How To Repurpose Easter Baskets Into Pretty Flower Planters

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Holidays tend to produce heaps of waste. With many of us growing more and more conscious of our environmental impact — and the limited space in our homes — holidays are a great time to take stock of how we can reduce our carbon footprint. Repurposing decor and packaging is one great way to be more eco-friendly around holidays like Easter. Before you toss your kid's Easter basket, consider upcycling it instead. There are plenty of ways to keep Easter baskets out of the trash. To give those cute woven bundles a new life this spring and summer, consider turning them into adorable flower planters.

This is a super simple craft that won't take much effort at all. For the most basic transformation, all you'll need is your used basket, a plastic liner, potting soil and your favorite plants. You can find the plastic liners at your local garden center or online, like these Idyllize 12-inch Clear Plastic Plant Trays. Plastic sheeting material can also work. Once you're ready to get planting, poke some holes in the bottom of the liner for drainage, then simply plant your flowers in the lined basket as you would for any other container. There's more you can do to elevate this simple method. If you're willing to put in a bit more effort, there are countless ways to decorate, fill, and display your repurposed Easter basket planters. 

Of course, not every Easter basket has the design, and this is also a creative way to repurpose thrifted baskets in all shapes and sizes. If you're working with a basket featuring an obnoxiously long handle, use a reciprocating saw to cut through the handle or snip it off with scissors. This can make your project more distinguishable from its original purpose. Many Easter baskets are also brightly colored. While this may be fun for spring, you might not be as keen on the pastel blues and bright pinks as the seasons change. You can use spray paint to give the basket a more neutral color come fall.

When it comes time to fill your new container with flowers, be sure to pick plants that will play nicely together. They should all generally have the same care requirements to make placement and watering easy. You can also lean on the simple formula for designing container gardens: a thriller, filler, and spiller. Choose a statement flower as the thriller, subtle plants as the filler, and a trailing plant as the spiller for a stunning display. A couple great combinations are lavender, geraniums, and licorice vine or coleus, lemon cypress, and lobelia.

Plastic Easter baskets should hold up for a long time, whether they're indoors or outdoors. Wood and wicker baskets may not last as long if they get wet, so consider popping out your liner to water the plants and letting the soil drip dry before putting them back in the basket. Using a water-repellant varnish or sealant can help to protect your planter if you're planning on leaving it outside. Of course, Easter happens every year, so you can repeat this craft to refresh your planters next spring!