A modern living room features a brown leather chair, small white cabinet, and decorative pillows. A large planter sits in the corner next to the DIY fireplace with a wooden mantle and wall-mounted TV above it. A window with blinds lets in natural light.
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DIY Large Planter Hack

ByLisa
2 Comments

I am finally getting caught up on tutorials from our One Room Challenge makeover. If you missed the DIY Art Ledge or the Cable Railing tutorials, make sure you check those out! This week I revisited a project I started and sort of finished during this makeover. My DIY Large Planter Hack. This was one of those projects I had high hopes for, but wasn’t one hundred percent sold on when it was finished. Which is why I gave it another go this week. Spoiler alert, it involves fottery!

A black plastic bucket and a large indoor plant sit beside a modern fireplace, showcasing the perfect DIY large planter hack. Text overlay reads, "DIY Large Planter Hack" with a website URL.This post contains affiliate links. For more information, please see my policies.

DIY Large Planter Hack Supplies

Large Plastic Tub 
Joint Compound 
Flat Chip Paint Brush
Flat White Spray Paint
Flat Black Spray Paint
Satin Tan Spray Paint
Plant (real or faux)
Duct Tape
Electrical Tape
Small Trash Can
Spanish Moss

*Note: You can also use craft paints, but I prefer spray paint.

Ok, so let’s talk about how this project came about. When I was planning the family room makeover, I knew I wanted to change up the fireplace and add a plant to the corner. But if you know me at all, you know I am a serial plant killer and faux plants are all I can handle. Trust me. Its better this way. The good news is, faux trees have come a long way, but they come with a hefty price tag! I couldn’t bring myself to spend $200+ on a fake tree so when I found this guy on Facebook Marketplace for $20, I knew I could transform it.A tall, lush green potted plant with large leaves graces a chic, decorative bronze vase against a plain white background. The fluted design at the bottom adds elegance to this DIY arrangement in a large planter.

The tree itself wasn’t bad, but the planter had to go. 

Step 1

Pick up one of these large plastic tubs. They are usually used for storage but for the price, they make an incredibly affordable large planter! I bought mine in person at my local Walmart for $4.98, but unfortunately they don’t ship them for that price.A large, black plastic bucket with two white rope handles on either side, set against a plain white background, perfect for DIY enthusiasts looking to create a unique planter.

Step 2

Cut off the handles. I wanted this to look like a high end large ceramic planter, so the handles needed to go.
Close-up of a black plastic bin, repurposed as a large planter, with two holes near the rim on a concrete surface. The text "Garrison Street design studio" is visible on the lower left corner, showcasing a touch of DIY creativity.

Step 3

Use electrical tape to cover the holes where the ropes were.Close-up view of a sleek black plastic or metal container with several horizontal ridges, reminiscent of a large planter perfect for DIY projects. The smooth, shiny surface contrasts against the textured, concrete-like background.

Step 4 (optional) 

Paint. As I mentioned above, I initially made this for our family room makeover but it wasn’t 100% what I wanted but I did not have time to change it. My initial stab at this large planter was with textured spray paint. For some this might be the answer, but note, this spray paint doesn’t go very far and you will likely need more than one can. It does provide texture, but doesn’t make it look like pottery or fottery as I have coined it. But if you are happy with the texture, this is the last step!A can of Rust-Oleum multicolor textured spray paint is standing on a concrete surface, perfect for your DIY projects. The label shows a painted outdoor table and chairs, and the can promises a rich, elegant textured finish that stops rust—ideal for revitalizing that large planter.

A large, round, gray planter with a textured finish sits on a dark wooden table, exuding DIY charm. In the background, there's modern art and a metallic light fixture above.And this is a picture of what the planter looked like in place before I continued the makeover. 

A modern living room with a high ceiling features two brown leather chairs, a geometric-patterned ottoman, and a small white cabinet. A DIY large planter hosts a towering plant in the corner. The space is beautifully accented with gray curtains and a patterned rug.

Step 5

Fottery it. I have become somewhat obsessed with fottery and have made over more than a dozen vases with it and some Christmas trees, so it should come as no surprise that this large planter would be my next victim, haha! This method is very simple. All you need is a flat chip paint brush and joint compound. A bucket of USG Sheetrock Brand All Purpose Joint Compound, perfect for DIY projects, sits on a wooden surface with a metallic tool nearby. The bilingual label highlights its multipurpose use in drywall finishing and creative crafts, like transforming it into a large planter.

Simply cover the entire outside and top inner rim with the joint compound. I brushed mine on making sure to give it good coverage and texture. 

