Upcycle an Old Basket Into a Planter Box
In case you missed it, I recently turned a old nightstand into an herb garden for my covered front porch. I loved having the ability to plant in the drawers, but felt that the top of the nightstand needed to house even more plants. So the herb basket idea was born!
If you want to see the full nightstand transformation, you can check out all of the steps and the before and after pictures here.
I am so in love with how this basket planter turned out! This is definitely a project worth repeating again and again!
Here's my starting basket that I purchased at my local Goodwill for $2.99. It had great bones, but was in desperate need of a makeover. For that I used two coats of Slate Ultra Matte Rustoleum spray paint. Complete game changer. This color sprayed on so beatifully… this is definitely a new favorite color of mine and I can’t wait to use it again!
Here it is after its first coat of paint. You can still see that tattle-tail red color peaking through.
And here it is after both coats. Now that's a pretty basket!
Now it's time to transform it into a planter.
I wanted to protect my newly refurbished basket from any water damage, so I went off in search of a liner and struck gold at my local Dollar Tree store.
I found that a foil tray and lid from the Dollar Store fit perfectly inside! Cue happy dance!!
This way, I could give the appearance that the herbs were planted directly in the basket, but still create a double planter setup that would allow for good drainage and protect my basket from any overwatering.
To ensure that I had good drainage for my plants I poked holes in the bottom of the foil tray using screw drivers.
I set the foil tray inside it's upturned lid and then I laid out my plants:
A row of flowering chives in the back.
Parsley in the middle row.
And my creeping thyme along the front.
All that was left was to fill in around the plants with fresh potting soil and place the finished product inside the basket.
Voila!
It really was the perfect addition to the top of my herb dresser.
I personally love planting in unusual containers and finding creative ways to still ensure good drainage. You can read much more on this in my Teacup Succulents article where I show you how to create good drainage for plants in a teacup, china dish, silver tea pot or any other solid vessel.
Happy planting!
Resources for this project:
See all materials
Comments
Join the conversation
-
Yes I will try it
-
I can't help but admire your creativity. Turning an old nightstand into a planter box is such a fantastic way to give new life to something old. I think I should pinch your idea and give a second life to my old stuff. I totally get why you'd want to maximize your herb-growing space, especially when you have such a cool setup with the drawers. If you're still on the lookout for more plant ideas, I've got a personal suggestion for you. Consider adding some red creeping thyme to your collection. It's not only a great ground cover but also brings a burst of vibrant color to your garden.
Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?
I must be missing something. If you put holes in the aluminum pan, won’t the draining water cause the basket to rot over time?
I don’t mean to change the subject but what is the tall white thing behind it?