This fantastic large planter is sure to be the talk of your next garden party! Don’t have one planned? Well, me either, but at least with this beauty your yard or patio will be worthy of a little showing off, just in case you decide to host a soiree of Louis XIV proportions! I say live vicariously whenever possible and channel a bit of that over the top Versailles style!
$25-$50
Tape Measure
Sander
Drill
Jig Saw – optional and if you prefer a more angular legs you can use a circular saw or table saw as well and you can actually also use your sander to get the job done if need be!
Kreg Jig® (pocket hole system)
2 – 2×2 at 6’ (if an 8’ length is cheaper then by all means… get 2 of those!)
6 – 1×2 at 8’
7 (or 10 if you purchase 6’ fence boards) – 1×4 at 8’ – It might be prudent to purchase fencing boards for this so that you can use Cedar or Redwood and not spend a fortune. They come in 6’ lengths and are generally dog eared, but that is perfectly fine! If you choose to go this route, you will NEED 10 of THESE!
8’ of 3/4” trim in a style of your choosing
1 1/4” Pocket Hole Screws – Stainless Steel or Blue Kote if this is for outdoor use
1 1/4” Wood Screws or Nails – galvanized or coated if for outdoor use
4 – Curtain Rod Finials
Wood Glue – suitable for outdoor use if need be
Sanding Supplies
Finishing Supplies
4 – 2×2 at 27 1/4” Legs
16 – 1×2 at 24 1/2” Rails and Side Panel Trim
28 – 1×4 at 20” Side Panels
32 – 3” sections of 3/4” trim in a style of your choosing.
For outdoor use, consider using a specie of wood suitable for weathering the elements. This isn’t required but will increase the longevity of your piece.
Once you are finished with this build, you will need to drill an ample amount of holes into the bottom to allow for adequate drainage. Don’t drill so many holes that you weaken your piece, but enough that you don’t have water accumulating and rotting out your planter or your plants!
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 your structure: Begin with your Legs and fasten your rails in place at the 5” mark from the bottom and 3/4” down from the top of each leg. You can use your Kreg Jig® set for 3/4” stock and your 1 1/4” pocket hole screws and glue to fasten the rails to the Legs.
Fasten the Side Panels in Place: You can go about this in a number of ways, including using nails or screws and simply attaching the boards to the rails from the top down into the board and also from the bottom up into the board (This is likely what I would do especially if I had a nail gun!). You can also use your Kreg Jig® set for 3/4” stock and your 1 1/4” pocket hole screws and glue to fasten to the Panels to the Rails if you prefer. The Boards should sit flush with the inside edges of the rails and legs.
Attach the Bottom Panels: Using your Kreg Jig® set for 3/4” stock and your 1 1/4” pocket hole screws and glue, fasten the boards in place flush with the bottom rails.
Add the Side Panel Trim: Using your 1 1/4” Nails or screws, fasten the side trim in place.
Add the Trim and Finials: This portion is optional but really seems to add a little something extra to this project. You will need 3/4” trim in a style of your choosing. The diagram shows a cove style molding, but this is where you can personalize your piece and customize it according to your other outdoor pieces. For the Most professional application of molding, you should miter or cope the corners and using finish nails and glue attach to the legs. Once you have your top trim in place, you can attach your finials. I recommend basic curtain rod finials and again you can choose any style you prefer! I chose round for this plan, but there are dozens of finial styles available that would work smashingly with this plan!
Fill any screw or nail holes, sand and finish as desired!
You can now also:
**Disclaimer: Some rights reserved. Private use only. Plans from this page are not to be used for commercial purposes or republished without the express 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.
