How To Make a Planter Box With Fence Boards

19 September
A great way to make a table centerpiece is with an old box that you can fill with flowers and pumpkins.


It's easy to move when you want to use the table for dining and you can easily tweak it to last from the beginning of fall, all the way through Thanksgiving.


If you don't have just the right box, never fear. I'm going to show you how to make a simple one with old fence boards!


How To Make a Planter Box With Fence Boards



How to Make a Planter Box With Fence Boards

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I have a stack of old fence boards left over from when I had my fence replaced last year so I picked out a couple of pieces to create my new planter box.


If you don't have fence boards lying around, check with your family, friends, and neighbors. Or, you can use new fence boards!


Supplies Needed
  • Fence boards (old or new will work)
  • A saw to cut the boards (chop saw, jigsaw, or handsaw)
  • A drill
  • Wood screws (I like these with a star drive, they even come with the star bit!)
  • A sander
  • Stencil (optional)


How To Make a Planter Box With Fence Boards


Here is how to make one for yourself!

Step One - Cut the boards


Cut two side pieces and two end pieces to the size you want.


You'll need a bottom too but if you are using scrap wood like I am, then I would suggest waiting until you have the box sides completed since old wood is often warped and wonky!


I used my chop saw but you could cut these with a jigsaw, or even a handsaw since this is a rustic box and the cuts don't need to be perfect!


How To Make a Planter Box With Fence Boards


If you want a long, skinny box like mine, measure the width of the boards you want to use for the bottom and the thickness (multiplied by two) of the boards you'll use for the sides. Then cut the end pieces to the same measurement as the width plus the thickness measurements. For example:


Fence board width: 5 inches
Fence board thickness: 1/2 inch (.5)
Multiply the thickness by two: .5 x 2 = 1 inch
Add the width and thickness measurements: 5 + 1 = 6 (cut the end pieces to 6 inches each)

Step Two - Sand


Sand all your pieces to remove any rough areas and reduce your chances of splinters!



How To Make a Planter Box With Fence Boards


Step Three - Build the box


Attach the end pieces to the side pieces with wood screws and a drill.


TIP: If you are using old boards like I am, predrill the holes to prevent splitting the wood.



How To Make a Planter Box With Fence Boards


You can also use a good ol' hammer and nails 😉


How To Make a Planter Box With Fence Boards



You'll now have something like this.



How To Make a Planter Box With Fence Boards



One of my end pieces was a little warped and it cracked when I attached it. That's okay though, it just adds to the rustic look! But if you don't like that look, make sure you choose straight, flat boards.



How To Make a Planter Box With Fence Boards


Now, cut the bottom piece. I made mine fit inside the box by following the measuring guideline in step One above. If you want the box to be sitting on top of the bottom, then measure the size of the box that you've assembled so far and cut the bottom to that measurement. 


Attach the bottom. If you've cut it to fit inside the box, screw it in from the sides. If you've cut it to the outside measurements, turn the box upside down and attach it from the bottom.


How To Make a Planter Box With Fence Boards

Step Four - Finish the box


Give it a final sanding to make sure there aren't any rough edges 


TIP: If you use this inside on your nice dining table, you can add felt to the bottom to protect your table.


It's finished, wasn't that easy?! You can leave your box rustic and plain like this if you like.


How To Make a Planter Box With Fence Boards


I wanted to give my box a little Morrocan/boho spin. I found the stencil that I used at Michael's but I cannot find it on their site anymore. Any stencil that you like will work.


How To Make a Planter Box With Fence Boards


I only stenciled one side of mine. That way, I have the option of displaying it with the stenciled side or the plain side.


How To Make a Planter Box With Fence Boards


Now, you can fill your box with whatever you like. If you want to use this as an actual planter I would line the box with plastic or better yet... build the box to fit the dimensions of a plastic planter!


I am using mine for a fall table centerpiece! Keep reading if you'd like to see how I decorated mine.


First, I filled up the box with plastic shopping bags. You could totally be all professional and use floral foam but I didn't have any and I know I will be taking this apart in a month or two anyway so bags work for me!


