This beautiful modern wood planter is a plant stand/ planter combo. Perfect piece to display your favorite annuals, flower baskets or decorative grasses. Whether indoors or out, it is a conversation piece that is sure to make a statement! Build it with light and sturdy 2×2 lumber. 

Dimensions 14″ x 14″ x 32″ high

DIY Modern Wood Planter

One of my favorite things to do to in the spring and summer is to decorate my porch with beautiful flowers. I am not one to plant flowers in the ground. Our south facing home requires a lot of watering to keep a flower garden alive and I’m just not willing to put in the effort -yet. I do have a retirement wish list, and a flower garden is one of them! So, I have embraced the easy-to-maintain evergreens and colored shrubs in my front and back yards.

On my porch though, I make an effort to add some blossoms. I place them close to my front door for easy access to watering every morning. I actually enjoy getting up early and watering the flowers after my walk.

This modern wood planter  comfortably holds a 12″ pot.  The design is super simple, with 2×2’s attached in a square, then stacked up to the height you like.

I wanted to add a modern touch to my porch, so I opted to make mine tall. Making 2 or 3 of these in different heights would be beautiful grouped together. Building a couple of matching short ones would look great on either side of your front door.

The possibilities are endless. Are your wheels turning yet?

DIY Modern Wood Planter

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Materials & Tools Needed 

• (11) 2″ x 2″ x 8′  s
• 2- 1/2″ pocket screws (I got a pack of 200 and went through more than half)
• (4)  2- 1/2″ wood screws
• K4 Kreg Jig
• Wood Glue
• Miter Saw
• Nail Gun
• Drill
• Wood Protector (for a water resistant long lasting finish if using outdoors)

Lumber Cuts

• Long pieces: 42 cuts at 14″
• Short Pieces: 42 cuts at 11 3/8″ 
• Legs: 4 Cuts at 2″

DIY Modern Wood Planter-Putting it together

Step 1: Cut and drill pocket holes (until the cows come home)

Make your cuts. Measure as accurately as possible so your squares will be the same size. If you have good size miter saw, you can cut these boards 3 or 4 at a time, which saves a ton of time.

Then using your  Kreg Jig , drill pocket holes on each end of the short pieces. The short pieces will fit inside the long pieces and voila! , you should end up with a 14 x 14 inch square.

If you are not ready to invest on the bigger kreg jig system, try the mini jig! I am basically in love with mine. If you already have one, be sure and visit my collection of kreg jig projects for beginners!

Step 2: Make squares, lots of squares.

As I mentioned before (in case you’re a post skimmer like I am, and missed it). The short pieces will fit inside the long pieces and voila! , you should end up with a 14 x 14 inch square. Attach with pocket screws and wood glue  at the seams. And no, you’re not hallucinating, the picture below has the pocket holes facing down. 

Now keep going and make 19 squares that look just like this!! Unless you want a shorter planter 🙂

Step 3: Assemble the planter support square and the feet

If you made this planter exactly as mine, you will notice you have 4 pieces left: two short and two long.

The short pieces will fit inside one of your existing squares. This will be your support square, where your flower pot will sit. Place this square at the correct height for your container.

The other two pieces will be used to attach the feet on to. Attach the 2 feet to each end of the long pieces.  Oh yeah, did I mention you need to drill pocket holes on the little tiny feet?, I may have forgotten.

You will attach the leg support to the bottom of the planter at the end, using wood screws.

Step 4: Stacking the squares

I opted to stack the squares alternating the pattern. Make sure you use wood glue and reinforce with nails. Using  my favorite nail gun made the process really quick and easy!

As you stack the squares, keep in mind where you want to put your support piece, depending on the height of your pot. I placed mine about 5 squares from the top.

Step 5: Attach the feet

Once you are finished stacking all of the pieces, flip the whole thing upside down and finish it off by attaching the feet with wood screws from the bottom. .

Now you can decide your finish of choice. I splurged on redwood for this piece. Redwood is naturally beautiful with its color variations. Because it’s already treated, I didn’t do anything to it in terms of a finish.

If you choose to use untreated wood you will want to use a wood protector , especially if you want to use this piece outside. 

Now you’re ready to add your beautiful plants and enjoy!

I love the new look on my porch!

I strategically placed my garden hose holder close to the porch for easy access to watering my porch plants. If you like it you can see the tutorial for it here! If you like the simple “nearly natural” olive wreath on the front door you can find it here!

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No tools? No problem! Here’s a beautiful version of this planter you can purchase today!

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