Do you all know what a wall pocket is?
They were quite the "arrow" or "bunting" of home decor back in the early 1900's. No self-respecting Martha Stewart wannabe housewife would be without one.
What? That was before Martha's time?
She's no spring chicken you know!
They were normally ceramic, shaped like vases, animals, houses, cuckoo clocks, you name it and had a hole in the back where you could hang it on your wall.
People would put flowers in them to fancy up their blank wall space, so they are sometimes called a wall pocket vase or wall pocket planter.
But home decor changes. Wall pockets fell out of favor. They went the way of chevron patterns, burlap crafts and the 1980's goose.
Now people mainly just collect them as a cool thing to collect. Normally just hung on the wall by themselves with no flowers. Or part of a gallery wall. Or stuffed into a cupboard.
Some of them are VERY collectible though. Especially the McCoy ones, which seem to fetch a pretty penny on Ebay.
Pottery Companies That Made Wall Pockets
- Mccoy
- Hull
- Shawnee
- Roseville
- Weller
- Holt-Howard
- Rookwood
Well, when I found a wall pocket for a pittance at the thrift store, I just knew I could do something fun with it.
It started life off as a wall pocket. And now it's a wall pocket organizer.
No humongous change there.
But sometimes you don't have to paint something or take a hacksaw to it to make it something useful in today's world.
I was really struggling with what to call this. The term refrigerator organizer was bounced around, but then that made it sound like I was going to keep track of my ketchup and mayonnaise with it.
I finally decided on the term wall pocket organizer, but it's really my little command center for stuff I don't want cluttering up the counter. Not a condiment in site.
How To Upcycle A Vintage Wall Pocket Into A Wall Pocket Organizer
You might think I'm nuts for pounding a nail into my refrigerator to hold this thing.
But it's actually held in place by magnets.
I found these cool magnets that come in a roll, sort of like scotch tape.
You just cut off a strip, remove the adhesive paper and stick it to what you want magnetized. Another one of those crafty things that I may just become obsessed with.
Case in point. Did you notice the Scrabble letters on the fridge?
I just simply removed the adhesive from another long strip of it and plopped the Scrabble letters down on it.
Ten second craft! And it's an eleven pointer!
So don't think you have to grab a can of spray paint or root around in your garage to find your miter saw in order to do an upcycle project. Sometimes it's just tweaking something slightly to bring it up to date for today's busy world.
OK, girls and guys, today is Thrift Store Decor Wednesday, so pop on over and see what the other bloggers have done with their thrift store treasures.
Refresh Restyle - Wooden Step Stool Makeover
Petticoat Junktion - Bling Bottles
My Repurposed Life - Large Trinket Box Makeover
My Uncommon Slice Of Suburbia - Farmhouse Apron Hook
Sadie Seasongoods - Fixing A Broken Up Birdhouse With Barnwood
Domestically Speaking - Stripe Painted Tray
Our Southern Home - Pedestal Makeover
House Of Hawthornes - Vintage Wall Pocket Organizer (that's me)
Other posts you may enjoy:
Mid Century Plant Stand DIY
Boho Succulent Garden From Repurposed Thrift Store Tray
How To Upcycle Old Boots Into Clocks
Ann
The link for the Farmhouse Apron Hook doesn't work.
Pam
Thank you!!! I just fixed it!
Paula
What a great way to use one of these wall pockets! My mom has her grandmother's wall pocket and she always had it hanging to the left of her kitchen sink with a vine type plant trailing out of it when I was growing up. I was picturing my mom's wall pocket as I read your post. I have a white one that I've been meaning to hang for years. Your idea has given me an incentive to use mine.
Pam
Aw, thank you! Hang it up and enjoy it!
Sarah Ramberg
LOVE it!!! And oh my gosh, a non-paint, non-tool, non-anything project is like going to a spa for us bloggers. 😉
Pam
Spa day!!!
Paulette
I like your idea! I have what looks like a wall pocket on steroids called a lavabo by Royal Haeger. It's two pieces, the top is a lion's head with a hole where the mouth is (used to have a spigot, maybe) and the lower part is a wall pocket-like thing that would (I guess?) collect...water? I can't for the life of me conceive of a practical application for it, but it looks cool. In the basement...on a shelf... One day maybe I'll figure out how to upcycle it. I'm thinking outside on a wall or garden fence?
Pam
Yes!!! I could definitely see it outside with a trailing plant hanging out of it. Have you seen where people hang crystal pieces from a faucet and it looks like water? That might be cute too!
Leslie Schmidt
My mom had a lavabo for many years. She kept an ivy plant in it. I always thought it was a pretty cool thing.
Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces
Such a great idea, Pam! Useful and pretty!
Gail wilson
Ohhh Pam! That's such a cute find and I love the way you're using the wall pocket!
Pinned!
gail
Christy Little
I love this!!! What a clever and simple idea with something I would have most likely passed over. I'm raising my hand here.....I had an 80s goose! Ha, ha!!
Diane
Miss Pam, LOVE your wall pocket organizer idea! I have a much smaller version of a pretty wall pocket. On a wall, in a room, that I rarely even go in to. Time to put it where I can enjoy it daily! I love yours! And immediately noticed the Scrabble tiles. I am always looking for new ways to use them. Was never any good at Scrabble, but am pretty creative with the tiles, if I do say so myself! HA!
Maryann
I'm loving this makeover! I've never seen one of those wall pocket organizers... but such a great idea on the fridge!
Kristin salazar
THis is a fantastic idea, thanks for sharing!
Leslie Schmidt
Pam, you crack me up! This is a great idea. Wall pockets are something I collect. I have 10 of them now. I don't look for specific styles or makers; I just buy ones I like that don't cost too much. Right now they are on a wall surrounding the main window in our kitchen. I'll keep looking for them when I'm out and about. Thanks for the clever idea.
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Deanna
Thanks for the inspiration! I have a 1962 Home Interior gold wall pocket. It was my grandmother's and it's been mine since 1994. It has had fake flowers. I kill real plants. I'm tired of cleaning them. I think I will spray paint it a funky color and use your idea!