Asked on Jun 05, 2014

What To Do With These??

Shari Veater
by Shari Veater
I found these metal planters by a trash can...my first curb side find! I think they are planters to hang on a porch rail. I can't use them there because I already have old fishnet and buoys there....any ideas on how I can use them elsewhere?
My curbside find!
  114 answers
  • Carol Easterday Carol Easterday on Jun 05, 2014
    you could use them in pantry for food storage or hang them on a wall in your bathroom to hold towels soaps ect. or use in a kids room to hold stuffed animals or toys
  • Vetsy Vetsy on Jun 05, 2014
    I would find a way to make feet for them and continue to use them as planters..
  • Anna Ibarra Anna Ibarra on Jun 05, 2014
    I have the very same metal planters. I got them at a vintage outdoor market. I had wanted to hang them on my upstairs deck railing, but they were so old and too wide, my railing too narrow they would stay and a few of them couldn't be fixed, they were damaged. I now use them in my back deck which are wider. The damage one I bended the hooks to hang- I use it on iron metal fence I use to break up the back yard and side yard. You were lucky to find them, wish I had. But you can also hang them from you fence. I couldn't take the handle hooks off, that hangs the baskets.
  • Ambiecraftsreads Ambiecraftsreads on Jun 05, 2014
    You them as either planters as intended. You could you it as storage for like rakes and shovels and the like in a barn or garage. If you have somewhere to hang it inside it could be storage for brooms and moops and such.
  • Dee @ deeconstructed.com Dee @ deeconstructed.com on Jun 06, 2014
    Flip the hardware on them and line the insides with fabric. Place them over light bulbs as shades in your bathroom or next to your bed. You could also remove the hardware if it won't attach to the wall and hang them from chains.
  • Carole Carole on Jun 06, 2014
    Use an angle grinder to cut off the existing brackets which are used to hang over the edge of something. Clean them up or paint them and use in a bathroom or bedroom on the wall as storage for clean towels etc. You can affix new brackets to the wall and attach the baskets to the new brackets. If you put a wooden shelf in the bottom of them you can also use them for bathroom and toiletry supplies or toilet rolls, or use them in the laundry to hold your detergent supplies etc.
  • Yvonne Yvonne on Jun 06, 2014
    how about reworking or changing the bracket so you can use them as a window basket? Very nice find!
  • Shari Veater Shari Veater on Jun 06, 2014
    Thank you all for the great ideas! I knew I would get inspiration from you all :)
  • Ryan Ryan on Jun 06, 2014
    They look brilliant, what a find! As I have 8 chickens in the back garden I would get them on the wall in the kitchen and put eggs in them (depending on the size of the gaps between the wire on the bottom!)
  • Cyndi F Cyndi F on Jun 06, 2014
    you can use them in a bathroom to put towels in or in kitchen to put spices in......
  • Terri Brodfuehrer Terri Brodfuehrer on Jun 06, 2014
    if you can get the hanger parts off, they would look cute with burlap in the bottom (or moss), and plants.. perhaps hang them in a 3 tier way with one on top, one in the middle and one on bottom.. use jute or something. or paint and hang in the kitchen for holding onions and garlic, lemons or whatever! let your imagination run with it!
  • Karren Brunell Karren Brunell on Jun 06, 2014
    clean them up, paint them and use them in the bathroom to hold towels or by the door for mail, or make a vertical wall garden and put potted plants in there, maybe herbs...
  • Vicki Word Vicki Word on Jun 06, 2014
    They are adjustable ...no deck rail...use on fence
  • Jody Robinson Jody Robinson on Jun 06, 2014
    Window planters!
  • Debbie Worley Debbie Worley on Jun 06, 2014
    Turn them upside down to make cages for your young vegetable plants in the garden. It keeps the animals-rabbits, deer from eating the young plants.
  • Lynn Lynn on Jun 06, 2014
    They are probably moss baskets -use the moss to cover the wire, then soil and plant herbs
    • See 1 previous
    • Gabriele Sovers Gabriele Sovers on Jun 06, 2014
      Also you could probably remove the hangers from the baskets and use next to your chairs on the porch with long plant saucers you could find at the garden store.
  • Mar316397 Mar316397 on Jun 06, 2014
    Those planters would look way better on a railing than a fish net and buoys!?!?
  • Connie Allen Connie Allen on Jun 06, 2014
    Use them as window boxes.
  • Penny M Penny M on Jun 06, 2014
    Walmart sells the coconut liners for these. They sold the planters last year. I picked up some for $1.00 each last fall. Nice little planters with or without the deck hangers.
