How To Turn a Wood Storage Bin Into a Planter

Materials Needed:

Wood storage bin
Sand Paper 120 grit and sander (optional) 
Verathane Gel Stain Black or Outdoor paint or wood stain
Plastic liner or waterproof sealant
TSP
Bags of garden soil
 Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch Spray Paint, Satin Clear+
Plants or seeds
Gloves
Paintbrushes
Drill  and screws
Scissors
Staples and staple gun
Wooden Chalkboard Stakes 

 Clean and Prep the Bin

First step, Start by cleaning the wood storage bin thoroughly to remove any dirt or debris. Because Gel Stain is an oil-based product, I recommend cleaning it with 50/50 denatured alcohol and water or TSP.   I then wiped it all down with water and let it dry overnight.

Sand 

Give the bin a light sand, you can do this by hand or you can use a sander but don’t press too hard as you don’t want to scratch the finish.  Use a tack cloth to get the dust off the bin.

Apply Gel Stain

Alternatively, you can use wood stain or paint. Pick out the stain of your choice, Home Depot, and most hardware stores will carry gel stain.

Give the gel stain a good stir, I used a plastic spoon for this. There are so many ways to apply gel stain, I used a craft brush and an old sock.  A chip brush would work well for this project as would a rag.

I  dipped the sock into the container and applied the gel stain to the entire surface working in small sections and using thin, even coats.  I used a small craft brush for the areas in between the wood planks.

 

Use a clean rag to wipe off any excess, do not wait too long as it will become tacky and won’t dry properly. Make sure to read the directions on the gel stain can, as it will tell you how long to leave on the gel stain before wiping it off.

Protect The Outside Of The Entire Cabinet

It’s recommended to let the gel stain dry for 72 hours before adding your top coat to protect your piece.  I know my dressers took about 1 week to completely dry, there are so many variables including the weather and how many coats you added. It’s always a good idea to protect the outside, you can apply a water-based topcoat or oil-based over this oil-based stain but it MUST be 100% dry!

 

Raise the bottom of the box (Optional)

I did not want to waste a bunch of soil so we raised the bottom a little more than halfway up.  We reinforced it using 2×4 on all 4 sides and used wood screws.  We simply cut some scrap wood that we had lying around.

 Line the Bin

For your next step, you need to protect the wood and prevent water damage, line the bottom of the planter and the sides of the planter with a black plastic liner.  I cut drainage holes in the plastic to prevent excess water from pooling at the bottom and for good drainage. We used a staple gun and staples to keep the liner in place.

 Fill with Soil

Fill the wooden planter box with potting soil, leaving enough space at the top for your plants.

Plant Your Greenery

Now it’s time to add your plants or seeds to the planter. Choose a variety of flowers, herbs, or vegetables to create a visually appealing arrangement.  I made this into a herb garden, I can’t wait for them to all start growing!  There was not enough room for the lettuce so I’ll plant that in a different garden bed.

We have double snake fencing and they still get through!

 Water and Maintain

After planting, water the soil thoroughly and place the planter in a location that receives the appropriate amount of sunlight for your chosen plants. Be sure to water regularly and monitor the moisture level to keep your plants healthy.

Optional:  You could add a lattice panel in the back to support tomato plants or flowering vines.

For some extra detail, I added some cute chalkboard labels!

 

 Enjoy! Once your planter is complete, sit back and enjoy! The darker stain made a huge difference and modernized it! Between this and the file cabinet planter, they were a simple way to create a fun planter box!  Let’s see what I can come up with for next time thrift store post!   Let me know if you give this DIY project a try, I would love to see your finished product!

And I need to make some tops before the squirrels get to the herbs, they already ate my lettuce.

UPDATE! My husband made me a RAISED GARDEN BED COVER!  He simply used PVC pipes, snake fencing, and zip ties.  He even spray-painted the pipes black for me, genius! 

These wooden planters are so versatile and can be used in various locations whether you have a large space or a small space.