
- Add pebbles for drainage, then soil and succulents or tiny herbs.
- These are perfect for tabletops, kitchen windowsills, or gifting!
Picture This:
A teacup with a delicate rose pattern cradles a tiny rosette-shaped succulent, perched on a vintage silver tray beside a cozy window. Soft morning light streams in, and everything feels still and sweet.
5. Broken Chair Revival
Cracked seat? Wobbly legs? No problem — it’s planter material now.
How to do it:
- Remove the damaged seat and insert a wire basket or coconut liner.
- Fill with soil and plant something bold like geraniums, vines, or pansies.
- Paint the chair frame a fun pop color and lean it against your shed or garden wall.
It’s rustic, whimsical, and an instant conversation piece.
Picture This:
A lavender-painted chair leans against a garden shed, bursting with trailing vines and hot pink blooms from the basket where the seat used to be. Pea gravel crunches underfoot and butterflies flit nearby.
Making Your Own DIY Planters from Repurposed Items
Each one adds charm, personality, and that warm feeling of “I made this.” The best part? No two look the same — just like your garden dreams.