  • Sandy Eck Sandy Eck on Jun 06, 2014
    They go on a deck railing, they hang off the side, either way you want. Use either moss under them, or you can find pots to fit them also
  • Judy.burton Judy.burton on Jun 06, 2014
    You may be able to turn the brackets so they'll mount under a window or against a wall.
  • Judy Wickens Judy Wickens on Jun 06, 2014
    sell them to me LOL LOL Super Duper Cuteness /i live in the middle of no where Denton,Mt. and i never have any place to find cool stuff :( Good Luck and we all want to see what youi do with them
  • Susan S Susan S on Jun 06, 2014
    take the hangers off and use them on the ground around your patio on the ground, as planters, or put some wire on them and hang them
  • Debbie Brandon Debbie Brandon on Jun 06, 2014
    Take the hangers off, paint them and hang on the wall and use to hold small items that need corralling
  • Lawanda Lawanda on Jun 06, 2014
    Remove the hangers, line them with burlap (cheaper than the coconut liners and last longer too), fill with soil and plant. We have ours screwed to the privacy fence around our backyard.
  • Mardi Fletcher Mardi Fletcher on Jun 06, 2014
    You could repurpose them by removing the hangers, paint them, and use them in your bathroom. Roll up towels and lay them in there.
  • Barbara Dempsey Barbara Dempsey on Jun 06, 2014
    Mount them on a wide, attractive board, hang it in your bathroom, and use it as an organizer
  • Bvincent Bvincent on Jun 06, 2014
    Instead of using the coco fiber liners, use burlap...it's cheaper. Doesn't take up as much space, so you have more space for soil....
  • Judy Fitzgerald Judy Fitzgerald on Jun 06, 2014
    put them on a fence or deck rail.... I have the perfect spot lol! nice find
    • See 1 previous
    • Shari Veater Shari Veater on Jun 08, 2014
      Terri, They are too heavy, I wouldn't be able to lift them in and out! :)
  • Martha Hinkle Martha Hinkle on Jun 06, 2014
    Hook them on your railing and pile the buoys inside. Another option is to remove brackets, paint and hang in bathroom for towels, in kitchen for misc. kitchen crap or in a bedroom for books or magazines.
  • Bibi Sweet67 Bibi Sweet67 on Jun 06, 2014
    Paint them and put them above your kitchen sink on the wall for your sponges and brillo pads and maybe dish liquid.
  • Helene Talbot Helene Talbot on Jun 06, 2014
    Remove hangers, paint and use as a caddy for paper plates, utensils, napkins, condiments, buns, etc. Or paint and use in the bathroom for decorative rolled up hand towels.
  • Anne W Anne W on Jun 06, 2014
    I put moss in the bottom and up the sides of the one I have, added potting soil, hens & chics & other succulents. But to make it stay on our chain-link fence I had to use a scrape of 2 x 4 behind it to make it not lean down. Turned out nice. If you have trees they would look nice hung on them in a pattern, taking off the bracket and attaching by braiding a rope through it & around the tree or use big staples from the hardware store. Good luck. Lots of great ideas are posted for you. I especially like B. Dempseys idea.
  • Michelle Vizzo Dalling Michelle Vizzo Dalling on Jun 06, 2014
    If you have an overhang on a porch, you can add chains on each end and hang them like a hanging basket and fill with coconut husk, potting soil, trailing geraniums and other trailing flowers and vinca vine. Just a thought.
  • Alice McElveen Alice McElveen on Jun 06, 2014
    Try looking for a old wooden ladder to hang them from and draping plant from them.
  • Geraldine Vitori Geraldine Vitori on Jun 06, 2014
    Put those cocoa basket liners in them, plant flowers, & hang on porch rails.
  • Dorothy M Dorothy M on Jun 06, 2014
    Send them to me, lol.
  • Laurie Reicks Kamps Laurie Reicks Kamps on Jun 06, 2014
    Take hangers off and add a back of chicken wire to the large front opening and hang them bottom out vertical! stuff them with a little dirt and have hen and chicks and other succulents poking face out the holes! You can always give them a little paint to stand out more . Hope that makes sense. I can see it in my head just hard to explain lol
  • Cheryl Burns Cheryl Burns on Jun 06, 2014
    turn them over and make lights out of them
  • Cheryl E Cheryl E on Jun 06, 2014
    What a great find!
  • Danielle Harman Danielle Harman on Jun 06, 2014
    Veggie or fruit baskets, after removing hangers then sanding and painting bright colors 😁
  • Grandmaquilts Grandmaquilts on Jun 07, 2014
    I like the burlap idea...but lay a (clean) disposable diaper out across the bottom before adding soil. the plastic will slow down the water escaping and the material inside the diaper will hold lots of liquid....
