Create A Unique Hanging Bamboo Planter With This Simple IKEA DIY

Nature-lovers, if you haven't heard of biophilic design, this décor trend is made for you. It focuses on enhancing rooms with natural and renewable materials, and houseplants are a no-brainer as part of this aesthetic. Bamboo is another obvious eco-friendly design choice with its ultra fast growth. Bring these two elements together with a trip to IKEA, and create a unique hanging bamboo planter. Grab one GRÅMÖRT bamboo tray, two KLOTTHUJA plant holders, and perfectly-sized PERSILLADE plant pots. Gather up a drill and screwdriver bit, a level, a measuring tape, and a pair of plants. Also set aside a pencil to mark a level line for hanging the tray. With two plants mounted atop the tray, these IKEA finds come together with the look of framed living wall art.

Converting houseplants into wall art is a smart use of real estate. It frees up valuable horizontal space and is a simple way to cat proof your plants. This project may work best with cascading plants, since there will be limited space between each plant ring if you hang the tray vertically. But, a 90 degree shift to the tray will accommodate a duo of more upright growing plants. You can also adjust this DIY to fit a team of smaller potted plants with the tray hung either horizontally or vertically. Staggering mini rings and pots over the face of the tray will look equally stunning. The look of bamboo's natural tones against glossy green foliage is hard to top, but this project is easily tweaked to fit other aesthetics with a bit of paint on all of the components.

Scout out the perfect spot for your installment; don't just consider the wall, also take surrounding furnishings and proximity to windows into account. The golden rule of hanging art is placing it so that the center of the piece is 57 inches above the floor. This guideline works best for mounting things horizontally, but there's also a useful trick to properly hang vertical artwork; manipulate the tray until about the upper third of the piece hits roughly eye-level. This could also be the best spot to install the highest plant ring, but you can adjust this to fit your own space and taste.

Once you've settled on the perfect location, make sure the tray will hang so that its horizontal lines are parallel with the floor. Place a level along the top edge of the tray, and pencil a line along it. (An extra pair of hands may come in handy for this step.)

Measure and mark the point of the tray where you'll be attaching the two plant rings so that the margins around each plant are even. Screw the plant rings into the wall at these points, one above the other; if you can sink them into studs, all the better. However, you may need to pre-drill holes and add wall anchors if you're concerned about how well the rings will hold. Set your potted plants in the rings. If your uppermost plant is draping but still needs a bit of volume, use an orchid clip to hook part of a vining stem to the upper part of the tray itself.