27 DIY Outdoor Planter Box Ideas

Planter boxes and flower boxes add a lot of ambiance to an outdoor living space and can elevate an entryway's curb appeal. In the warm seasons, fill the containers with colorful flowers and flowing vines, then in the colder months dress your containers in cool-season crops, evergreens or holiday decor. Large planters and pots are an essential item for a well-styled porch, patio or deck. But planter boxes, window boxes and flowerpots can be expensive. That’s why we put together this collection of budget-friendly projects, upcycles and updates to help make your outdoor living space come to life.

Above, a leftover pile of bricks was turned into a stylish planter. The bricks were stacked on an easy-to-build wooden stand then a house-number plaque was attached, and pretty plants were added.

A section of an old tree was creatively turned into a sculptural biophilic planter. After the bark was removed, two coats of varnish were applied to help prevent the wood from rotting. Finally, midcentury paperclip-style legs were attached to the bottom.

This handsome porch planter was simply constructed from exterior-grade lumber and fasteners. Standard carriage bolts were used to add the nail-head trim for a stylish steampunk look.

Making hypertufa planters is a fun project where perfection is not necessary. In fact, you want the edges and borders to be a little janky and uneven. For a three-tiered hypertufa planter like this, the materials will cost you about $50. You probably already have a lot of the basic tools and you can use upcycled plastic containers for the molds — hit the thrift store to see if you can find some really cheap ones.