Seven Creative Ways to Reuse an Old Kiddie Pool
Whether it’s an inflatable pool or a classic hard plastic one , kiddie pools are a super-cheap way to cool off in the summer if you don’t have access to a regular pool, only have a small space to practice, or the kids are too young to wade into deep water. It’s safe to say that most homes have at least one old kiddie pool collecting dust in the garage, basement, or shed.
If you no longer use your old kiddie pool, you may think it’s time to throw it away or donate it. But it may be more useful than you think. Here are seven creative ways to repurpose an old kiddie pool and put it to good use.
Container garden
If you have a hard paddling pool, this is the perfect way to create a small container garden. It can be a decorative flower bed, a DIY salad garden, or simply the centerpiece of your landscape design. It’s pretty easy to make:
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Choose a location. It will be more difficult to move a container garden once it is filled with soil, so decide where you want to place the container garden and build it on site.
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Drill drainage holes. You will need several holes in the bottom and sides to allow water to drain. A distance of about 30 cm between them will probably be sufficient.
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Lay down the decorative fabric. Line the pool with decorative material (in a pinch, you can use fiberglass window mesh).
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Fill it with soil and plant some plants! If you’re worried about animals invading, you can install a fence around the pool.
Alternatively, you can plant grass in a container garden and create a small lawn on your balcony or terrace.
Pet bed
It’s easy to spend a fortune on your pets, and every pet owner has experienced the trauma of spending a fortune on a plush bed only to watch your cat prefer to sleep in a cardboard box or your dog stubbornly burrow into your bed. But if you have an old kiddie pool and some old bedding lying around, you can make a great pet bed for just $0. Whether you have a bossy cat or a big, clumsy dog, a blanket and some pillows are all you need to make your fur baby as comfortable as possible.
Habitat of domestic animals
If you have small pets, like guinea pigs or turtles , an old kiddie pool can be a great habitat for them. For guinea pigs, for example, a hard plastic pool can be filled with bedding, toys, food, water, and everything else your pet needs to be happy, all without having to invest in a ready-made cage that probably isn’t that big or roomy. Add some mesh or fencing around the perimeter to keep your pets safe and in their cozy little corner.
And because they are pools, they actually make the perfect temporary habitat for turtles and other amphibians to explore, swim, and bask to their heart’s content. The exact composition of your pool will depend on the species of turtle you have, but generally you’ll need water, rocks, gravel or sand, basking rocks, and a simple filtration system to keep the water from getting too dirty.
Sandbox
If you have small children or active dogs, an old kiddie pool can double as a classic playground element: a sandbox. Some sand and plastic play can keep kids busy for hours, and your dogs will love digging in the sand (instead of digging all over your expensive landscaping). An increasingly popular alternative to sand (which gets everywhere and is hard to keep clean) is corn . It provides much of the same play dynamics, but is much easier to work with.
Big cooler
Planning a party? Indoors or outdoors, your old kiddie pool is a great way to keep the atmosphere casual and keep drinks cold. Fill the pool with ice and place cans, bottles, or pitchers of cocktails or sodas in it for guests to grab when they’re thirsty. If the pool is outdoors, consider drilling a few drainage holes to allow melted ice to drain away.
Pet Spa
Raise your hand if bathing your dog requires a raincoat and a bunch of towels. If you don’t want to scrub the entire bathroom or kitchen after Fido’s bath, a kiddie pool can double as a doggie spa . Outside, your furry friend can frolic, splash, and shake to his heart’s content without creating any extra chores for you. The only downside is that he’ll have a lot more room to run if he decides to escape, but at least he won’t knock down the shower doors.
Ball pool
If you’ve updated your pool but still have little ones running around (or you’re hosting guests who have kids), an old kiddie pool might just be the thing to keep them occupied for hours: a real ball pit ! A few dollars spent on plastic balls is all you need to keep even the most active little ones occupied and contained.