Vintage Bathroom Sink Planters: A Creative Container Garden Idea
One of my favorite planters in my yard didn’t come from a garden center at all – it came from my 100-year-old house.
When I remodeled my small bathroom, I couldn’t bring myself to throw away the original pedestal sink. It had been the only sink in the house for more than 100 years, and it felt like part of the home’s history. So I asked my contractor to move it outside instead of hauling it away. For about a year it sat in the yard while I decided what to do with it.
Eventually I realized something obvious: A bathroom sink already has the perfect shape for planting. I loved how tall it was. This actually inspired me to share all about creative tall planters.
Now it has become one of my favorite garden features – sometimes planted with herbs and other years filled with colorful flowers.
Why Vintage Bathroom Sinks Make Great Planters
Old sinks are surprisingly well suited for container gardening.
First, the bowl shape naturally holds soil and plants. Second, sinks already have something every good planter needs: a drainage hole.
Proper drainage is one of the most important factors for successful container gardening. Most plants will struggle if their roots sit in water too long, and poor drainage can quickly lead to root rot. A sink solves this problem automatically.
Vintage pedestal sinks also have another advantage – height. The pedestal raises your plants above surrounding beds, which helps them stand out and become a focal point in the garden.
The curved porcelain shapes also add visual interest that you simply don’t get from typical plastic or clay containers.
How to Turn a Bathroom Sink Into a Planter
Repurposing a sink as a garden planter is surprisingly simple.
Step 1 – Choose a Stable Location
Pedestal sinks are heavy, so pick a permanent location before planting.
A small patio stone or flat paver works well to keep the base level and prevent it from sinking into the soil. Mine either sits on a concrete walkway or it sits on a small 12 x 12 concrete patio stone so the pedestal stays level and stable.
Step 2 – Check the Drain
The original drain opening provides the drainage you need.
Do not plug it or seal it. Plants need excess water to drain freely.
Step 3 – Cover the Drain Opening
Before adding soil, cover the drain hole with a simple barrier so soil doesn’t wash out.
I use:
- a paper coffee filter
- a small layer of stones on top
This allows water to drain while keeping soil in place.
Step 4 – Add Quality Potting Soil
Fill the sink with a good container potting mix rather than garden soil.
Container soil drains better and helps prevent compaction inside the bowl.
Step 5 – Plant Your Container
Once the soil is in place, plant the sink the same way you would any other container garden.
Use a combination of:
- thriller plants for height
- filler plants for fullness
- spiller plants that trail over the edge
The curved front of a sink makes trailing plants look especially nice.
Herb Garden in a Vintage Sink Planter
For several years I planted culinary herbs in the sink planter.
Because it sits close to my back door, it was incredibly convenient. I could walk outside and quickly cut fresh herbs while cooking.
Some of the herbs I planted included:
- chives
- rosemary (annual in my climate)
- thyme
- oregano
- mint
I even added a few alyssum flowers along the edge to soften the front of the planter and create a draping effect.
Another advantage of the sink height is that herbs stay slightly elevated from the ground, which helps keep them out of reach of rabbits that like to visit my yard.
Planting Flowers in a Sink Planter
After using the sink as an herb garden for a while, I decided to switch things up and plant flowers instead.
Geraniums work especially well in this type of container because they tolerate heat and full sun.
A simple flower combination for a sink planter could include:
Thriller
Geraniums
Fillers
Petunias or calibrachoa
Spillers
Sweet potato vine
alyssum
creeping jenny
Because the sink bowl is fairly shallow, choose plants that do well in containers and don’t require extremely deep soil.
A Simple Sink Planter Idea From My Neighbor
One of my neighbors used an even simpler version of this idea.
Instead of keeping the entire sink bowl, she used only the pedestal base and placed a flower pot on top.
It instantly created a raised planter stand and looked charming in the garden.
Sometimes the simplest ideas are the most creative.
Tips for Growing Herbs in a Sink Planter
If you plant perennial herbs in a container sink planter, keep winter in mind.
Here in Wisconsin (zone 5), most perennial herbs will not survive winter in containers because the roots freeze too easily.
My solution is simple.
In early fall, I lift the entire group of herbs from the sink and transplant them into a garden bed. With a few weeks of watering and warm soil, they establish themselves before winter and come back the following spring.
Annual herbs like basil are simply replanted the next year.
Design Tips for Sink Planters
If you find a vintage sink at a salvage yard or during a remodel, consider these ideas when turning it into a planter.
Use trailing plants
The curved front edge of the sink looks best when plants spill over the sides.
Keep the faucet hardware
Old faucets add character and reinforce the vintage look.
Match the plants to the sun exposure
A west-facing location like mine works well for sun-loving flowers and herbs.
Use the pedestal height
Because the planter sits higher than ground beds, it naturally becomes a focal point.
Where to Find Old Sinks for Planters
If you don’t happen to have a bathroom remodel planned, there are still plenty of places to find old sinks.
Try looking at:
architectural salvage yards
Habitat ReStore locations
antique markets
online marketplace listings
home renovation projects
Many people remove old pedestal sinks during remodeling and are happy to see them reused instead of discarded.
A Garden Planter With History
One of the things I love most about this planter is that it connects my garden to the history of my home.
For decades this sink was part of daily life inside the house.
Now it sits outside filled with herbs and flowers instead.
It’s proof that sometimes the most interesting garden containers are the ones that already have a story behind them.
