DIY Modern Planter Box

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.

Supplies:

3/4″ plywood

Table saw

Miter Saw

Lattice trim

Brad nailer gun

Drill

1 1/2″ screws

Stainable wood putty

Sandpaper

Black paint

Wood stain

Foam brush

Paper towels

1 1/2″ 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 3/4 inch boards, that is 1 1/2 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.