Simple and Creative Planter Container Ideas from Thrifted Finds

Written byMichelle Dickson Updated

If you love adding charm and personality to your outdoor spaces, these creative planter container ideas are the perfect inspiration. From thrifted treasures to discarded household finds, discover more than 40 unique ways to add cottage-style charm to your garden and patio.

I adore adding unique and eclectic pots and decor to my garden because I feel like they bring so much charm and personality to our cottage garden.

While you can certainly head to the store and buy beautiful pots for your patio, garden, or outdoor living space, I’ve always found it far more interesting to use thrifted treasures and discarded items from around the home instead.

There’s just something special about turning an unexpected find into a creative planter container that tells a story and makes your outdoor spaces feel collected and cozy.

Lately, Steph and I have been loving our thrifting adventures as we hunt for unique planter container ideas to add even more character to the garden.

Today, we’ll share more than 40 simple and creative ideas to inspire you to add charm and personality to your own garden and patio spaces.

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Magazine Rack Planter

A thrifted iron magazine rack is transformed into a planter container with a coir liner and assorted flowers, styled with other potted plants and a dragonflye made from a whisk.

While thrifting, I came across this sturdy iron magazine rack and instantly knew it would make the perfect planter container.

I gave it a quick spray of clear coat to help protect the finish, then added a simple coir liner inside. Voila—an easy and unique planter that adds so much charm and character to the garden!

Crank Ice Cream Maker Garden Container

An old crank ice cream maker is turned into a planter container and filled with impatience in the backyard garden.

An old hand-crank ice cream maker makes such a charming vintage-inspired planter for the garden.

I filled mine with potting soil and pretty impatiens, and it instantly added cottage garden charm to the space.

The weathered finish and rustic details make it feel like a collected treasure tucked among the flowers.

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Pinterest image, thrifted iron magazine rack is turned into a planter with a coir liner, soil and flowering plants. Styled on a porch with a white chippy planted with pansies.

Copper Pot

A thrifted copper pot is turned into a planter container and filled with assorted flowers and dracena and placed on an old chippy wood chair.

I spotted this gorgeous copper pot from across the thrift store as it was being wheeled onto the sales floor, and I literally went running to grab it before someone else did!

I was sure it would be expensive, so I was shocked to see a $5 price tag.

Whoever priced it clearly didn’t realize what they had—score for me!

I drilled a few drainage holes, filled it with potting soil and pretty perennials, then displayed it on an old farmhouse chair for the perfect cottage garden touch.

Thrifted Wood Basket

A backyard porch is styled with a thrifted wood basket filled with pink and yellow flowers along with a large jug filled with croquet mallets an egg basket filled with balls.

This thrifted wood basket looks completely handmade, and that’s exactly what I love most about it.

Its unique shape and rustic character make it feel so charming and one-of-a-kind.

I lined the inside with sheet moss, filled it with potting soil and colorful flowers, and now it’s the perfect cottage-style addition to my back porch.

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Vintage Water Can

Old galvanized watering can with wildflowers on a patio table.

A vintage watering can makes such a charming and unexpected garden planter, especially in a cottage-style garden.

The aged patina and rustic details add so much character, while the unique shape creates the perfect spot for trailing flowers or colorful blooms.

It’s a simple way to give new life to an old garden tool while adding even more charm to your outdoor spaces.

Basket Planter

A thrifted basket has become a planter container for pansies on a backyard porch.

Thrifted baskets make beautiful and inexpensive planter containers, especially if you love a cozy cottage garden style.

I lined my basket with a simple plastic pot to help protect the basket from moisture while still keeping the natural woven texture visible.

Filled with flowers or greenery, baskets add warmth, texture, and so much charm to a porch or patio.

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Wall Shelf Planter

A wire birdcage shelf hung on a house styled with a clay pot with flowers. A painted vintage chair with a floral pillow and vintage picnic basket with hydrangea stems styled on a paver patio.

This thrifted wire wall shelf turned into the sweetest vertical garden accent for the side of our house.

I hung it on the wall, added a simple clay pot filled with colorful summer flowers, and instantly created a charming focal point outdoors.

To make it even easier to maintain, I added a drip line so the flowers stay watered without the need for daily hand watering.

Enamel Tub Container

An old enamel tub placed on a chippy green chair and filled with a Boston fern.

An old enamel tub makes such a charming vintage planter container, especially in a cottage-style garden.

Filled with a fern and placed on a rustic farmhouse chair, it instantly elevated the display and added so much character to my backyard porch.

I love how the weathered enamel and farmhouse chair texture create a collected, cozy look outdoors.