How To Make a Planter Box With Fence Boards



Then I laid a brown feather boa I had over the top to hide the bags. You could use moss instead.



How To Make a Planter Box With Fence Boards



I filled in with some large fall-colored flowers, cotton bolls, some faux pumpkins, and some other odds and ends I had.


How To Make a Planter Box With Fence Boards



The pumpkins came in a brown mesh bag like these, so I decided to reuse the bag and make some little "pouf picks" to stick in my arrangement.


How To Make a Planter Box With Fence Boards


Here is how to make some.

  1. Cut the bag into pieces (my bag was large enough for two).
  2. Gather all the raw edges up and hold them in your hand.
  3. Wrap a rubber band around the bottom until secured (you could use string or wire too).

How To Make a Planter Box With Fence Boards


Then just poke them into the arrangement here and there!


How To Make a Planter Box With Fence Boards

How To Make a Planter Box With Fence Boards


I reused the brass candlesticks that were already on my table behind the box.


How To Make a Planter Box With Fence Boards


The little brass deer also stayed.


How To Make a Planter Box With Fence Boards

How To Make a Planter Box With Fence Boards

How To Make a Planter Box With Fence Boards

How To Make a Planter Box With Fence Boards



I used the adorable thrifted table runner I found here: Treasure Trove Tuesday.



How To Make a Planter Box With Fence Boards

How To Make a Planter Box With Fence Boards

How To Make a Planter Box With Fence Boards

How To Make a Planter Box With Fence Boards

How To Make a Planter Box With Fence Boards


You may also like these scrap wood projects:




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How To Make a Planter Box With Fence Boards
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  1. Thrifty Mom In BoiseSeptember 19, 2017

    I absolutely love this Tania! Beautiful and perfect for fall. You've got me inspired to dig out the fall decor and get to work!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Nice box, and I love the stencil. It's so you!

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  3. Nancy CarrollSeptember 19, 2017

    I love the box. The stencil really finishes it off!

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  4. That is really cute Tania! That stencil just makes it, and you made making that box look so easy. Nice collection of little pumpkins too.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thanks Florence! It really was easy!

    Tania

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  6. :o) Thanks! It could easily be personalized to any style with a different stencil or even words instead!

    Tania

    ReplyDelete
  7. Stephanie AbbottSeptember 21, 2017

    Looks fantastic! Thanks for sharing at our link party. Pinned!

    ReplyDelete
  8. JoElle @ A Crafty CompositionSeptember 21, 2017

    I love this Tania! Fantastic.

    ReplyDelete
  9. anne in the kitchenSeptember 21, 2017

    I am going to build one of these immediately!

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  10. Love!!! Now to find some weathered wood and make myself one. It is really beautiful and I love the stencil you chose! Perfection!

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  11. Thank you Stephanie!!

    Tania

    ReplyDelete
  12. Yay! Please do share the results, I'd love to see!

    Tania

    ReplyDelete
  13. Thanks Vicky! I bet you could find some old wood lying around somewhere after the hurricane!!

    Tania

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  14. that is so cute, tania! love the stencil you used on it!

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  15. That stencil really sets this planter apart from the others Tania.

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  16. Diana PetrilloSeptember 24, 2017

    LOVE it, Tania! That stencil is gorgeous and the white paint on gray-ish background is just PER-FECT.

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  17. Thanks Diana! I'm really pleased with it too! I just LOVE making things with weathered old wood!

    Tania

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  18. Sooo the only question I have is why did you not make an extra box for me? I would have even come out and personally picked it up?

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  19. Ha! I knew you would like it Christine! I've got LOTS of old fence boards... come on over we'll build more!!!

    Tania

    ReplyDelete
  20. Oh boy, that sounds tempting! Now keep in mind I don't know how to build anything that involves tools without potentially killing myself! Is that still ok??? ha

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  21. LMAO! I'll build, you paint!

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  22. You got it!!!!! MUAHHHHH

    ReplyDelete

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