Finally reaching spring and summer is the best feeling, so when it comes to selecting backyard planters, sign me up! I went sourcing and really couldn’t find something that fit into what I envisioned or my price point. I then spent some time thinking, how I could come up with what I wanted, but in a non-traditional way. I’m often drawn to sleek and simple modern pieces that can withstand the test of time. I wanted a simple and large planter, so I got creative!
Many people often have old metal filing cabinets sitting in their garage, and with so many things going digital, many of these are ending up at the curb. I picked up two four drawer filing cabinets from people who were happy anyone would take them. It’s important to take into account: the size you want, the condition of the cabinet (rusts, dents, etc) and how you’ll be using them.
In order to create a planter, you’ll need to discard all of the drawers and put the box on its side. Upon doing this, there will usually be the side that was on the ground and using a cheap piece of metal and some screws will solve that problem. I also took apart the metal crossbeams that were holding the cabinets in place (optional). I wanted them black, so I primed and painted them black with black enamel. Fill them with dirt, whatever plants or flowers you want and they’re ready to go. We also put four small tires on each of the four corners, to make it easy to move.