  • Normi Mann Normi Mann on Jun 07, 2014
    Refinish them with metal enamel in a color to compliment your bath, hang them from the curtain rod and fill with soaps, puffs, travel size shampoos, etc for your guests.
  • JULIE C JULIE C on Jun 07, 2014
    If you have a porch, nail up some slats put some lattice on it and use the baskets for herbs
  • Debbie Rodriguez Debbie Rodriguez on Jun 07, 2014
    Since it sounds like you are doing nautical....turn them into boats :)
    • Shari Veater Shari Veater on Jun 08, 2014
      Debbie R....my style is Americana/Nautical...but I do love some Glam and Country chic too :)
  • Kathy Rozinski Phipps Kathy Rozinski Phipps on Jun 07, 2014
    JoAnn Fabrics and Crafts carry the coconut baskets in their seasonal section.
  • Lori Morton Lori Morton on Jun 07, 2014
    If you have any sort of outdoor kitchen hang them over a railing and use them to store regularly used items while cooking or entertaining
  • Lilli H Lilli H on Jun 07, 2014
    Hang in bathroom stuffed with rolled hand towels and wash cloths or other toiletries. Great find!
  • Barbara R Barbara R on Jun 07, 2014
    I love the idea of putting them on an old wooden ladder...they might topple it over because of the weight of them, but you can fill them with something light, too, like artificial silk flowers / plants. Please come back and show us what you've decided!
  • Jeanette S Jeanette S on Jun 07, 2014
    I noticed that the brackets are adjustable. I have baskets on my deck that have this kind of bracket. I removed the end piece and attached them to my railing. Then I took the end piece, turned it to the position of a hook, attached them under the railing to hang baskets! I love my round holders that I set pots in.
  • Stephanie Ryder Stephanie Ryder on Jun 07, 2014
    If you want to use them for your porch with a nautical theme you can use a lining and fill small pieces of driftwood, shells and
  • Stephanie Ryder Stephanie Ryder on Jun 07, 2014
    Put an battery operated candle and hang on the inside part of your porch
  • Valerie Marek Valerie Marek on Jun 07, 2014
    You can buy coconut liners to set inside to put some cute flowers in.
  • Yvette Carpenter Yvette Carpenter on Jun 07, 2014
    That is exactly what they are. If you have porch rails than I would use them as that but I would put in herbs. That way they are nice and close when you need them. I would love to find something like that in the trash!!!
  • Mary Kuchta Griffith Mary Kuchta Griffith on Jun 07, 2014
    If you don't have a porch, take the brackets off. You could spray paint them another colour. Then put the coconut liner in and nail them up on your fence. You could use them for cute flowers or an herb garden.
  • Take the hangers off and use them as regular baskets around your house. Leave them as is or paint white ...OR if you really want something unique, take the brackets off turn them over and use as the frame for a new hanging light fixture. :) Google DIY hanging pendants for ideas.
  • Sarah Sarah on Jun 07, 2014
    These are meant to be used hanging from your windows. You buy the planters from like home depot or Lowe's and put flowers in them to make your home look prettier. They have them in almost all windows in Germany.
    • Sally Roesner Fuhr Sally Roesner Fuhr on Jun 07, 2014
      @Sarah Then what do you do to shut the window to below the sill? Filled with potting soil and plants,watered, they are quite heavy.
  • Marry Gebhardt Butler Marry Gebhardt Butler on Jun 07, 2014
    I suggest painting them and hanging in your bathroom for separate storage bins for each family member! You could also line them with Spanish Moss, then put a plastic liner in them. Add soil and plants and hang them in a sunny spot on a kitchen wall for an indoor herb garden!
  • Kelly S Kelly S on Jun 07, 2014
    Hang them on the inside of the rail, line them with coir liners or plastic liners and use them as drink holders.
  • Kat Kat on Jun 07, 2014
    If you have room in your kitchen you could use them to hold all kinds of things (onions, potatoes, dish towels, flowers, fruit, etc.).
  • Mun354006 Mun354006 on Jun 07, 2014
    midge,Gardner,ks these are great for many thing like plants,holder for picnic silverware,I hung mine from small shelves and put some of my sewing crafts to make sure they don't tip over put a small nail on the back of your board to keep them in place,you can fine them at antique shops or new at craft stores,may b spray painted to match your decor
  • DIANNE DIANNE on Jun 07, 2014
