50 Cool DIY Planters You Can Make From Scratch Or Recycled Materials

Flowers have always been a part of our lives, whether we just like to receive them or have them in our homes.

 DIY Planters

What do you do when your plant needs more room to grow or what do you do when normal planters aren’t enough for your specific needs?

My suggestion would be to make your own DIY planters. Or why not recycle some other planter you may have and use it.

If you think that making your own planter is rocket science you can’t be more wrong.

Let’s take a look at some interesting planters and projects, and then we’ll talk about what we liked and what we did not.

Cheap planters you can make from scratch.

Buying plant pots and containers can be so expensive. However, there are lots of ways to make cheap plants from scratch, often using materials you already have or can find for free. Check these out.

1. Yogurt containers: easy DIY Planters

Yogurt containers: Easy DIY planters

In the DIY category, we should say from the start that this is about making things that are cheap but original to suit our needs and practice our skills a bit. This project involves making small planters from yogurt containers instead of using pots.

This is probably the easiest project ever because involves a simple plastic food container that is usually thrown away as soon as it’s empty.

To make it look special, spray paint it or apply decals on it and let it dry, then simply plant your herbs. When I was a kid, my mom and I made lots of planters like this one.{found on ivillage}.

2. DIY book planters.

DIY planters

This project is simply amazing. The concept is very original and I must confess that I would never have thought of such a thing.

These homemade book planters look wonderful and if you want to make some of your own this is what you’ll have to do: Find some old books and cut out a hole.

Next, you’ll fit a plastic sheet inside to prevent any water and dirt from deteriorating the rest of the book. After that, remove the plants from their original containers and place them into the book.

Trim the extra plastic and clean the newly created planter. This is the perfect artistic expression: taking something beautiful and turning it into something else beautiful.{found on apartmenttherapy}.

3. Planter From A Wooden Crate.

Planter From A Wooden Crate
DIY planters

Making a planter from a wooden crate is simple, very attractive and, of course, original. Due to their generous size, these planters can manage a lot more than a single plant.

You can use them to transform your patio into a salad garden or to plant some fresh herbs for your cooking.

Nature takes care of most of the hard work so the only things you’ll need to do are fill the planters with fertile soil, make sure that the water can drain.

Then, when they grow you can be proud of your work as well as have a new spot of vegetation on your balcony or patio.{found on diggingfood}.

4. DIY modern cement planters.

DIY planters
DIY planters

Wow! Cement planters are so cool and original, with a handmade feel. Anyone can make these and the result is simple, stylish and downright lovable.

The mixture is one part cement and four parts sand. To give them the right shape, you can look for old food containers with unusual forms.

After filling a larger bowl with the cement mix, place a smaller pot inside, creating a cavity in the sand– an ice cream cup would be perfect.

Flip it and let it try for a couple of days. After that, drill some holes for drainage, sand the edges smooth and plant a succulent in it.{from sofie}.

5. Other cement planters.

DIY planters
DIY planters

Since we mentioned cement planters earlier, here’s another cool project with basically the same ingredients. This uses a slightly different technique, inserting straws for the planter’s drainage holes and adding some colored cement powder.

The result is a little more modern with a refined feel. Still, the decorative impact is the same and it can be used anywhere to animate a dull area.

It’s especially great how the planter and the plant give a very chic splash of color in a white-tiled bathroom, as in this picture.{found on centsationalgirl}.

6. Pram planter.

DIY planters

Wow, this is unique indeed. A pram planter? Who would’ve thought? The uniqueness of this planter comes from the contrast of the two elements and how unrelated they are.

A pram is meant to transport babies not to hold plantings.

Anyway, this is a success because of the pram’s vintage feel and the green shades of color that make the transition to the actual greenery.

Let’s not forget that this thing has wheels and can be moved around the house where it can become part of the setting.{found on flickr}.

7. Recycled upside-down planters.

DIY planters

Can planters are a very cool and cheap way to decorate your house, but upside down can planters?

You probably never imagined plants growing upside down but this is not only possible but also looks pretty good. To do this project yourself, a coffee can with a plastic lid would be the perfect candidate.

After drilling the drainage holes, flip the can and fill it with some soil and add your plant.

DIY planters

Now comes the tricky part: Preventing the soil from spilling along with the plant. Trace the bottom of the can on a coffee filter or landscape fabric and cut out the circle.

You should also cut out a hole that is the diameter of your plant’s main stem.

Next, cut a hole in the plastic lid, put it on and flip the planter.

Now, you have a cool recycled upside-down planter to decorate your home.{found on designsponge}.

