Did you know that teapots are useful for more than brewing tea? That’s right! If you’re wondering just what you can do with old teapots, here are 5 ways to repurpose teapots in the kitchen and give your space a cozy, welcoming atmosphere!
5 Ways to Repurpose Teapots
Most women I know have at least a few teapots in their possession. Here where I live, it’s not uncommon to give a tea set as a wedding, anniversary or birthday gift.
Sweet as teapots are, a woman can only use one pot at a time and the “extras” usually get shoved to the back of a kitchen cupboard or are tucked away in storage until you can discretely pass them on to someone else, without hurting the giver’s feelings.
Or am I the only one who does that? 😉
But here’s the thing I’ve learned since setting up house: teapots can actually serve many different purposes in the kitchen! And I hope these ideas will inspire you to pull out your teapots, brush off that dust and start using them to create a home-like atmosphere you can enjoy!
Tip 1: Turn Your Teapot Into a Planter
If you’re a homemaker who enjoys keeping plants on the windowsill just above the kitchen sink, this tip is for you! Teapots make excellent planters for small houseplants and when the two are paired together, the result is quite charming!
Teapots with large lids (aka wide openings) work best!
To turn a teapot into a planter, remove the lid and place about an inch of gravel in the bottom of the pot. Add potting soil until the body is filled halfway. Plop a small houseplant into the hole and fill in the remaining space with potting soil.
Water well and let the moisture seep through the soil for about 30 seconds. Tip the teapot as you would when pouring tea and the excess water in the bottom of the pot will flow out of the spout.
And then you can set your teapot planter on a kitchen windowsill where you can enjoy the foliage and the cute arrangement!
Tip 2: Use a Teapot to Hold Your Grocery Money
Do you have a grocery budget? I’ve been on one for years and love the accountability that comes with purchasing groceries in cash! Every month, I go to the bank and take out the allotted amount for groceries.
Keeping that cash in my wallet didn’t work, because it got mixed up with other monies. So where do you think I used to keep our monthly grocery stash?
In a teapot of course!
I used to display the teapot on an open shelf in the kitchen. It matched my color scheme and by all appearances, was nothing more than decorative item.
But in actuality? It was my piggy bank!
Tip 3: Turn Your Teapot Into a Flower Vase
Mason jars make excellent vases. But did you even stop the think that teapots could also make charming holders for your flower arrangements?
Teapots with higher walls usually make better vases. And when adding the busyness of a bouquet to a teapot, I think that simple, solid-colored pots look best and add that subtle charm we all love!
So next time you bring cut flowers in your home, trying arranging them in teapot, instead of a vase or mason jar!
Tip 4: Transform a Small Teapot Into a Kitchen Pencil Holder
Are you tired of losing your pens and pencils in the kitchen “catch all” drawer? Find yourself a small teapot (16 oz or 500 mls) with a short body.
Remove the lid and start dropping pens and pencils into the mouth of your teapot, much like you would a pencil jar. Keep your new “pencil holder” out on an open surface, so you can quickly and easily grab what you need.
And the best part is? A teapot won’t tip over as easily as a jar and looks much cuter!
Tip 5: Use a Teapot to Hide Your “Mommy” Treats
At some point in our lives, we’ve all had “secret treats” we want to hide from the prying eyes and eager fingers of our family members.Â
Am I right?
Whether your “treats” are candies, chocolate, nuts, dried fruit, jerky or something else, you need a place to keep your stash.Â
Add a teapot to your kitchen as part of the “decor.” Make sure it has a lid with a locking notch that will discourage curious children (and the husband).
And rest easy, knowing that your secret is safe…for a while anyway.
5 Unique Ways to Use Old Teapots in the Kitchen
If you’re looking for ways to use old teapots in your home, I hope you’ll take some of the ideas and implement them in your kitchen!
Don’t have extra teapots? Check at your local thrift store. I can almost guarantee they will have options! Go see what you can find for a dollar or two!
And if you have ideas I missed, be sure to leave them in the comments below!
Hi, my name is Autumn and I'm all about whole food cooking, gardening, preserving and nourishing the home in a traditional manner.
Pop some kitchen string in the teapot, threading it out of the spout.