Need extra square footage for growing or displaying plants? Me too… This A-Frame Plant Stand is the perfect solution, providing angled display for optimum sun absorption on every level, spaced boards for water runoff, and perhaps even cascade watering, if you are strategic about it. Talk about maximizing your output and making the most out of every bit of sunshine and drop of water possible. I also think this would be a fabulous storage or shelving solution for indoor use and for displaying items not so related to plants! Multi-functional and fabulous!
As with all of our plans, you are building at your own risk and you should have a firm understanding of building in general before you attempt many of our plans (some are easy as pie and perfect for beginners). With that, go forth, have fun, take lots of pictures and share them in a showcase on the site or on social media with the hashtag #builtTDCtuff and we will share our faves! Be sure to tag @thedesignconfidential on Instagram / FB and @thedesconf on Twitter / Pinterest. If you are a blogger and you post about your build, don’t forget to include a link to your post on your showcase here. Don’t forget… for all of our newer plans, clicking on the images will let them expand to enormous sizes with much greater clarity. The older plans may need updating so please let us know if you need one fixed!
Under $25
- 2 – 1×2 at 8’ if you aren’t using runner boards (see below) these can be at 6’ instead, for a total of 4 – 1×2 at 6’
- 2 – 1×2 at 6’
- 1 – 1×3 at 6’
- 2 – 1×3 at 8’
- 1 – 1×3 at 10’
- 1-1/4″ Pocket Hole Screws
- 2″ Wood Screws
- 2 small hinges
- Optional Galvanized Trays for this unit can be purchased here
- Countersink Drill Bit
- Pocket Hole Plugs – Paint Grade, Pine, Oak – optional
- Clamps
- Safety Gear
- Wood Filler
- Wood Glue
- Sanding Supplies
- Paste Wax
- Finishing Supplies – if you choose to finish or seal, suitable for outdoor use
- 4 – 1×2 at 47 1/2” Legs
- 8 – 1×2 at 11 1/2” Rails
- 4 – 1×3 at 17 1/4” Top Shelf
- 4 – 1×3 at 29 1/2” Middle Shelf
- 4 – 1×3 at 41 1/2” Bottom Shelf
- **6 – 1×3 at 10 3/4” Runner Boards – optional for securing shelf boards together and allowing your unit to remain collapsible and easy to store
Before beginning to build, always check in on my site to make sure you have the most up to date set of plans, I occasionally update and change the plans to make the building process easier or to allow for less expensive purchasing of materials! Read through the entire set of instructions and all comments before beginning this project. If you print out or save plans, be sure to check in on my site to be sure you have the most up to date set of plans, as I occasionally update things for ease of building or buying. If you are new to building, read through the GETTING STARTED section and other articles found under the BUILD tab in the menu on my site, it has valuable information about how to get started, tools and techniques. If you are unfamiliar with the finishing process, visit my Finishing school for some tips and tricks for painting like a pro and for special finishing practices. Use glue to secure your joints and Consider Painting or Staining individual sections prior to assembling. This makes the paint application virtually flawless. Coat with a spray on Poly or Wipe on Poly to protect your finish and your piece and it will last for ages. Adhere to all safety standards and guidelines, and be sure you follow safety protocol throughout your build. If you are unsure about whether you are building safely, run a quick online search for the tool or technique you are using, or contact me via email or post to the forum before you move ahead. My contact info can be found in the menu of my site.
Build the Structure: You will need 2 of the units shown below, consider that the placement of screws/procket holes might be best left for the inside of each leg unit and so rather than making each unit a duplicate it is better to mirror them. This really only refers to the pocket hole placement once the bottom of the legs have been mitered. So, the easiest way to do this is to cut all 4 legs to size as listed in the Cut List above, then miter all 4 legs at 25 Degrees Off Center or From Center. Prior to Fastening the Rails in place, turn 2 of the legs around so that they look like an A-Frame Set of Legs. Easy Peasy… To fasten the rails in place, you are basically constructing a face frame with the horizontal rails connected to the Legs (stiles) through the use of your Kreg Jig set for 3/4” stock and your 1 1/4” pocket hole screws and glue (if you so choose).
Fasten Both Leg Units Together: You will use simple hinges for this and secure to the inside of the top of each leg unit. A Butt Hinge will do just fine and be simply to install.
Tack down the Shelves: Secure with 2” Screws to secure to the rails. The Outside Boards will sit 1/4” from the inside of the legs, and then each board will be spaced 1/4” from the next. This will allow for proper water drainage and run off. If you prefer for your plant stand to be portable or collapsible skip to the next step and do not secure your boards to the rails. , consider adding a runner board along the bottom edges of the shelf boards to keep it from opening farther than it should and to allow you to simply lift each shelf off and remove for storing.
Keep it Portable: Consider adding a runner board along the bottom edges of the shelf boards to keep the boards secure and keep the A-Frame from opening farther than it should. This will allow you to simply lift each shelf off and remove for storing.
Fill any Screw, Nail or Pocket Holes, Sand and Finish as Desired. For Finishing Tips and Tricks visit my Finishing School
**Disclaimer: Some rights reserved. Private use only. Feel Free to link to any of my plans so long as you provide an adequate link back to the appropriate post! Plans from this page are not to be used for commercial purposes or republished without the express written consent of Rayan Turner, The Design Confidential I hope to provide accurate plans, however, I cannot guarantee each plan for accuracy. Not every plan that I post has been built and tested, so you are building at your own risk. It is recommended that you have a clear understanding of how the project works before beginning any project. Please contact me if you find an error or inaccuracy so that I might fix it.
Thank you! I look forward to making this.