By Aldona Bird
Newsroom@DominionPost.com
Plants can make any porch, patio or indoor space more lively and pleasant. Cute pots for plants are a must. But to really elevate your plants, you need a stylish plant stand.
While quality plant stands can be expensive, they can also be easy to make yourself using a simple object you may already have around the house — and if you don’t, one which can easily be thrifted.
To make this easy DIY plant stand, you will need:
- A lampshade with a metal frame
- Scissors
- Paint (acrylic, enamel, gold lead, etc.)
- Paintbrush
- Pretty piece of wood (optional)
If you have a torn lampshade or simply an extra one, this is a great way to give it a new use. Lampshades are also often available at thrift stores for little money. The shade itself doesn’t matter — look for a shape you like with a metal frame.
Cut the fabric or paper shade off the frame. If it was glued on, try using some rubbing alcohol or oil on with a rag (or Q-tip for small areas of glue) to remove.
Wash the frame down, particularly if it is dirty or if you used oil to remove glue.
Using your choice of paint, coat all of the metal frame. You don’t have to stick to one color. Let your creativity guide you. Consider painting the spokes one color, and another along the top and bottom wires. Or paint each section a different color. Or alternate colors on the spokes.
You can decorate the frame to match or contrast with your home décor.
Once all the paint has dried, see if you prefer it as a stand right side up or upside down.
Try placing a pretty wooden board on top, to create a flat surface to put your pot on, rather than setting it right into the shade frame. A slice of a log may work well for this, or a round or square board.
If you opt for the wood you can glue it to the frame, to keep it from slipping if bumped. If you use a large shade frame this can also serve as a side or coffee table. In this case, use
U-shaped nails over the frame and into the wood to firmly secure.
A deconstructed lampshade can also make an interesting frame for a hanging plant holder. In this case, use the frame upside down, so the plant sits into the lampshade, giving it a safe center of gravity. Place a small plate directly under the pot to catch drainage.
Use rope or chain from at least three points around the circumference of the frame and suspend from a ceiling or wall hook.
Upcycle multiple lampshades for multiple plants for a cohesive home décor style, or use just one as a feature.
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