8. Mason jar planter.

DIY planters

Inspired by a spice rack, the placement of these planters assures a very interesting decorative element as well as its utility.

You won’t find any flowers in these jar planters, but instead fresh herbs for natural cooking.

Clear your kitchen counter and keep your herbs fresh in the air. It’s a great idea we should actually try.{found on housewife}.

9. Pallet Vertical Garden.

DIY planters

If you have a small terrace and you’re almost out of outdoor space to put pots, it’s time to think vertically. This unusual planter focuses on growing plants densely on your terrace without taking up a lot of room.

You can do this yourself with a simple pallet found near a dumpster or behind a local store. Prepare the pallet by repairing it and adding some landscape fabric to the back.

The plants should be the type that cascades so the entire ensemble will look good and healthy. This is a perfect way to enjoy spring on a balcony.{found on lifeonbalcony}.

10. Coffee bag planter pots.

DIY planters

If you are not a big fan of traditional planters you can try to make your own. A very interesting one suggests that make a coffee bag planter. It does the same job but it looks completely different.

Coffee bag pots are fantastic for many reasons. They are made from recycled materials and are weather-resistant and biodegradable as well.

Probably the best feature, though, is that you can make them yourself in less than half an hour. 

The result looks extraordinary in any corner, giving your décor a natural feel as well as an original touch.{found on apartmenttherapy}.

11. Paint planters.

DIY planters

If you have artistic skills you can choose to make your own DIY planters with eye-catching fresh coat designs on them. Old paint cans are most handy when it comes to making planters and you can use their smooth surface either to do something like this, or you can glue on some vivid colored fabric.{found on designsponge}.

12. Chalkboard paint terracotta pots.

DIY planters
DIY planters
DIY planters

If you don’t really want to change your old terracotta pot planters but you still need to change something about them, this is going to be just the thing for you.

Using some chalkboard paint and some crazy templates you can revive your old terracotta pots.

On the new terracotta pot surface created you can simply write the plant’s name, or have some fun with funny drawings on the old planters pots.{found on designsponge}

13. DIY water trough planter.

DIY planters
DIY planters

A water trough planter isn’t really very common. That’s probably because these items are considerably more expensive than a normal planter of roughly the same size.

And, because these things were designed to hold water, to make a planter you would have to puncture holes in them.{found on apartmenttherapy}.

14. Brick succulent planters.

DIY planters

Another thing that you might never have thought of  is represented by these brick planters.

These natural and durable building materials provide a very cool contrast to elegant succulent plants. Used bricks work even better because they have a bit of personality and history behind them.

Let’s not forget the costs either because if they are used, they were probably thrown away, so they are free.

The tricky part is to drill the holes. It’s not difficult but you’ll have to be very patient, because any shock could shatter the brick.

The candle holder is optional, but if you choose to do it, it will only score a lot of style points.{found on readymade}.

15. DIY chevron-patterned reclaimed wood planter box.

DIY planters
DIY planters

The concept of using an old wooden box as a planter is not new, but it continues to be an amazing technique.

This particular wooden box planter houses an avocado tree. The interesting fact about this planter is that its sides are made from reclaimed wood in a very playful, eye-catching chevron pattern.

This delightful planter is a great candidate for a garden project. You should get started!{found on zelophotoblog}.

16. DIY drip planters.

DIY planters

DIY drip planters are great if you are a free spirit who loves color. Spilling paint when painting your walls is bad, but intentionally spilling paint over some traditional pots is actually a very cool decoration for any porch. Wherever this idea came from, the result is fantastic.

The colored receptacles have a certain grungy look and that is why a certain period of time comes to my mind when things were done carelessly because people were busy making love instead of war if you catch my drift.{found on ikea}.

17. Make Your Own DIY Floppy Disk Planters.

DIY planters

For computer fans, here’s a unique way to make DIY planters. For those who are old enough to know what a floppy disk is, this can be indeed a very cool creation.

This kind of information storage hasn’t been used in a long time, so if you have them, they are pretty useless. {found on instructables}.

18. Recycled paint can planters.

DIY planters

Recycling is important nowadays not just because it’s a trend and everyone doing it, but because our planet has fewer and fewer resources. Moreover, it’s our job to be sure that our grandkids will see this planet as we see it now. Old paint cans are very often used as planters for a variety of reasons.{found on Centsational}.

19. Springy painted mason jar planters.

DIY planters

Mason jars are great. People have been using them for a wide range of things. Among those things are Mason jar planters in various shapes and, as we can see here, colors.

These jars are very water-resistant; therefore they don’t have a problem holding some dirt and a small plant. Due to their small volume, only small- and medium-sized plants can be potted because their roots don’t need too much space.

