With a coat of paint and a little imagination, a colander can make a beautiful addition to your decor, too. In this article, we’re going to talk about some creative ideas to repurpose a colander. We think you’ll love this content!
Colanders offer especially excellent potential for creative repurposing. They come in a million shapes, sizes, and styles (think crisp clean stainless steel, pretty enamel in vibrant pop colors, ivory or white for elegant simplicity, and on and on). They’re also visually stimulating, with their soft curves contrasted by the textured patterns of the holes. And they’re familiar; there’s a colander in every kitchen.
1. Make a Pretty Garden Planter
Colanders are basically large, deep vessels, which makes them perfect for planting. Just pack the dirt in tight and it won’t spill through the holes. Remember to put it somewhere safe when you water!
Colander planters are especially lovely for lettuces, herbs, and other edible flora. Keep one on your kitchen counter, or hang one out in your garden. They’re versatile and easy to make and oh-so-very quaint.
2. A Colander Centerpiece
A colander also makes an excellent centerpiece. Imagine it: with flowers as the centerpiece of a table spread, or holding a citronella candle out in the backyard on a summer evening, or draped in holly and red berries as a holiday decoration. You can get very creative, just remember to line the colander with something to prevent the wax from leaking if you are using candles.
3. Make a Slush-Free Ice Bucket
Next time you host a party or barbeque, put out your ice in a colander that’s set over a large bowl. The holes will allow the melted ice to drip away, and you won’t have to deal with any of the usual ice-water-makes-for-frozen-hands mess.
4. Hold Sticks when Making Confection
The holes in colanders are perfect for candy sticks (like lollipops, etc). When making homemade cake pops or other candies, use a colander to keep the pieces upright and away from one another.
5. Make A Hanging Lamp
From simple and clean to artful and even avant-garde, create a fantastic effect by using a colander as a pendant lamp. Other than the cool look, the light that shines through the holes casts the most beautiful shadows! Find an electrician to connect your masterpiece.
6. A Lamp Shade for A Desk Lamp
Put together a simple tabletop lamp – with a vibe that’s anywhere from ultra-modern to uber rustic. Small colanders work best for this but hey, do whatever suits your fancy.
7. Make An Upcycled Wind Chime
You can use a colander as the base and a bunch of mismatched silverware as the “chimes”, then decorate however you see fit. This project is cheap and simple and super fun for kids, too!
8. Prevent Grease Splatters
When you fry an egg or a burger that splatters a lot, invert a metal colander over the pan to prevent a mess on the stovetop. It will allow the water vapor and heat to escape, but it will contain most of the fat spray (because those particles are so much bigger than water molecules).
9. Keep Bugs Away
No matter what you’re serving, keep the flies and other nuisances out by topping them with an appropriately sized colander. All you have to do is turn it over and set it on top. (This is more important in warm weather when eating outside, but it could be an issue now, too. Especially if you have fruit flies and can’t get rid of them.)
10. Steam Rice with a Colander
For perfect fluffy rice every time, use a colander. Rinse the rice in a metal colander until the water runs clear, then boil the rice in a pot of salted water for five minutes. Next, put the rice back in the colander to drain. Refill the pot with an inch of water and bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and then place the colander full of rice on top of the simmering pot. Cover the colander with foil and let steam for 10 minutes.