    you get that mossy carpet stuff from a gardening centre to line them with and fill with potting soil and plant your favorite flowers, some hanging ones like potatoe vine etc.
  • Robin Rollason Robin Rollason on Jun 07, 2014
    could be used in the kitchen for Tea towels or the bathroom for hand towels and wash cloth or other storage
  • Shari Veater Shari Veater on Jun 07, 2014
    Again, Thank you all for your ideas, they are wonderful!!!
  • Ruthie Ruthie on Jun 07, 2014
    Shari, you can also remove the hinges and paint them antique white and put towels and/or small toiletries in your bathroom. Lined with a pretty fabric and put potpourri in them. If you have a bicycle, use it as a basket. Of course you would need to line it with a strong fabric...
  • Melissa Gutilla Melissa Gutilla on Jun 07, 2014
    Those are great ideas!! I have four of them that I decided not to use this year sitting on my deck! For me I couldn't get my herbs to grow in them so I went back to my tried and true pots for this year and everything is growing great!
  • Patricia Brining Patricia Brining on Jun 07, 2014
    Perfect if painted a complimentary color and hung in the shower or bath to hold shampoo conditioner soap ! Excellent to dry scrubbies washcloth on edge!
  • Sheila Rusk Sheila Rusk on Jun 07, 2014
    I have mine attached to the railing around my deck, screwed right into the boards.
  • Rosemary Kelly Rosemary Kelly on Jun 08, 2014
    You can also hang them from fences. Yours look adjustable. I have one that I keep outside filled with all my dog washing supplies in the summer.
  • Barbara Brewer Barbara Brewer on Jun 08, 2014
    wow some WONDERFUL ideas from all u creative people. hang on the garden wall 4 outdoor tools(under cover) luck with your decision
  • Michele Michele on Jun 08, 2014
    Hanging them on a bicycle came to mind. They'd make great flower baskets after lining with coconut or some other material.
  • Tuzwoo Tuzwoo on Jun 08, 2014
    if you have a few different people in your house, paint a basket to match their room, use it to place their mail and messages in.
  • Tuzwoo Tuzwoo on Jun 08, 2014
    if you go with it as a planter, stay away from Spanish moss.it has small red mites that live in it.
  • Tuzwoo Tuzwoo on Jun 08, 2014
    how about bread or cracker baskets for the holidays..............or fancy them up and give with a bottle of wine,2 wineglasses and bread/crackers and cheese.
  • Anastasia Howard Peterke Anastasia Howard Peterke on Jun 08, 2014
    I painted 4 of them, hung them in the garage by the door, great for mittens & hats, dog leashes, knee pads, all the extra stuff that I don't want in the house. Also great in kids rooms for books toys, etc. or in the closet for shoes, purses, etc. think of it as a drawer-shelf.
  • Dena Bailey Dena Bailey on Jun 08, 2014
    I haven't read all the posts so I hope I am not taking up space by repeating someone else. I have three, I picked up at a Goodwill. I am going to paint mine and hang one on either side of my front window on my porch and put some mossroses in them. The third one I am going to paint and hang under a cabinet by the front door to catch the mail.
    • Shari Veater Shari Veater on Jun 08, 2014
      HaHa! These actually had Goodwill stickers on them for $2.99 each! Maybe someone decided they didn't like them afterall or their spouse said to trash them :)
  • Jean Lucey Jean Lucey on Jun 08, 2014
    Remove the hangers, turn one upside down, put another on top, and use as a fruit filled centerpiece. Use the spare as a potato/onion storage basket
  • Libby Libby on Jun 08, 2014
    Why not declutter & put them back where they came from.The garbage
  • Glenna Kennedy Glenna Kennedy on Jun 08, 2014
    lol Libby, there's always the practical one in the group. Funny answer.
  • Constance Ryan Leach Constance Ryan Leach on Jun 08, 2014
    Why not put new coco liners in them, if they need paint, paint them, and put in flower packet seeds, small bag of potting soil, gardening gloves, and a pretty card, and give them as gifts for birthdays, Christmas, housewarmings or hostess gifts?
  • Terra Gazelle Terra Gazelle on Jun 08, 2014
    How about cutting off the hanger part and using them for Kitchen shelves... you can use them for spices or by the sink for dish washing supplies..?
  • Janette Janette on Jun 08, 2014
    I have mine lined with an old coco liner. Put it somewhere outside where you can see it. Mine is on my porch rail. I am a quilter so I put really small fabric scraps, thread string etc. in it. The birds come and help themselves. I have some very pretty nests in my trees.
  • Kathy Ruston Kathy Ruston on Jun 08, 2014
    @Shari Veater I would coat them with a plastic coating and put them in the shower or bath tub and put sponge's brushes etc... Or maybe use the for office supplies.
