How to make a barn door style planter box

I don’t know about you but I am sooooo ready for warmer weather, longer days, and FLOWERS!

I love to plant grasses & flowers around our patio and porch and cluster them together here and there.

They are so easy to take care of and I like how many different groupings I can put together with containers of different height and size.

We recently wanted to make a new catch all box to go by our back door for shoes, but we ended up making this pretty big.

And so it’s smaller cousin will be by the back door full of flip flops etc..

And this lovely lady (who holds some faux plants now but not for long) will be the new home to a grouping of topiaries I have had my eye on.

Here is what we used to make this rustic barn door style planter.

We began by cutting 5 pieces of plywood too create the “box” and used 1″ x 2″ around the top and bottom, using a 90 degree cut at the corners to create a base and top.

A thin line of wood glue applied along the edges before using the nail gun helps make the planter very sturdy.

We gave it two good coats of white chalk paint.

For the wood areas, we used pine, and stained with a light weathered grey stain.

We drilled holes for the sisal handles for each side of the box, and cut the 1″ x 4″ pieces for each side panel, using a nail gun we put each into place.

A light coat of matte poly spray sealer will keep the white from getting dirty, and from yellowing outside.

I kind of want one of these for every room in our house (I’m not sure Troy wants to make that many of them, but it doesn’t hurt to suggest right?)

Supplies:

One half sheet of 3/4″ CDX plywood
Two 1″ x 2″ x 8′ pine boards- 8 pieces each cut 15″ long for the corners and 4 pieces 25 5/8″ for the top and bottom front and back pieces. Four more 15″ pieces for the top and bottom on each end.
One 1″ x 4″ x 8′ pine board- Cut one 26″ piece from point to point to fit into the front section at an angle to fit snugly. Cut at angle to fit one piece for each side 18 5/8″, use finish nailer to secure. (I left the back on mine without an piece of wood at an angle, but if you want one on the back just make sure you buy two of the 1″ x 4″ x 8′ boards.
White chalk paint
Weathered Grey stain
Rags for stain
Finish nailer and 1.25″ nails
Drill with bit large enough to drill holes for sisal
Sisal rope- 14″ or less for each handle
Matte poly spray sealer (optional)

This was such a fast project to make, I was kind of surprised it only took a couple hours including paint and stain dry time!

I love how the white washed wood, grey stained wood and sisal all compliment each other so well.