A large white textured pot, perfect as a DIY large planter, sits gracefully on a dark plastic sheet. In the background, a framed black and white photograph adds an artistic touch to the scene.

This will need to dry for several hours or overnight, depending on how much joint compound you use. 

Step 6

Paint the large planter. Like I mentioned above, I like to use spray paint. You could use craft paint but I prefer the combination of these three colors. I layer the color until it is varied and aged looking.Three cans of Rust-Oleum Painter's Touch 2X Ultra Cover paint and primer are displayed in front of a large, white-painted planter. Perfect for DIY projects, the black, white, and brown cans provide amazing coverage on materials like metal, wood, and plastic.

Let the paint dry before moving on to step 7. It should be dry within an hour or two. 

Step 7

Plant your tree in the large planter. Mine is faux and upcycled. I wanted to be careful not to make the planter too heavy, but also make sure it wasn’t top heavy. I filled the bottom of the tub with lava rocks we had on hand from our fire pit makeover.A large black plastic planter brimming with a layer of reddish-brown lava rocks makes for an ideal DIY gardening project.

I then secured the base of my faux tree with some duct tape and foam I had from when we built our bed. My tree had multiple stems and I wanted to make sure they would stay together when I replanted it. A DIY bundle of green plant stems wrapped in duct tape rests on a piece of crinkled white foam, resembling something made for a large planter. A DIY bundle of green stems wrapped with duct tape and surrounded by yellow foam padding lies on the wooden floor, waiting to be placed in the large planter.

Then I planted the tree in a small trash can that I got from the dollar store. I filled in the sides with additional foam. 

A large planter holds a potted plant with lush green stems, set in a sleek black container. DIY enthusiasts might appreciate the creative touch of yellow foam pieces mixed with dried moss that covers the soil, nestled on a wooden floor by a white baseboard.

Then I placed the entire thing inside the large planter and filled the edges with more foam. This created a nice nest for the plant.A potted plant with large green leaves is snuggly supported in a DIY gray pot using foam padding. The plant rests on a wooden floor, stabilized by the foam wrapped around its base, presenting an elegant alternative to a large planter.

Note, I chose to plant mine this way because these were all items I already had. You could definitely do this differently and would have to if you have a real plant. 

To hide all the foam, I covered the base with a black trash bag and tucked it in on the sides. A large potted plant with broad green leaves sits in a sleek black planter. The pot is creatively filled with dark stones, adding a DIY touch to the decorative base of the vibrant plant.

To finish it off, I added three bags of Spanish moss to the top, covering the trash bag and foam. Close-up of a large potted plant with vibrant green leaves. The DIY large planter is gray with a rustic finish, and the soil is covered with a layer of brown moss. At the base, several thick green stems emerge robustly.

This was a super easy and affordable way to breathe new life into a dated faux plant and get a large planter on a budget!A lush green potted plant in a large planter sits on the floor near a light gray brick wall, next to a leather chair with striped cushions. A patterned curtain hangs in the background, adding texture to the cozy, modern living space. Consider a DIY touch for added personalization. Modern living room with a brown leather sofa, striped pillow, and textured rug. A sleek fireplace with stacked wood accents is centered under a mounted TV. Large planters flank the fireplace, while natural light filters through the window blinds, adding a DIY touch of greenery.A side-by-side comparison of an indoor plant makeover. The "Before" image shows the plant in a tall, narrow vase, and the "After" reveals a DIY transformation into a large planter. The foliage appears more lush and full in the "After" photo.If you enjoyed my DIY Large Planter Hack, please share it on Facebook or hover over an image and save to Pinterest! And if you don’t already follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, or Facebook, I would love for us to be friends!

A modern living room with a high ceiling and exposed beams features a wall-mounted TV above the fireplace. The space includes a gray sectional sofa, brown armchairs, and a glass coffee table alongside a DIY touch with logs in the fireplace opening and a large planter housing a lush potted plant.

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A cozy living room showcases a DIY large planter with a vibrant green plant beside the fireplace. Decorative items adorn the mantel, and a TV is mounted above. A patterned curtain is partially drawn to the side, adding charm to this inviting space. Text on the image reads “Large Planter Hack.”.This post, DIY Large Planter Hack, appeared first on Garrison Street Design Studio.

2 Comments

    1. I did fluff it some, but not much. I think it’s an illusion because the original planter was so tall and skinny and the new one is much wider. It is also “planted” closer to the leaves now verses before it sat very high.

      Reply

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