  • Lora (Howard) Cotton Lora (Howard) Cotton on Jun 08, 2014
    I'd straighten the brackets out, and use them on a wall. Would make wonderful storage space in a small laundry room, or bathroom. Would also work in a kitchen I would think. You can spray paint them to match your decor!!!
  • KatieAnn KatieAnn on Jun 08, 2014
    I see something totally different than everybody else. My idea might be more work but I am seeing a cool light fixture. Clamp two together to make a industrial style hanging light fixture. Paint it or leave it depending on your taste. Hang it vertical or horizontal, you could use two or three old style Edison bulbs in a horizontal fixture. Industrial lighting is hot right now.
  • Carol W Carol W on Jun 08, 2014
    If you use them as planters as intended...use burlap to line them first and put your dirt and plants on the top of that... it holds the dirt in place, allows for watering with good drainage... If you are into herbs I would get an old wooden ladder and lean it against a wall near a patio or back door, etc. and plant it with herbs in a vertical type garden...
  • Karen Young Karen Young on Jun 08, 2014
    Use as storage in bathroom. Roll up towels and wash clothes. Hand on wall or on cabinet, back of toilet.
  • Dawn R Dawn R on Jun 08, 2014
    You could remove the hanging brackets, add a chain to connect them vertically and then use them for herbs or strawberry's.
  • Pam Bolton Pam Bolton on Jun 08, 2014
    Remove the hanging brackets. Wire 2 of the baskets together at the openings to make a closed metal cage. Insert 2 or 3 light sockets on long electrical cords into the basket and wire to the top of the basket to stabilize. Cover electrical openings and spray paint to match your decor. Plug the light fixture into an extension cord and voila a low-cost chandy.
  • Maly Porter Maly Porter on Jun 09, 2014
    Why not remove the long brackets, and mount them under the windowsill INSIDE the room? It would be a perfect place for potted house plants. Or to hold a rolled up throw and some books next to a chair - maybe it would inspire you to relax! I think it was an awesome curbside rescue! Welcome to the club!
  • TERESA FORST TERESA FORST on Jun 09, 2014
    I cut off the hanging part and hung them on an old fence panel, added a potted plant, a birdhouse and a couple of other outdoor things for focal point in the garden.
  • Donna Donna on Jun 09, 2014
    The wide bracket can be used to hangover the rail of a deck
  • Pepsigirl13 Pepsigirl13 on Jun 09, 2014
    OMG, these are great. they are similar to French wire baskets. Use some burlap to make inserts, and use on a counter, table, etc. any place you want to stash "junk" like mail or show off treasures!
  • Sheila D Sheila D on Jun 09, 2014
    how about lining them and hanging inside the garage or mud room by the entry door as a drop site going into the house for keys, dog collar etc. Could place hooks underneath for purse or jacket
  • Redeemwood Redeemwood on Jun 09, 2014
    Make a wine basket pallet board with these holding the wine bottles and the notched board below for the wine glasses....
  • Amanda H Amanda H on Jun 10, 2014
    they would look great as planters lined with sheet moss on a deck rail or as small window boxes
  • Dorth Dorth on Jun 10, 2014
    How about bread baskets. Pretty liner and you're all set!
  • Jan 3 Boll Jan 3 Boll on Jun 11, 2014
    Do you have a backyard fence? I'd attach an appropriate width 1"x (whatever length) to the fence with grooves at the back for the planter to slip into. Add a short piece of wood at front of the board (to help keep things in place) so you can use the top of the board for more planters, etc, and use some of the above ideas to fill the metal planters with plants. This way you'd have two layers of plants in one area.
  • Gaylan Gaylan on Jun 11, 2014
    how about spraying with a coordinating color for your bathroom and hanging them on the side of your 'tub for a relaxing bath with whatever you desire within reach?
    • Polly Zieper Polly Zieper on Jun 11, 2014
      @Gaylan great idea, now I'm going to look for some of these at Good Will tomorrow:)
  • Debi T Debi T on Jun 19, 2014
    I could use some of these!!! if you decide to sell them...;)
  • Starr Durrant Starr Durrant on Sep 24, 2014
    You could remove brackets and hang on bathroom wall with base against wall so baskets are on there side and insert towels or toilet paper.
  • Judy Yelon Judy Yelon on Sep 24, 2014
    Remove brackets. Turn baskets upside down over small, young plants to protect them from squirrels.
  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Jan 29, 2022

