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in All Things Vintage· Home Decor· Link Parties and Hops

How a Simple Vintage Galvanized Bucket Can Make the Perfect Flower Container

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Looking for a fun and different way to show off your flowers both inside and outdoors? Come see how using a simple vintage galvanized bucket can be a perfect container for your beautiful blooms.

daisies in a vintage galvanized bucket

If you know anything about me, you know that I love flowers and anything vintage.

So when I have the opportunity to combine them both in one space, that’s pretty much perfection for me.

A Lifestyle of Love Blog Hop Graphic

A Lifestyle of Love Blog Hop

I’m joining some blogging friends today for a fun blog hop, hosted by one of my favorite bloggers, Cindy of County Road 407.

A Lifestyle of Love is where we take a specific theme every other month and share how we use it in our homes and lives. This month is all about galvanized buckets and I’m going to show you how I use them as flower containers in my home and out in the garden.

If you’re coming from Emily from Le Cultivateur, welcome! I’m so glad to have you here. Emily has such a great style and I know you loved her take on galvanized buckets.


container of lavender in a cottage kitchen

My Love for Vintage Galvanized Containers

Just like my other treasured vintage collections, I have many, MANY old galvanized buckets, pails, and tubs lying around the house and garden.

These vintage containers are near and dear to my heart. They’re one of the first things I’ll pick up if I see a great deal when I’m thrifting.


For your shopping convenience, this post contains affiliate links. As a Reward Style and Amazon affiliate, I earn commission on sales at no extra cost to you. Read my full disclosure here.


lavender in a vintage galvanized bucket

I’ve found galvanized buckets and pails for as little as $5.00 which is considered a very good day of vintage thrifting. I can usually find less expensive options at garage sales and even the occasional estate sale.

I’ve even been known to grab a handful (or two) and ask for a better deal when buying so many of these vintage containers all at once.


SHOP VINTAGE GALVANIZED BUCKETS AND PAILS


lilacs sitting on a mantel

What to Put in a Vintage Galvanized Bucket

  • Fresh Flowers
  • Dried Flowers
  • Faux Flowers and Plants
  • Christmas Trees
  • Garden Outdoor Plants and Flowers

dried hydrangeas in a vintage galvanized bucket

Dried Flowers, Faux Flowers & Faux Greenery

A vintage galvanized bucket or pail is a perfect choice when it comes to displaying your beautiful dried, and faux blooms & greenery.

mantel in a bedroom

Just drop the flowers or plants into the container, sit back, and admire how beautiful it all looks.

faux hydrangea flowers in a vintage galvanized bucket

Because your faux flowers & plants, and dry flowers don’t need to be sitting in water, any holes found in the galvanized buckets won’t be a big deal.


SHOP VINTAGE GALVANIZED BUCKETS AND PAILS


fresh cut roses in a vintage galvanized bucket

Fresh Flowers

Many of the galvanized buckets you’ll find will have holes in them because they’re so old. That can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on what you plan to put in them.

But when you are using the bucket for fresh flowers that need to be in a vase of water, you need to be creative.

glass mason jars filled with water in a vintage galvanized bucket

I place mason jars in the bucket and fill them with water. Placing the flowers in the jars will not only keep them hydrated but the jars will help the blooms stand upright in the bucket.

fresh dahlias in a vintage galvanized bucket
fresh Christmas greens and branches in a vintage galvanized bucket

Christmas tree in a vintage galvanized bucket

Faux and Fresh Christmas Trees

Christmas trees look AMAZING in a vintage galvanized bucket, pail, or tub.


annual flowers planted in a vintage galvanized bucket

Using Vintage Galvanized Buckets for Garden Flower Containers

I love how flowers and plants from the garden look in a vintage galvanized container.

drilling holes in a container

If you’re using them as containers to plant flowers in the garden, the more holes, the better, to drain the water.

As you can see, it’s easy to drill holes in the container for water drainage if they don’t already have them.

herbs planted in a vintage galvanized bucket

You can find some large galvanized tubs as well which can hold quite a few plants.

I use mine in my herb garden.


SHOP VINTAGE GALVANIZED TUBS


annual flowers planted in a vintage galvanized bucket

Adding old plastic pots and containers before you fill the bucket or tub with soil is a great way to take up some of that wasted space between the bottom of the container and the plants.

annual flowers planted in a vintage galvanized bucket

By filling up the extra space, you won’t have to use as much potting soil which is not only cost-effective but will keep the container lighter, making it easier to lift and move.

CLICK HERE for 11 Simple Tips and Tricks for Planting Beautiful Flower Garden Containers.


lavender in a vintage galvanized bucket

I hope I’ve inspired you to go out and find yourself the perfect vintage galvanized bucket to use for your flowers and plants.

Make sure to check out the other galvanized bucket inspiration below.

I’d love to hear from you, leave me a comment below. Thanks as always for being here.

Until next time,


A Lifestyle of Love Blog Hop

More Vintage Galvanized Container Inspiration

Now it’s time to visit my friend Amber from Follow the Yellow Brick Home where she shares her fabulous galvanized buckets in her garden decor. And don’t forget to check out the rest of the ideas below!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

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If you’ve enjoyed this blog post, please pin and share this on Pinterest.