Chair Planter

A clever planter container ideas: an old chippy green chair is turned into a planter by securing a thrifted metal basket to the chair frame with zip ties. Styled in a flower bed.

Our DIY chair planter is one of my favorite thrifted garden projects.

We paired a thrifted wire basket with a chippy green chair to create a unique planter that’s full of cottage garden charm.

Nestled among the flowers in the garden, it creates such a sweet and whimsical moment that feels both collected and cozy.

Toy Truck Planter

An old Tonka truck is turned into a planter container with potting soil and flowers. A cute planter container ideas.

Image credit: Shop at Blu

This old rusty Tonka truck turned planter from Sue is one of the cutest garden ideas ever.

The vintage truck filled with flowers adds so much whimsy and personality to the garden, and honestly, I could just kick myself for throwing away my son’s old trucks years ago!

It’s such a creative way to repurpose nostalgic pieces into charming planter containers.

Painted Thrifted Pots

Thrift store planters are given new life with rainbow shades of paint and styled with flowers.

Image credit: Shop at Blu

Do you have old flower pots that have definitely seen better days, or maybe you’ve picked up a few interesting ones while thrifting?

Instead of tossing them aside, give them a completely new life with a creative paint finish that adds texture, color, and personality.

I love this simple but brilliant idea from Sue at Shop at Blu—it’s such an easy way to turn worn-out pots into something that looks fresh, unique, and totally custom for your garden.

Crate Planter Container

An old wood crate is a planter for a large fern, styled with a wicker chair on a brick patio.

Image credit: Farmhouse 1820

Vintage crates make such beautiful and creative planter containers, especially when you love that collected, rustic look.

I love how they instantly add warmth and character to Brooke’s garden house, almost like they were always meant to be there.

Filled with flowers or greenery, they bring that perfect imperfect charm that makes a garden feel layered, cozy, and full of story.

Basketball Planter

An old basketball is turned into a simple planter and styled with pink flowers.

Image credit: Birdz of a Feather

This clever idea using a basketball as a planter is such a fun and unexpected garden moment.

Sara from Birdz of a Feather has truly outdone herself with this unique upcycled planter container idea.

If you love basketball—or really any sport—a worn-out ball can become the most eye-catching planter that instantly sparks conversation and brings personality to your garden space.

More Creative Planter Container Ideas

Next up, we’ve gathered more than 30 additional ideas for creative planter container ideas that are truly outside the box and full of personality.

From unexpected thrifted finds to upcycled junk turned garden treasures, these ideas are all about seeing potential where others don’t.

Can you picture yourself taking one of these simple castoffs and transforming it into a unique planter for your backyard?

  • Galvanized bucket planter
  • Soda crate
  • Old fire pit
  • Tires
  • Collander
  • Birdbath
  • Bundt pan
  • Old cooler
  • Slow cooker crock
  • Vintage wagon
  • Hollowed out tree stump
  • Vintage toolbox
  • Crock
  • Galoshes
  • Old drawers
  • Cowboy boots
  • Drift wood
  • Sink
  • Kettle or teapot
  • Light fixture
  • Wheelbarrow
  • Ball
  • Car wheel
  • Fertilizer spreader
  • Funnel
  • Cans
  • Sifter
  • Picnic basket
  • Filing cabinet
  • Trough
  • Suitcase
  • Chicken feeder
  • Antique milk can
  • Old brick mold
  • Vintage mailbox

Shop Creative Planters

More Ideas for Your Backyard

Final Thoughts

We hope these ideas inspire you to look at everyday thrifted finds and forgotten objects a little differently.

With a bit of creativity, so many simple pieces can become beautiful planter containers that add charm, character, and personality to your garden and outdoor spaces.

Please share your tips and ideas for clever planter containers with us.

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Pinterest image, thrifted iron magazine rack is turned into a planter with a coir liner, soil and flowering plants. Styled on a porch with a white chippy planted with pansies.

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Michelle Dickson

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What’s New . . .

I have always had a passion for transforming spaces and creating organized, functional homes. Even as a child, I loved rearranging furniture and decorating my childhood home. In fact my dad would comment he was afraid to come home from work and sit, for fear the furniture would be rearranged. I enjoy the challenge of turning ordinary items into extraordinary pieces, whether it’s a piece of furniture or an entire room. My creativity and attention to detail drive me to find unique ways to breathe new life into any space.

As a wife (to a supportive and patient husband, Steve), mother of three, and grandmother of five, I balance my love for home improvement with family life. I enjoy spending time outdoors, hiking, and exploring nature. I also frequent yard sales, thrift stores, and vintage markets, always on the lookout for my next project.

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