To spice up their appearance you can spray paint them in any color you like, and if you use multiple jars you can make very nice decorative color combinations.{found on csi}.

20. Teacup succulent garden.

DIY planters
DIY planters
DIY planters

Teacup planters may be a first for you.  Actually, we haven’t heard much about people putting plants in teacups.

Maybe that’s because they are relatively small and can hold a small amount of soil. But, teacups are, in general, very good-looking. Also, depending on the brand, details and graphics can play a very important role in the design.

If you want to have small plants that will fit perfectly on your window sill, this can actually work very well. The cup design along with some decorative gravel and the natural colors of the plant can really change the look of your dull window sills.{found on epherielldesigns}.

21. DIY shower curtain planter.

DIY planters

Speaking of crazy ideas for making planters, in these pictures you can see what a shower curtain planter looks like. Yes, you heard me — shower curtain planters.

The concept is pretty simple, it’s just like making a bag. But, instead of sewing fabric pieces together, you will use the waterproof material for a shower curtain. All you have to do is glue everything in place according to your desired sizes. 

The material is very strong and should hold a fair amount of dirt along with your desired plant.

If you are lucky enough to have a brightly colored shower curtain or one with an intricate pattern lying around the house, your DIY planters will definitely rock.{found on readymade}.

22. Bright DIY planters.

DIY planters
DIY planters

We’ve talked a lot lately about unusual planters and original designs, but traditional pots are still charming and many of us prefer those instead of paint cans or plastic food containers. Traditional doesn’t really mean old-fashioned.

On the contrary, this means that the quality standards have remained unchanged for a long period of time.

To add a modern touch to those wonderful ceramic planters, you can use some acrylic paints and just draw some lines or color the edges with some bright, vivid colors. This will definitely make your windowsill more playful.{found on onmyhonoriwilltry}.

23. Outdoor wood planters on casters.

DIY planters
DIY planters
DIY planters

For those of you who are lucky you enough to have a courtyard or big terrace, here’s an option for you. Why not create good old wood boxes? You can choose the desired dimension, making sure that you have plenty of room to add as many plants as you like. These are big enough that you can also make combinations of plants, colors and arrangements. {found on 221vision}.

24. DIY outdoor hanging planter from a tire.

DIY planters
 

This kind of DIY planter was found in a scrap yard a few years ago. That was probably an accident because there were tires all over the place and somehow some plants grew in a couple of them.

To see this as an intentional thing is altogether something else. You’ve probably seen planters made out of tires but stacked on top of each other, painted in white and red from which a big bushy flower appeared.{found on alternativeapparel}.

25. Tiered outdoor planters.

DIY planters

Another cool idea to diversify your planter arrangement or to create new floral arrangements using traditional ceramic planters is this one. Take a look at how wonderful those three planters look stacked like that.

To make a similar arrangement on your own, all you have to do is take one large, one medium and one small pot and nestle them one within another in a way to create a DIY planter that is as impressive as it is cost-effective. If you really want it to look amazing, paint the planters in different bright colors so it will pop wonderfully on your terrace.{found on Positively Splendid}.

26. Tree stump planters.

DIY planters

Nature gives us guidance on how not to discard everything but to transform it instead. This is the case with these wonderful stump tree planter ideas. These are pretty tall and not particularly to my taste. If the logs would have 10 inches or so in height and be a darker color, they would be perfect, but these work as well.

This type of DIY planter is great with some climbing plants, and if they are placed somewhere under a fence or under a nice traditional façade, the effect would be tremendously good looking.{found on thecraftytulip}.

27. Planters made from old tires.

DIY planters
DIY planters

Wow, this is truly amazing. We’ve seen before planters made out from tires but not like these ones. The wonderful design is possible thanks to the individual pattern of the tires. As you can imagine, bits of old tires were recycled and reused to create a very cool and unique container for a planting.

This technique manages to expose the tire’s original form and still transform it into a very cool design feature. Different tire sizes, different size planters.

DIY planters
DIY planters

These objects are extremely durable and flexible so dropping them shouldn’t be a problem, not the mention that the incredible curvature of the tire gives a nice shape to the planter.

For the bigger and heavier planters, handles from the same materials can be attached as well, making them easier to transport or move around.{found on UBeauty pots and plants}.

28. Rain boots garden.

DIY planters

Cool DIY planter ideas never stop pouring out of profile sites because people are different and see things differently. Now, we’ve talked about planters at length and still haven’t run out of great ideas for how to make an original planter.

These pairs of rubber boots make wonderful planters. Hung on the fence, these colored boots look great filled with dirt.

