• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Stacy Risenmay
  • Home
  • About me
  • PRESS
  • Contact Me
  • My Book
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • About me
  • Project Gallery
  • Our House
  • PRESS
  • Contact Me
  • Privacy Policy
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    DIY Modern Planter Box

    By Stacy 15 Comments

    Sometimes when I have a big project that is starting to feel overwhelming I like to stop it for a bit and work on a smaller project. I think I just need to FINISH something. When the project or room I am working on seems like it will never be done, it is nice to have a sense of accomplishment that something did get done. Shane calls it project ADD, I call it keeping my sanity :)

    The big project I needed a tiny break from is our upstairs bathroom and the little project I decided to do was this DIY modern planter box.  I partnered with Minwax to bring you the tutorial. It is pretty simple and would look great indoors or outside on a porch.

     

    planter-box

    modern wood planter tutorial

    Supplies:

    ¾" plywood

    Table saw

    Miter Saw

    Lattice trim

    Brad nailer gun

    Drill

    1 ½" screws

    Stainable wood putty

    Sandpaper

    Black paint

    Wood stain

    Foam brush

    Paper towels

    1 ½" casters

     

     

    First, you need to cut out the pieces for the box. I wanted it to be 12 inches wide by 14 inches tall. Since I was doing a basic butt joint, two sides had to be narrower to fit inside the other two sides. You could always do a 45 degree cut to have a prettier corner, but since it was going to be painted and mostly covered up, I didn't think it mattered to take the extra time.

    Add the width of two boards and then subtract that from the width you want it to be when completed. For ¾ inch boards, that is 1 ½ inches making the inside boards 10.5 inches instead of 12.

    Because the bottom piece will also fit inside, it will also need to be 10.5 inches.

     

    peices-for-planter-box

     

    Because planters will be getting wet when watering the plants inside, the wood will want to warp over time. I have found that brad nails do not hold up well over time. I use screws to hold together planters. Screw together your box, sand it well, and then paint or stain it the base color.

     

    black-base-color

    I cut the trim on my miter saw to have 45 degree cuts on each end so when they meet up at the corner they had a nice mitered corner instead of a butt joint. Nail the trim on with a finishing brad nailer or glue it and hold it on with clamps until the glue dries.

     

    nail-the-lattice-trim-on-the-box

     

    Putty the nails holes and any gaps using a stainable wood putty. When it is dry, sand it smooth. Make sure you sand off all putty except where the little nail hole was. Even though putty is stainable, it is only stainable to a point and your finish may look splotchy if you don't sand off all the extra putty.

     

    putty-nail-holes

     

    Wipe down the planter box after sanding. I ended up hosing mine down because the sawdust in all the little recessed areas was hard to wipe off.  When it is dry, it is time to stain!

    I chose to use this Minwax Wood Sheen. It is waterbased and is easy to clean up. Because it has a sheen to it, I made sure to wipe off any that got on the painted wood by running a damp cloth over the painted parts. If I would have had an extra foam brush (I go through them like crazy!) I would have used a damp foam brush since it would have fit so well in between the slats.

    I did two thin coats. The more coats you add, the more sheen your project will have. I like satin or matte finishes so I didn't add more but you certainly could for a richer and shinier look.

     

    Minwax-Wood-Sheen

     

    I am really happy with how it turned out! It is actually going to go in one of the boy rooms I am hoping to work on this summer. That is my next big project after the bathroom renovation. One of the rooms will have a mid-century modern vibe and I think this DIY planter will fit right in with the design.

     

    DIY modern planter box

     

    But for now it will happily reside in our family room!

     

    DIY Modern Planter Box

     

    I wasn't going to add casters at first but I am glad I decided to. I think it looks better with wheels!

     

    Pin for later:

     

    DIY Modern Planter Box

     

     

     

    This post was sponsored by Minwax but the project idea and opinions were all my own!

    You will also like:

    • Wood Bead PlanterWood Bead Planter
    • Simple DIY FrameSimple DIY Frame
    • How To Build A Simple Entryway TableHow To Build A Simple Entryway Table
    • Glass Light Shade Vase: Three Ways!Glass Light Shade Vase: Three Ways!
    • Build Your Own Planter Box!Build Your Own Planter Box!
    • How to Refinish A TableHow to Refinish A Table
    • Wood Slice Plant StandWood Slice Plant Stand
    • Modern Tree Stump PlanterModern Tree Stump Planter

    « Upstairs Bathroom Renovation: Part 2
    Spray Shelter & Turntable »

    Filed Under: DIY & Tutorials, Favorites, Houseplants 15 Comments

    Subscribe

    for your weekly DIY fix.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Claire

      May 13, 2017 at 12:26 pm

      This is so neat! I love the contrast between the black and the stain.

