DIY Restoration Hardware Planter Tutorial

I know. I know.  This post should have been published on Friday.  It just never happened.  My fault.  I hope everyone had a great weekend!

And here is the tutorial.

Last week, I showed you my DIY Restoration Hardware Planters.

Today, I am going to show you how to make them!

This specific tutorial is for the 21"W x 21"D x 17" planter.  You can make any size and/or use different thickness and widths of wood.  Adjust to your needs.


For a 21" x 21" x 17" Planter you will need:

2 - 1"x 6" x 10' s
1 - 2" x 8" x 6'
Chop Saw
Kreg Jig
1 1/2" Kreg Jig Screws
Landscape Fabric
Outdoor Stain or Paint


First step is to make your cuts.  Use the chop saw to cut both 1" x 6" x 10' boards into 20" pieces.  You will get 6 per board making twelve 20" pieces when you are done.  Bonus to this....very little waste.

This is the only waste from each board after your cuts.

Now use your Kreg Jig to make pockets for screws.  The pocket screws are not the same on all 12 pieces.  There are three levels so that means three different sets of 4 pieces.  Each level/set of 4 will have the same pocket screws.

For level 1, you need 4 pieces with just pockets on the left side.

Then you need 4 pieces with left side pockets and pockets on the bottom AND 4 pieces with right side pockets and pockets on the bottom.   You have to do the left set and right set to create the staggered layer look.

Screw each set of 4 together, creating 3 squares.   Each plank screws into the adjacent plank.

Now screw the layers together keeping in mind the stagger.  

It is starting to look like a planter!  But it needs a bottom.

Cut the board for the base.  I used 2" x 8"s for this because that is what  I had scraps of and it is strong enough to hold the weight of soil.  You can use a different size if you like.

For my planter, I needed three cuts at 19 1/8".  I used the Kreg Jig again.

Screw in the bases.

Your done with building!  That easy.


Now to paint or stain.  I used fence and deck stain for my planter because it will be getting full sun and deck stain is more durable than paint.  Also, its easier to recoat in several years.  And, I had some extra on hand.  Your options are limitless really.  You can paint or stain or leave as is.  I do recommend a spar clear coat if you are not using an exterior stain.  That will help protect your paint and wood.

***I added wheels next because my baby fruit trees can't handle super cold weather yet.  If we have another bad winter, I need to be able to move them inside easily.


If you are going to leave your plant in another pot and place it in planter, you are done.  If you are like me and you are going to actually have the soil in the planter, you need a liner.

Cut out fabric and staple, nail or screw inside the planter.   This can be purchased at any home store in the garden area.  The fabric has to be cut based on the planter's net for it to fit correctly.  What's a net you ask?  That's a math term people.  A net is a 2D representation of a 3D figure.  The fabric cut out will look like this.

Cut out along the outside lines.

I used my brad gun to put it in place.

You can now add your soil and plants!

I made another size for the front of our house.  It is 21.5"W x 11.5"D x 24"T.  Also, it is made with 2"x4"s so it has a little different look.  I stained it the same as our fence so it will coordinate with our new house colors and fence stain.

Sorry I don't have better pictures of it yet.  Once I get plants in it, I'll update the pictures.

Sharing at:

House on the Way, The Dedicated House, DIY Showoff, Upcycled Treasures, Elizabeth & Co, My Repurposed Life,  Kathe With an E, Savvy Southern Style , Put A Bird On It, Life in Velvet, Satori Design for Living