16 Smart Ways to Use Old Bread Pans Around the House Instead of Throwing Out

Do you have a loaf or two that you’ve been wanting to start with for days? Making bread at home? Instead of tossing them in the donation pile or worse, the trash, breathe new life into those old pans by repurposing them. From handy organizers to tiny planters, there are tons of ways to reuse old bread pans.

Why bother reusing loaf pans? Every day, the average person throws away about five pounds of trash, most of which ends up in landfills. Some of the things we throw away can be reused by someone else, or even by us if we get creative. Finding ways to reuse items keeps them out of the waste stream. Plus, it gives you a chance to flex your creativity and your DIY muscles. So, whether you’re looking for cute new display caddies, kitchen organizers, or quirky home decor items, here are some ways to use bread pans instead of throwing them away.

Perhaps your bread pan has seen better days and is showing some signs of weather and wear. Make that work to your advantage by transforming it into something beautiful Farmhouse style decor. Paint the loaf pan as well as four beads or wine corks using chalk paint. When the paint is dry, sand it lightly to give it a distressed look. Use hot glue to attach beads or corks to the bottom of the pan, to act as feet. When dry, fill the pan with decorative items, such as faux flowers and greenery.

A loaf pan is the ideal size to hold pieces of fruit. Line a few next to each other on the countertop for a neat display, or use a loaf pan with four pans attached. Add a decorative touch by lining the pans with napkins or tea towels. The towel will also protect the pan if the fruit gets sticky so you can just wash the towel and throw it away after removing the fruit.

Create a charming flower display by converting an old loaf pan into a small planter. choose Annuals that do well in containers For your planters, such as petunias, sweet potato vines or verbena. These flowers are compact enough to fit in the pan without crowding. You’ll need to add drainage holes so the plant doesn’t drown. Use a hammer and nail or a drill with a cobalt-steel bit to make holes in the bottom of the pan. Once you’ve planted the flowers, line the loaf leaves along the windowsill or patio edge.

The cardboard boxes that game pieces come in are often worn or torn. Store your favorite games in style by repurposing a loaf pan as an organizer. While you’re on the upcycling train, use Cleaned glass yogurt jars To catch dice and other game pieces. Another option is to hide a deck of cards or other card games in a pan. Instead of laying the boxes flat, place the boxes vertically in the loaf pan so that each one is easy to find.

The narrow width and short height of bread pans make them easy to fit into drawer units. The long compartments are also the perfect size for storing and organizing various items such as art supplies, silverware, or miscellaneous items. Use one pen for each category of material (eg paint pens, markers, pencils and paintbrushes can go in one while glue, tape and glue guns can go in another). Another option is to use thrifted loaf pans on shelves to keep small bottles upright.

Get crafty and transform bread pans into little red wagons for home decor. Spray the pan with red paint and let it dry according to the directions on the can. Attach the handle (you can use an upcycled kitchen spatula) and wheels with hot glue. Use stencils to add slogans or words to the side of the wagon or leave it plain. Fill the wagon with seasonal accents, like mini pumpkins in the fall or decorated eggs in the spring.

An old linked bread pan can serve as a A clever way to organize your spices. Hang loaf pans from the wall, then line your spice jars inside, using the interior of the various pans as shelving. Can’t find a linked pan set? Create something similar with a personalized pen. Just attach each one to the wall, either in a vertical stack or in a horizontal line, then place your spices inside.

Have a few loaf pans of different sizes? Stack them together to create a DIY tiered organizer or display. Hot glue the candle holder to the center of the longest pan, then glue the bottom of the medium sized leaf on top with glue. Repeat the process with the second candle holder and the third (and smallest) loaf pan for a 3-tier system. Use the tiered organizer as a catchall in your entryway or as a toiletries holder in the powder room. For a stronger organizer, use E6000 glue instead of hot glue.

Add simple elegance by tucking a small vase inside a vintage loaf pan. Turn the pan over to the short side, then place inside the vase. The high sides of the leaf will gently frame the vase, giving it more attention. For a romantic look, arrange a pan and vase on a shelf next to a leather-bound book and tie a scroll with a pretty ribbon.

Make a rustic catch-all basket out of a loaf pan that’s too rusty to use in the kitchen. Drill a hole in the short sides of the pan, in the middle, near the top. Spray the pan with a clear protective gloss, eg Rust-Oleum Stops Rust Spray Paint. Bend and twist a length of wire to make a handle, then slip each end of the wire through the holes in the pen. If you have a small piece of wood, such as from an old bucket, to use as a hand grip, slip it over the wire first.

Think of an old bread pan as a three-dimensional frame waiting to display your favorite knick-knacks or other treasures on the wall. Attach either a single pan or a group of industrial-style linked pans to the wall, then use the lower part inside as a shelf. Display miniature figurines, small framed photos or other collectibles in a wall shelf made of bread pan.

Let a loaf of bread serve as the base for a festive holiday decoration. Fill the pan with white polyester filling, securing it to the sides of the pan with hot glue. Tuft the filling over the sides to resemble fluffy snow. Add small holiday figurines to the top, such as Santa and his sleigh, or a display with a small Christmas tree and small gifts. If you want, use a paint pen to write a holiday message on the side of the pen, such as “Ho Ho Ho” or “Be Merry.”

Instead of drilling holes in a loaf, use it as a planter, leave it alone and turn it into a cashpot. Cachepots are for hiding less attractive plant pots, such as plastic nursery pots. They usually do not have drainage holes, so they are not meant to be in direct contact with the soil and roots. A well-used metal pot can also add a rustic touch to your houseplants when used as a cashpot.

A shallow bread loaf pan may be the perfect size for a small succulent garden. Since succulents have a shallow root system, they don’t need large or deep containers. Choose some compact varieties in a range of colors such as hen and chicks (Sempervivum tectorum). Add small rocks or pebbles between the succulents to tie the planter together. Make sure you add a few holes to the bottom of the pan before filling it with soil and plants, as succulents need well-drained soil.

Not all bread pans are rectangular. Some (especially older ones) find really interesting shapes that make for attractive yard art. With spray paint, an old baking pan and a broom handle or two, you can create a very funky lawn decoration. Paint the pen with a bright color. Then attach the pan to a larger one, such as a fluted pie tin, using E6000 glue. Place a small pan like a small tart pan in the center of the bread pan and attach it with glue. Attach the broom handle by gluing the upside-down bottle to the back of the largest pan, then slide the opening over the handle.

Although it’s a funnel in the picture, you can easily use an old bread pan as the base for a colorful and fun wind chime for your garden. Drill a hole in the bottom of the pan, then thread a chain through it, like this TAORISH 9.5 Inch Hanging Chain. Drill holes along the sides of the loaf pan and hook a chain through each hole. Attach small bricks and other decorative items to the ends of the chains. Check through your junk drawer to find things to use.