DIY Multi-Color Planter

Word of warning –  I am becoming a planter-building madwoman!  🙂  My last three builds have been planters, I mean, it is Spring after all…  My last post was the first of my planter builds, my DIY Farmhouse Planter, and today I am sharing the second round of my planter-building madness!  This one is a DIY Multi-Color Planter (because I stained and painted it with multiple colors, not the most exciting title, but it is accurate, and after a long day of work, my brain is failing me a coming up with a more creative title for this build!)  This project was a gift for my Mom for Mother’s Day, and if I do say so myself, it was a great gift (not that I am biased at all)!

DIY Multi-color Planter Materials and Supplies:

(affiliate links – I will receive a small commission for purchases made through these links.  This commission helps me to cover the costs of maintaining this website.)

 

DEWALT Single-Bevel Compound Miter Saw	25′ Tape Measure	Cordless Drill Driver
Table Saw	Exterior Wood Screw, 2-1/2-Inch	Exterior Wood Screw, 1 1/4-Inch
Wood Glue	Ryobi Airstrike Cordless Brad Nailer	18 Gauge 1-1/4-Inch Brad Nail
Varathane Weathered Wood Accelerator	Kreg Jig K4 Pocket Hole System	Kreg Blue-Kote Pocket Screws 2-1/2-Inch
Varathane Worn Navy Wood Stain	3 Additional Paint colors	Outdoor Spar Urethane, Satin Finish
	of your choosing (I used Fusion Mineral Paint colors for the front, back and side panels, and then a Rustoleum gloss white spray paint for the feet, the top trim and the inside of the planter )

 

DIY Multi-Color Planter Wood List:

(I purchased redwood lumber and redwood fence boards to build this project, but cheaper boards can be used instead).

Quantity	Board	Length
1	1×2	8′
3	1×4	6′
2	1×6	6′
1	2×4	6′

 

DIY Multi-Color Planter Cut List:

Quantity	Board	Cut Length
3	2×4	13 1/2″ with each end beveled to 20º
4	2×4	1 1/2″
2	1×6	13″
4	1×4	14 3/8″ long side to short side with each end mitered to 20º
4	1×4	triangle cut to 4 3/16″ long side and 1 3/8″ on shortest side (see diagram below)
4	1×4	14 3/8″ long side to long side, with the opposite side cut at a 20º angle 4 1/8″ down from the top, and the top mitered at 20º (see diagram below)
2	1×2	24 9/16″ with ends mitered to 45º
2	1×2	13 1/2″ with ends mitered to 45º

 

DIY Multi-Color Planter Instructions:

1.Cut three 2×4 boards to 13 1/2″ in length long end to long end, with each end beveled 20º.

2.  Using the Kreg Jig,  drill three 1 1/2″ pocket holes into one side of two of the 13 1/2″ boards.

3.  Attach the three 13 1/2″ 2×4 boards together using wood glue and 2 1/2″ blue kote pocket hole screws.

4.  Cut the boards to create the front and back planter panels:

• Cut two 1×6 boards to 13″ in length each
• Cut four 1×4 boards to 14 3/8″ in length long end to long end,  with the top end mitered to 20º and on the side with the lower top,  measure 4 1/8″ down from the top and cut a 20º miter from the side edge of the board to the bottom of the board:
  • 
• Cut four 1×4 boards into a triangle shape with the top length at 1 3/8″ and the long straight side at 4 3/16″ :
  • 
• Cut four 1×4 boards to 14 3/8″ long end to short end, with each end mitered to 20º
  • 

5.  Place the front and side panel pieces on a flat surface and make sure all pieces fit, make any small adjustments as necessary, and attach all pieces together using wood glue.

6.  Once the panels have dried, attach the front and back panels to the 13 1/2″ bottom panel using wood glue and 1 1/4″ exterior wood screws (predrill holes first).

7.  Cut the boards for the side panels:

• Cut four 1×6 boards to 12″ in length.
• Cut two 1×4 boards to 12″ in length and 3 1/4″ in width, with one long side beveled at 20º (this bevel cut is easily done on the table saw)
  • 

8.  Attach two 1×6 12″ boards and one 1×4 12″ board to each side of the planter using wood glue and 1 1/4″ exterior wood screws (one 1×6 board should line up with the bottom edge of the bottom panel and the other 1×6 board should be attached directly above the 1st 1×6, with the 1×4 board on top, making sure the longer side of the beveled edge is on the outer edge of the planter).

9.  Cut four 2×4 boards to 1 1/2″ in length each.

10.  Attach one 2×4 to each corner of the bottom of the bottom panel (these are the feet).  Attach using wood glue and 2 1/2″ wood screws (predrill first).

11.  Cut the top trim boards:

• Cut two 1×2 boards to 24 9/16″ in length long end to long end with each end mitered to 45º
• Cut two 1×2 boards to 13 1/2″ in length long end to long end with each end mitered to 45º

12.  Attach the top trim pieces using wood glue and a brad nailer with 1 1/4″ brad nails.

13.  Fill all holes with wood filler and let dry.

14.  Sand the planter.

15.  Use your favorite stains and/or paints to apply.  (I used Varathane Worn Navy for the 13″ center board on the front and back panels, a Fusion Mineral paint color on the small pieces on each side of the center board,  Varathane Weathered Accelerator on the third two 2nd to the end boards, and a cream paint (from Fusion) on the end boards on the front and back panels.  On the side panels, I used a combination of the Worn Navy and Weathered Accelerator, and then the remainder of the planter I painted with gloss white paint.

 

16.  Lastly, coat with three coats of exterior polyurethane once the paint and stain has completely dried.

17.  Now,  add your favorite plants (as you can see, I added succulents – I love the way the look, and even more important, they are hard to kill!) 🙂