If you don’t have spare rain boots, you can get them at a thrift store. It’s all about imagination.{found on rosinahuber}.

29. DIY shadow boxes on a fence.

DIY planters

Flower arrangements that focus on verticality are more suited for small urban gardens because space is scarce among skyscrapers.

These shadow boxes can be easily made from some scrap wood and hung on the railing. Inside you can put all kinds of planters as long as they fit the box’s height and width.

Similar to shelves, you can make as many as you like to shelter your beloved flower pots and plant babies from bad weather.{found on sunset}.

30. Another outdoor planter made from recycled tires.

DIY planters

This type of planter is very common on country properties where you have plenty of room around the yard to play with.

I have seen this exact white and red color palette along my journey through DIY planter ideas, probably, because of the contrast.

The advantage, in this case, is having plenty of room, making it suitable for big plants or even small trees or bushes. It is low-cost in terms of materials.{found on Studio G }.

31. Hanging basket.

DIY planters

Baskets and planters share plenty in common so they can potentially be used interchangeably. It’s not surprising that a basket can be repurposed into a planter that you can hang.

Of course, this is not just any hanging planter. It’s handmade using three embroidery hoops and it’s perfect for this purpose.

You can hang this in front of a window so the plants get plenty of sunlight. Check out the super easy tutorial on how to make this planter on hearthandvine.

32. Painted bottle planters.

DIY planters

As you may already know, plastic bottles are very versatile and can be used in a lot of creative ways. If you cut off the top section of a plastic bottle you’re left with a container that you can easily turn into a small planter.

To make it look a bit nicer you can use paint in different colors to decorate the exterior of the bottle and you can make several of these mini planters which you can then hang around the house or place on shelves and tables. You can find a tutorial on efzincreations.

33. Repurposed beer cans.

DIY planters

An empty can, whether it’s from beer, soda or something else, can be easily repurposed and used as a planter for things like succulents and cacti which are not particularly demanding.

To make the transformation and to also be able to preserve the cans as best as possible, you’ll need to use a can opener to open up the top, a hammer and a nail.

Check out this project on themerrythought for more details.

34. Candlesticks and bowls.

DIY planters

These planters look quite unique and they actually are. They’re made from a combination of candlesticks, bowls and various glasses which have been matched based on shape and size.

You can do something similar using a few items from your own kitchen and storage.

Once you have a few pairs figured out, go ahead and glue the pieces together and then apply a few layers of spray paint. Enjoy your new and one-of-a-kind planters. More details can be found on pillarboxblue.

35. Handmade clay pot.

DIY planters

Clay pots are a lot of fun to make and you can pretty much choose any shape or design you want.

This for example is a super cute whale pot. If you want to make one just like it, roll out some blue clay and cut out an oval, then cut out the tail and press it and shape it so it stands elevated, then finally attach the body by cutting out a big strip of clay and connecting the edge to the oval.

Cut off the excess and smooth out the lines, then make the little eyes and the mouth using a sharp point and a craft knife.

Additional details for these pots can be found in the tutorial featured on triedandtrueblog.

36. A small planter table.

DIY planters

This is a really nice and stylish way of displaying a medium or large plant and elevating it off the floor.

It’s a sort of accent table specifically designed to accommodate a planter inside. It appears to have hairpin legs but those are actually repurposed paper towel holders.

They attach to the bottom of the base using screws. Check out craftberrybush to find out more about this unusual project.

37. Abstract cement planters.

DIY planters

As you already know from the previously mentioned projects, making concrete planters is easy and very satisfying. You can shape them however you want and decorate them in lots of cute ways using paints.

These designs featured on deliciousanddiy are a bit on the abstract side, showcasing a series of geometric color-blocked combinations as well as different forms and sizes.

38. Woven planters.

DIY planters

As you can tell, these woven planters are quite special. They’re not just decorated with string, they’re held together by it. The way you make these is by starting with some plastic nursery pots. First you cut their sides into vertical strips. Then you take some string or yarn, tape one end to the bottom of the plant pot and then start weaving as shown on hearthandvine.

39. Wooden box planter.

DIY planters

A cool way to conceal a less-than-attractive plant pot or to give it more character while also helping it stand out and match the décor is by crafting a wooden box for it.

The planter box can be reclaimed material if you prefer a rustic look or clean lumber for a more modern appearance. In any case, the design featured on sustainmycrafthabit is an easy one to follow.

40. Hanging hoop stand.

DIY planters

If you want something clean, simple and stylish, how about a hanging hoop planter stand?

