How to Build an Indoor Outdoor Planter

Before you begin, here are the supplies you'll need:

• 3/4-inch thick project panel
• 1 x 2 board
• 2 x 2 board
• Paint stir sticks
• Saw
• Brad nailer
• 3/4-inch brad nails
• Wood glue
• Pocket hole jig
• 1 1/4-inch pocket hole screws
• Drill/Driver
• Wood filler
• Putty knife
• Paint or stain
• Paintbrush
• Sander
• 2-inch deck screws
• Countersinking drill bit
• Sandpaper or sanding block
• Measuring tape
• Pencil

Cut your boards to the following dimensions:

• (1) Project Panel cut into 4 pieces at 10” x 10”
• (4) 1 x 2 pieces cut to 11 1/2 inches long
• (4) 2 x 2 pieces cut to 13 inches long
• (8) Paint Stir Sticks cut to 13 inches long
• (8) Paint Stir Sticks cut to 13 1/2 inches long

Give everything a good sanding to smooth rough edges.

Drill pocket holes along two opposite sides of 3 of your 4 10 x 10-inch project panel pieces. These will be the sides, front and back of the planter.

• Attach your 2 x 2 pieces to the project panel pieces using 1 1/4-inch pocket hole screws, or drilling 2-inch deck screws from the outside, pre drilling with a countersinking drill bit. You can add wood glue for added reinforcement, just make sure your glue is suitable for outdoor use if you plan on using this planter outdoors.
• This planter uses a combination of both methods since it is too narrow to get a drill positioned to install the pocket hole screws for the last panel, but pocket holes are used for the rest in order to minimize how many screw holes need to be patched over so they won’t be visible. Either method works fine.

Attach your 1 x 2 pieces using 2-inch deck screws, evenly spacing them and using a countersinking drill bit to pre-drill holes.

The stir sticks will add a 3-dimensional striped design. Attach these horizontally to each side using wood glue and a brad nailer with 3/4-inch brad nails. You can use one of the stir sticks as a spacer to ensure they are equally spaced as you attach them. You will use 13-inch long stir sticks for the sides and then 13 1/2-inch-long stir sticks for the front and back.

The stir sticks will cover up your screw holes along the bottom edge, but you’ll need to patch over your nail holes with wood filler. Then when it dries, sand it smooth.

If you plan on using your planter outdoors, be sure to use a stain and sealer that is appropriate for outdoor use, or exterior latex paint. Behr Marquee paint in the color Nightfall was used, and you can find it at The Home Depot.

Fill your completed planter up with a plant of your choosing and display it in and around your home.