      Reply
    2. Ang Paris

      May 15, 2017 at 5:34 am

      This is such a clever project and I love that the planter is one wheels so you can move it easily! :)

      Reply
    3. Chelsea Coulston

      May 15, 2017 at 6:29 pm

      Such a great addition, Stacy! I love the stained you chose! And I feel the same way - sometimes you just need to FINISH something.

      Reply
    4. Gina Kleinworth

      May 16, 2017 at 7:06 am

      Girl.....I'm swooning. I was literally just telling the hubs the other day that I wanted to build planters just like this. LOVE LOVE LOVE!

      Reply
    5. Morena

      May 16, 2017 at 12:31 pm

      It's gorgeous!

      Reply
    6. Leslie

      May 16, 2017 at 8:52 pm

      This is gorgeous!!! Love it ❤️❤️❤️

      Reply
    7. Emily

      May 21, 2017 at 3:52 pm

      I really love the clean, modern look of this planter! Thanks for linking up with Merry Monday last week - I'll be featuring your DIY planter at our upcoming party.

      Reply
    8. Laura / Pet Scribbles

      May 22, 2017 at 10:08 am

      Love this planter! The black really makes it look like you can "see" between the slats! At first I thought it was a made out of a pallet!

      Reply
    9. Amy Anderson

      May 22, 2017 at 1:07 pm

      Very cool! This would look perfect in my new house!

      Reply
    10. Brianda

      September 29, 2017 at 7:24 pm

      This looks so cute! My potted plants don't look pretty and I've been trying to figure out what to do with them. I think this is it. I'm a bit worried since I don't do much wood working stuff but it seems straightforward enough. And you added great instructions. So thanks! Goodbye boring pots

      Reply
    11. mary ann Breitbach

      May 17, 2019 at 11:29 am

      what size are the boards or slats you put on the outside of the planter
      thank you

      Reply
    12. Greg Nice

      May 15, 2020 at 8:41 pm

      dirt + water+plywood = rot. User redwood or cedar for the inside of you planter. Plus the glue in plywood is toxicant good for plant health.

      Reply

    Trackbacks

    1. DIY Garden Ideas - Merry Monday #155 - two purple couches says:
      May 21, 2017 at 7:00 pm

      […] DIY Modern Planter Box from Not Just a Housewife […]

      Reply
    2. Meet Stacy! - Sawdust 2 Stitches says:
      November 28, 2018 at 11:11 am

      […] a self proclaimed plant lady, I love collecting plants and building planters for them. This slatted one has a modern feel and was super easy to make! I have made a hanging beaded planter, a set of three […]

      Reply
    3. DIY Outdoor Planters - 20 Creative Projects to Add to Your Garden - Living La Vida Holoka says:
      May 16, 2019 at 4:01 am

      […] Modern Planter Box – Stacy Risenmay […]

      Reply

    Comment Below! Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    stacyHey! I'm Stacy and am a DIY addict. I love to get my hands dirty, whether it's sawdust, paint, or dirt. My goal is to help YOU learn to fix up your home and yard. No matter the style or size, I think everyone should love their home. And it doesn't takes a big budget to get there. Let's DIY together!

    Subscribe to My Blog!

    Search this site

    categories

      

    Subscribe

    Footer

    Welcome! I'm sharing our adventures as we fix up our 1938 cottage. Whether it is big or small, I think everyone should love their home and I don't think it takes a lot of money to make a space your own

    About Stacy

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

    My Favorites

    copyright

    All images and content are copyrighted via Stacy Risenmay unless otherwise stated. If you'd like to share my work, please link back to this blog.
    Thank you for visiting!


    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Meet Stacy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

    Categories 

    • Home Decor
    • Outdoor Projects & Gardening
    • DIY & Tutorials
    • Kid Activities
    • Recipes
    • Travel
    • Cleaning
    • Houseplants
    • Staining
    • Painting
    • Power Tools
    • Holiday Ideas

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2020 Brunch Pro on the Brunch Pro Theme

     

    Privacy Policy
    Welcome! Thanks for visiting.
    Hi! I'm Stacy and I want to help YOU become a DIY rockstar! Sign up for my email list so each project, tip, and trick will go directly to your inbox :)
    Your information will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party. Pinky promise :)
    Welcome!
    Hi! I'm Stacy and I blog about fixing up our 1938 cottage. Join the thousand of others who get my posts sent to their inbox for FREE!
    Your information will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party.