It really stands out and it can work with a variety of different types of pots and planters as long as they fit snugly into the middle circle. It looks gorgeous with hanging plants because it puts all the emphasis on them and doesn’t distract from them in any way.

Check out danslelakehouse to find out how to make one of these plant stands.

41. Front door sign.

DIY planters

This is something that can be displayed on an entry door or up on a wall in the entryway or front porch. It’s a wooden welcome sign with a cute vintage planter on it — a nice alternative to the usual wreath or other common decoration.

If you want to make something like this, you need a wooden board (a reclaimed pallet can also work), a planter (which in this case looks like a vintage metal box), a stencil, some paint, stain, screws and of course something to put into the planter. More details can be found on craftsbycourtney.

42. Tea tins turned into planters.

DIY planters

These little tea tins are just too cute and lovely to throw away when empty so anyone in their right mind would try to find a way to repurpose them.

One idea is to turn them into mini planters. In fact, it’s a fairly simple transformation and you can do in multiple different ways. You can find a detailed tutorial on demetres in case you want to try this for yourself.

43. Driftwood centerpiece.

DIY planters

Using driftwood in DIY projects is always wonderful and one of the loveliest things you can make with it is a table centerpiece. You can make a few strategic holes into the wood and fill them with a bit of soil, then add some tiny succulents.

It looks very refreshing and it’s a really great idea not just for special occasions but for your everyday home décor as well. Check out hunker for more information on this project.

44. A bench with built-in planters.

DIY planters

This is a doubly great project because you’ll end up with an outdoor bench you can actually sit on and a few really nice planters as well.

The idea behind this project is a very simple one and it involves cinderblocks. These can be used to create a sturdy base for the seat of the bench which is a simple piece of wood going across.

The cinderblocks have holes in them where you can add soil and fill them with plants. More details can be found on akailochiclife.

That is it! We hope you liked the projects presented here. Most of all, as we always say, we hope that this will serve as inspirational material for your own DIY projects.

45. Black and white planter

DIY planters

A classic combo that works for anything – including planters – is black and white. This super simple planter decorating technique doesn’t really require any major artistic talent.

Actually, you only need a sponge dauber to stamp large dots and some brushes for the small blobs. Follow this quick tutorial to make these yourself.

You could try this combo in reverse too: white dots on a black planter. In any case, the contrast of this combination is great with vibrant greenery.

46. DIY suspended metal planter

DIY planters

This chic plant holder looks far more complicated than it really is. In fact, the hardest part is probably deciding where to hang it! There’s no welding or special skill needed. The holder made from metal tubing – in this case brass – and twine.

The best thing about this classy planter is that you can customize it to hold any size bowl or pot that you want to hang.

It’s just a matter of measuring your pot and cutting the pipe to the size you need. After that, all you have to do is thread the pipes onto the twine to form the hanger.

You’ll be installing your new hanging plant in no time!

47. Tin Can Planters

DIY planters

To call this an easy DIY is an understatement. It takes no time at all to transform some empty cans that are essentially trash into cute, colorful planters.

These tin can planters start with a nice clean can.

After you use a nail to hammer some holes into the bottom, all you have to do is spray them. Choose colors that match your décor or follow a seasonal theme. These light and bright colors are great for spring or summer! Check out how easy this project is.

48. Clay Giraffe Planter

Funny Clay Giraffe Planter

Every room benefits from having plants and a kid’s room is no exception. Besides, this little giraffe is cute as can be. It’s a perfect shelf accent and is fun to make. The best thing is, your kids can help you make it.

The giraffe is built by hand from air-dry clay, so there’s no baking. Even better, you can make all kinds of animals in the same way.

Once they’re formed and dry, paint them to suit your taste. Of course, there’s no rule that says the colors have to be realistic. If you child wants a pink giraffe, go for it!

49. Copper Wood Planter

DIY planters

This wood plant stand and copper bowl combo looks so high end! Buying one at the store won’t be a bargain.  But, if you like doing some woodwork, you can make one on the cheap.

Just pick up some copper bowls at a discount store. After that you just have to measure the bowls and get to work on the wood.

It’s not mandatory to have power tools either.

The instructions include directions for making the stand without them. This is a fabulous plant stand for any room in the house.

50. Transform Toys into Planters

DIY planters

Now here’s an idea that you probably didn’t consider: turning toys into planters. We’ve all seen wagons and barrels and chairs with plants, but maybe not toys.

This is a great way to recycle old toys and have a little fun with your plants. Most toys will work as long as they have a cavity of some kind. The hole in the toy will determine how big your plant can be. This would make a great plant pot for a kid’s room too. Or, liven up the garden with a few toy planters.