Modern DIY Planter Boxes

Modern DIY Planter Boxes

Build these easy DIY wood planter boxes for the front porch for only $15 a piece

Anyone else going a little stir crazy at home? Just because we are stuck at home does not mean we need to be stuck inside, so I headed outdoors for this DIY project!

If you have been following along this little blog for any time at all you know I am notoriously bad at keeping plants alive… But I went ahead and bought some ferns from our friend’s daughter’s fundraiser.

Adam bet me I couldn’t keep them alive for 3 months so challenge accepted!

Will they make it 3 months, I honestly don’t know but I can tell you these DIY planter boxes I made for them will last a lifetime.

I have been desperately wanting some tall, sleek-looking planter boxes for the front porch for a while now, but they are so darn expensive. So I decided to whip up my own DIY version.

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Make Modern DIY Planter Boxes

Supplies:

(This list is for 1 planter box)

• Kreg Jig
• 1 1/4″ Pocket Hole Screws
• (4) 1X4X6
• (1) 1X2
• Drill
• Miter Saw
• Paint/Stain
• Sealer

DIY Wood Planter Box:

First, figure out what size you want your planter boxes to be. I went with 17″ wide on top sloping down to 13″ wide on bottom with an overall height of 24″.

This process is completely customizable so use whatever size works for your space

After you make the dimension decisions cut the 1X2 board for the legs. I cut mine down to (4) 24″ pieces.

Next, I cut down the slats using the 1X4s. You will have (5) slats per side, 20 total per planter.

Here’s the cut list: (4) @15″ (4) @14″ (4) @13″ (4) @12″ (4) @11″

Big Tip: Label each piece of wood so you know its length and can organize your pieces easily

Once all the slats are cut it’s time to cut each side by 5 degrees. A miter saw is a necessity for this project unless you really want a workout with a hand saw.

5 degrees is not a huge angle so its kinda hard to tell from this photo but you will see it better in the next one I promise.

I always do a dry run and piece my wood together to make sure my angles are lining up right with the legs. Now is the time to make any adjustment cuts if need be.

After the slats were cut it’s time to drill my pocket holes using a Kreg Jig.

This tool makes drilling pocket holes a piece of cake. Each slat got 4 pocket holes.

Once the pocket holes are all drilled attach the slats to the legs. Clamp the legs tight onto the slats to make sure they join as flat as possible.

Follow the same steps and attach the other side wall.

Now that the two sides are built, attach the rest of the planks. I found the best way to do this was to lay one side down on the table and attach the slats while holding it flush with the edge of the leg.

This is how one of your side pieces should look once you have the rest of the slats attached

I just laid my other side on top of the other and attached it using the drill and also a screwdriver for the pocket holes that were in the middle, because my drill was to big to fit into the narrower opening.

Finishing The Planters

I used Rust-Oleum flat black spray paint to finish these planter boxes, but you could also stain them.

This is what they looked like after one coat, I applied two coats total.

These planters will be exposed to all the outside elements so it’s super important to seal them. I used Minwax Helmsman Spar Urethane in satin because I wanted a little shine

Finally, add a base for the plants to sit on. There are many ways you could do this but I went for super simple.

I attached scrap 1×3 pieces to the inside of the box and added in two more scrap pieces for the plant to sit on. The two pieces are movable but you could definitely nail them down if you prefer!

Black Planter Boxes for the Front Porch

Y’all I am so happy with how these planters turned out!

They look super expensive and swanky but only cost me $15 apiece to make!

These planters fit in so well with my modern/craftsman/farmhouse vibe (yes that’s a real thing)!

If you want to see the making of these planters in action head on over to our Instagram and check out the build in our story highlights. Now all that’s left is to keep these ferns alive, wish me luck!

Pin This Project For Later!

Outdoor Project Series:

• Patio Design Board
• Edging In Landscape The Lazy Girl Way
• $15 Planter Box
• Outdoor Bench Makeover
• $3 Outdoor Lanterns
• $150 Outdoor Dining Table & Bench
• DIY Concrete Planter
• Outdoor Patio REVEAL!

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