Earlier this spring I was on the hunt for a basic utilitarian object that pretty much anyone who owns a house has. Of course I’m talking about a full sized Merry-Go-Round outfitted with genuine Lippizaner stallions with pink feather plumes coming out of their heads.
I didn’t have any luck finding one I liked.
So I turned my attention to finding something else that pretty much every homeowner has. Again, I had no luck at all finding something that suited my needs, for the price I wanted to pay. I didn’t want something fancy. I didn’t want something ornate. I wanted something pretty plain. And sturdy. Plain and sturdy. Like a bucktoothed farmboy.
I never did find it. I ended my search when I came up with this …
Yup. You can turn a bucket into a hose reel. Who knew finding a plain garden hose hanger would be so difficult. They all had anchors or fairies or frogs on them. And if they didn’t, they were either made out of ugly plastic or metal that was so flimsy you could bend it with your mind.
Then this idea hit me out of the blue. Like most ideas do. Screw one of my many galvanized buckets (the one that leaks a little bit) to my fence. Instant storage for my hose, work gloves, and tools.
Just take a bucket, 4 screws, and screw it to your fence. I didn’t even pre-drill the holes in my bucket. That’s how confident I was feeling. I don’t mind telling you I felt kind of brilliant after this one.
And then I happened to notice on Remodelista that Martha Stewart has already done the bucket thing. Which is both horrifying and satisfying at the same time. But I want it to be known that even though someone else thought up the bucket thing should in no way deter from MY thinking up the bucket thing as well. We both thunk it up. And I’m still kind of brilliant. And humble.
Now granted, it’s not to everyone’s tastes, I know. BUT, it might get you thinking about what you could use as a hose hanger instead of what you have right now. Or you might be thinking of other uses for a bucket.
Either way you’re thinking outside the bucket.
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Brilliant!!
Those gloves are WAY to clean!
I’m SO doing this idea of YOURS…and M’s lol….she probably “didn’t” think of it ya know.
Ya, I love this- I wish I had an old pail with a hole in. Cuz galvanized pail is definitely my style- ya, I am that stylish, kinda ozark chic, very 2012!
Seriously do love the rustic bucket- I have employed 2 in my house that I “dip-dyed” the bottoms with white paint. One fireside for tinder and another with a chalkboard label stating it’s purpose for compost.
Both the pails & chalkboard vinyl from dollarama. Sadly, they don’t have the pails anymore. I really wanted to paint one in
a funky patio colour for drinks on ice for al fresco dining.
Seems everyone is thinking outside the bucket. Love this idea, thanks!
Great idea!
The this idea. Unfortunately we already have a hose hanger thingy. But if it just happens to break one day (after the kids have been playing with the hose) I now know what to replace it with.
awesome!
The buckets we use are the tallish, heavy plastic ones, but I think they would work. How clever, Karen! Martha’s got nothing on you! Besides, did SHE think of hanging gloves on the bail? I think not!
The plastic buckets will work but you need to use something inside to reinforce the bottom. A 10 inch long 2×4 placed vertically, a 1×6 or a piece of 1/2 plywood cut to fit the inside bottom will all work.
I love this idea. I am still amazed about your glass globe light with Chritmas lights.This is what brought me to your website. Always looking for your next discoveries. Keep the brain working overtime. Make me want to be a better person.
You are so clever, brilliant and humble!
I love it!
I like it. I might use it. Thanks!
Just a bit lower and with a little straw placed inside, the chickens could use if also! It does look good on your fence and could double for a geranium planter. I think this would make a good Friday question of the week = name some other good uses for the bucket on a fence idea that I’m sure you thought up. The MS thing is just scary.
You have completely impressed the Hen as well – so much so that she isn’t even eating your wonderful fern… so what’s the trick to that?
What a amazing ideas you have :)
Wow! Does your mind ever stop? Brilliant! Move over Martha!
Wow, that is so smart- and looks prettier then most hose hangers!
Have a great week!
“We both thunk it up. And I’m still kind of brilliant.”
you are! Never know what can happen when you think outside the bucket! I’m looking over my garden now with a new eye!
I think that rooster is looking totally impressed by YOUR bucket idea!
That. is. brilliant!
Seems bleeding obvious really doesnt it, was meant to be!
You are brilliant!! This is excellent! I have that ugly plastic holder at home.
Um in the beginning of my last comment… I meant to say let the wood sit on the screws… doesn’t make much sense the way I first wrote it LOL I was just so excited about this idea LOL
OMG that is Genius!!! And the shelf that Kelly M thought of could work if you screwed in a couple of screws through the bucket on the sides… either into the wood or underneath and let it sit on the wood! As far as Martha goes… well lets just say I like this site better. Martha seems like a domestic superhuman… you, Karen, seems like one of my neighbors… or me with more motivation LOL
Gosh darn it, I just bought a hose reel! (Well, at a garage sale). And I like yours better – more fun plus storage!
I bet Martha bought a new bucket, rather than ingeniously re-purposing a leaky one.
So simply genius, makes me embarrassed I didn’t think that up on my own! Thank-you…now wheres my bucket (dear Liza, dear Liza…)
You could out Martha her by putting a shelf in the middle of your bucket… a board that’s as wide as the diameter of the bucket would stay in place. Until you put something on it, of course.