DIY your own living plant wall in a few easy steps. I made three hanging boxes out of reclaimed fence boards and hung them in my bedroom.
Plants add oxygen to the room which gives you better sleep. Plants are grounding and peaceful. I want my bedroom to be a place of relaxation.
Because the bedroom is so small, I had the idea to add a living plant wall. This accomplished two things – it added lots of plants and it doubles as a piece of art. Win, win!
I made my living plant wall out of reclaimed fence boards, but you can make yours out of reclaimed barn wood, pallet wood, or even new boards if you want.
The following step-by-step instructions include supplies to build three 26 x 4.5 x 5.75 boxes. You can adapt the measurements and number of boxes for your living wall design. Some of my supplies are affiliate links. When you purchase from my website. I may receive a commission. This does not cost you any extra and helps support Urban Cottage Living.
Supplies
- 4 fence boards – mine were 5.75 inches wide and 6 feet long
- 2 2×4 – mine were 6 feet long
- A bottle of wood glue
- 1 1/2 inch finishing nails
- Strap hangers
- Molly screws
- Phillips bit screwdriver
- Pencil
- Water-based Polycrylic in matte
- Paintbrush
- Pond liner or heavy-duty trash bags
- Potting soil
- Plants
Tools
- Scrub brush
- Dishsoap
- Measuring Tape
- Saw – I used a chop saw
- Hammer
- Stapler
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Cut
- Fence boards – cut six pieces 26 inches long and six pieces at 3.5 inches long.
- 2×4 studs – cut six pieces at 25 inches long. Note, you will want to adjust the length of your 2×4 boards if your fence boards are a different thickness than .5 inch.
Wash
If you are using salvaged boards like I did, make sure you wash them really well. I scrubbed mine with a firm brush using dish soap and water. Allow them to completely dry.
Dry
- Let your boards completely dry after washing.
Assemble
- On a flat surface, lay out your 2×4 stud with your end pieces. The 2×4 is going to be the bottom of your box.
- Run a zigzag line of glue along the 2×4.
Tip: Using a 2×4 as the bottom of your box instead of another fence board, is because it is thicker. This will help hold your box together better.
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- Place one of the 26-inch boards on the glue, lining up the bottom and then ends flush.
- Nail with six finishing nails to secure.
- Flip over and repeat keeping the end pieces in place to keep the box square and level.
- Glue nail your end pieces.
Seal
- Allow the glue to dry completely.
- Brush a coat of Polycrylic on your boxes.
- Allow to completely dry and repeat.
- Allow to completely dry.
Tip: Sealing your boxes will bring out the grain and character in the wood. This will give a similar look to as if the boards were wet.
Add Hooks
- Decide what side of the box you want to be the front.
- Set the box front side down on a flat, solid surface.
- Measure one inch from the outside of the box lining the hook to be right at the top.
- Mark the holes with a pencil.
- Using the screws that come with the picture hangers, attach to the back of the box.
Attach Liner & Hang
- Staple pond liner or heavy duty trash bags to the inside of your boxes one inch below the top.
- Measure where you want your boxes to hang, mark where the wall screws need to go.
- Install your wall screws using molly screws if necessary.
Tip: Fold the pond liner under one-inch to give a clean look. If you are hanging directly on sheetrock, you will want to use molly screws to hold the weight of box once filled with dirt and plants.
Add Plants
- Play around with the layout of your plants before you plant them.
- Fill the boxes with potting soil and plants
- Water the plants
Tip: You may want to unhook the boxes from the wall and take them outside or to the garden shed for planting the plants.
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