Seven Creative Ways to Reuse an Old Kiddie Pool
We may earn a commission from links on this page.
Whether an inflatable model or the classic rigid plastic kind, kiddie pools are a super cheap way to cool off in the summer if you don’t have access to a traditional pool, only have a tiny space to work with, or have kids who are too young to wade into the deep water. It’s safe to say most houses have at least one old kiddie pool collecting dust in the garage, basement, or storage shed.
If you no longer use that old kiddie pool as a pool, you might think it’s time to just toss it or give it away. But it can be a lot more useful than you might think. Here are seven creative ways to repurpose an old kiddie pool and actually get. some use out of it.
A container garden
If you’ve got a rigid kiddie pool lying around, it’s an ideal way to start a tiny container garden. This could be a decorative flower garden, a vegetable garden for DIY salads, or just a focal point for your landscaping. It’s pretty easy to whip up, too:
Choose your location. It’ll be more difficult to move once it’s filled with dirt, so figure out where you want the container garden to live and build it in place.
Drill drain holes. You’ll want to drill a bunch of holes in the bottom and sides for drainage. Spacing them out about a foot each will probably be sufficient.
Insert landscaping fabric. Line the pool with landscaping fabric (fiberglass window screening can be used in a pinch).
Dump in your soil and plant your plants! You can add fencing around the pool if you’re worried about animal invaders.
Alternatively, you could plant grass in your container garden and create a tiny lawn for a balcony or deck area.
A pet bed
It’s easy to spend a small fortune on our pets, and every pet owner has experienced the trauma of spending a ton of cash on a plush bed only to watch your cat choose to sleep in a cardboard box or your dog defiantly burrow into your bed instead. But if you have an old kiddie pool and some old bedding lying around, you can create a magnificent pet bed for exactly zero dollars. Whether you have an imperious cat or a big, floppy dog, a blanket and a few cushions are all you need to make your fur child as comfortable as possible.
A pet habitat
If you have smaller pets—guinea pigs or turtles, for example—an old kiddie pool can be a lavish habitat for them. For guinea pigs, for example, a rigid plastic kiddie pool can be filled with bedding, toys, food and water, and anything else your pet needs to be happy, all without shelling out for a store-bought cage that’s probably not as big and roomy. Adding some caging material or chicken wire around the perimeter will kep your pets safely contained in their happy place.
And because they’re pools, they’re actually ideal temporary environments for turtles and other amphibious pets, a chance to let them explore and swim and bask to their heart’s content. The precise makeup of your pool will depend on what kind of turtles you have, but generally speaking, setting one up will require water, stones, gravel or sand, rocks for basking, and a simple filter system to keep the water from becoming too gross.
A sandbox
If you’ve got young kids or active dogs, an old kiddie pool can become that classic playground feature: A sandbox. Some play sand and plastic tools and the kiddos will be absorbed for hours, and your doggos will love digging in the sand (instead of digging everywhere else in your expensive landscaping).An increasingly popular alternative to sand (which gets everywhere and can be tough to keep sanitary) is corn. It offers much the same play dynamics, but it’s a lot easier to deal with.
An oversized cooler
Having a party? Indoor or outdoor, your old kiddie pool is a great way to keep things casual and drinks cold. Fill your pool with ice and drop cans, bottles, or pitchers of cocktails or soft drinks in there for people to grab whenever they’re thirsty. If it’s going to be used outside, you can drill a few drain holes to let the melting ice drain out.
A pet spa
Raise your hand if giving your dog a bath requires a raincoat and a bazillion towels. If you’d prefer not to have to squeegee the whole bathroom or kitchen every time you give Fido a bath, a kiddie pool could be the designated dog spa. Outside, your furry friend can get as feisty as they like, splash around, and shake themselves dry to their heart’s content without making more housework for you. The one downside is they’ll have a lot more room to run if they flee the experience—but at least they won’t take out your shower doors in the process.
A ball pit
If you upgraded your pool situation but you still have young kids running around (or host folks who have kiddos), an old kiddie pool can become something that will keep those kids occupied for hours: A ball pit! A few bucks spent on plastic balls is all you need to keep even the most energetic toddlers safely occupied and contained.