    Sell them locally full of plants or just as they are for someone slse to use and buy yourself somethung that you can use or just treat yourself!

  • Freya Freya on Apr 17, 2022

    🐚You can paint them ocean blue-green, fill halfway with Styrofoam, cover styrofoam with green moss, fill them with large, pretty shells, place a small oil lantern or a candle with a hurricane in the center, and hang them over a deck or on a privacy fence. Use E-6000 to glue beach glass on the edge or the glass hurricane or oil lamp.

  • Gia11788001 Gia11788001 on Sep 19, 2022

    Over the sink dish drainers.

  • Janice Janice on Nov 30, 2022

    Great find! Since you can't use them on your porch you could remove the brackets and screw the basket parts to a fence, another area of your home. You might also consider selling them on an on-line site and use the money you get to purchase something you can use.

  • Libbie B Libbie B on Nov 29, 2023

    Storage in a pantry, bathroom or bedroom!

  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on Nov 29, 2023

    Clip off the edges and use for fruit bowls or centerpiece base. What a great find. I would probably spray paint with RustOleum.

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Nov 30, 2023

    Paint them up and fill with plants and sell them on..

  • Mogie Mogie on Dec 01, 2023

    Spray paint them and use them for storage like something to hold mail or keys by the front door. You could add a piece of very thin wood so stuff won't fall thru them.

  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on Dec 01, 2023

    Clean them up and then spray paint them for durability and to keep corrosion at bay. I would turn them over and use them to protect bulbs from the pesky squirrels.

  • Deb K Deb K on Dec 01, 2023

    Hello, fix them up and use them on the fence in the yard! Or the deck rails, you could also build a pallet privacy divider and put them on that.