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Filed Under: All Things Vintage, Home Decor, Link Parties and Hops

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Emily says

    06/15/2022 at 12:19 pm

    I absolutely love every single picture!! Your style is so beautiful and so inspiring!!!!

    Reply
    • Kim says

      07/10/2022 at 2:27 pm

      Thank you so much Emily!

      Reply
  2. Amber says

    06/13/2022 at 5:25 pm

    I love each and every picture and feel like all of those galvanzied pieces and flowers could fit right in my home and garden! I am working on a post about a copper tub simliar to yours and how I used old plastic pots to take up space before filling it with flowers

    The four jars to fill up space is also a great idea I will borrow. I have used one jar down in a larger vase but don’t know why I didn’t think of using multiples for buckets and larger containers.

    Love all your combos of galvanized and flowers, but the simple hydrangeas or lavender in any galvanized container is just so perfect vintage for cottage garden style!
    So fun hopping with you and looking fun to more collaborations of vintage-garden goodness this summer!

    Reply
    • Kim says

      07/10/2022 at 2:30 pm

      I can’t tell you how much I appreciate all of your thoughtful comments. You and I have a similar style so when you can use an idea of mine, I’m so happy. Thank you so much for coordinating this fun blog hop my friend. They are always so fun. Yay for vintage and gardens together!

      Reply
  3. Vicki says

    06/12/2022 at 8:46 am

    Your home and garden just make me happy! I love your ideas for using vintage galvanized containers! I am blessed to have several large tubs from my grandparent’s farm as well as some buckets I have thrifted. I recently added several to my landscaping with flowers and grasses. My favorite thing we’ve done is to use a really rusty and bent wash tub to catch rainfall from a valley in our roofline and then it flows out the cracks into a dry creek of stones. We didn’t want guttering next to our pretty porch columns and this is such a charming solution! I have recently added a couple of animal garden statues near the creek. It is so pretty when filled with rain water. Thanks for sharing your lovely home and garden!

    Reply
    • Kim says

      07/10/2022 at 2:32 pm

      Oh my gosh, Vicki! That is the best solution. What a great idea. And how fun that you are able to use the tubs from your grandparent’s farm. The only thing that makes vintage better is when there is family history tied to it. I am late in responding but so grateful for you being here and reaching out. Happy summer my friend.

      Reply
  4. Lora Bloomquist says

    06/11/2022 at 11:08 am

    Ooh, I’m drooling over that one with handles; very unique! Your gorgeous flowers are absolute perfection paired with galvanized containers:) Always love seeing your beautiful pics!

    Reply
    • Kim says

      07/10/2022 at 2:33 pm

      That’s one of my favorites too Lora!

      Reply
  5. debra@commonground says

    06/11/2022 at 9:10 am

    Love all your gorgeous containers, Kim, especially the one with handles on each side. Great idea with the mason jars inside to anchor the flowers. perfect vintage arrangements! Happy Weekend!

    Reply
    • Kim says

      06/11/2022 at 10:19 am

      Thank you so much, Debra! The one with the handles is one of my favorites too.

      Reply
    • Kim says

      07/10/2022 at 2:33 pm

      I think the one with the handles wins the prize. Thank you Debra.

      Reply
  6. Ann says

    06/11/2022 at 9:06 am

    Kim you always have so many cute ideas for your flowers in your galvanized buckets, super cute ideas!

    Reply
    • Kim says

      06/11/2022 at 10:19 am

      That’s so sweet of you to say Ann. Thank you!

      Reply
    • Kim says

      07/10/2022 at 2:34 pm

      I appreciate it, Ann. Thank you!

      Reply
  7. Cindy@CountyRoad407 says

    06/11/2022 at 7:54 am

    I’ve never thought to use a bucket for a Christmas tree but I love it! Loved every single photo and idea. I also never think to ask for a better deal when buying more than one! What is wrong with me?! Thanks so much for joining us. Loved this post. pinned

    Reply
    • Kim says

      06/11/2022 at 10:21 am

      I started using the galvanized buckets and tubs for the Christmas trees a few years ago and will never go back. They actually give the tree a more old-fashioned feel I think. Thank you so much for hosting sweet friend.

      Reply
  8. Rachel Harper says

    06/11/2022 at 5:33 am

    Kim,
    You know I love these containers and you’ve certainly made each one more stunning with your beautiful flower arrangements.

    Reply
    • Kim says

      06/11/2022 at 10:22 am

      Thank you so much, Rachel. It’s always so fun to use vintage containers with your plants and flowers.

      Reply
  9. stacy says

    06/11/2022 at 4:44 am

    YOu are so right Kim and I love how pretty it looks in your pretty home!

    Reply
    • Kim says

      06/11/2022 at 10:22 am

      Thank you so much, Stacy!

      Reply
  10. Michelle | Thistle Key Lane says

    06/11/2022 at 4:08 am

    Buckets of flowers, does decorating indoors or out it get any better than that? Love all your examples and I’ll have to remember to use jars inside for arranging stems. So Smart! Pinning!

    Reply
    • Kim says

      06/11/2022 at 10:23 am

      It does NOT get any better! Thank you, Michelle. I appreciate the support, my friend.

      Reply

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Hi! I'm Kim. Welcome to my home & garden blog, Shiplap and Shells. We live in a small 1920 beach cottage in the Pacific Northwest and have spent the last 10 years renovating, reinventing, and adding character to our forever home. Read More…

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