Transform A Plain Block Of Wood Into Farmhouse Wall Decor With A Simple DIY

Looking for a rustic home décor idea that isn't a painting? You're in luck. This DIY project transforms an ordinary scrap of wood into a farmhouse-style wall pocket — ideal for showcasing dried flowers or sprigs of greenery. It's beginner-friendly, easy to customize, and a great way to use up leftover materials you already have at home. It doesn't take much to pull it together either: we're talking a plain block of wood, some fabric offcuts, wood stain, and a few other basic craft supplies. The result? A beautiful piece of farmhouse wall decor that looks like something you'd find on Etsy — but it costs next to nothing to make.

To fill your farmhouse wall pocket, you can pick up inexpensive artificial greenery at the Dollar Tree, or get crafty drying your favorite flowers at home. Either way, you'll end up with something warm, textured, and totally display-worthy. Talk about the perfect blend of charm and creativity. Add a touch of trim, a cute wooden sign or embellishment, and you're done. But here's the thing: while the original DIY has you filling the pocket with flowers, there's no reason you can't use it for something else. For example, use it for recipe cards, art supplies, seed packets, and more, depending on where you hang it and what you want to keep handy.

Start with a block of scrap wood — any size will do, but ideally, you want something that isn't too unwieldy. Here's where you can customize the wood with your choice of stain or paint colors and distressing methods. You don't have to stain or paint it unless you want to, but it's always a good idea to clean reclaimed wood before using it. 

To create the pocket, wrap the bottom half of the wood in a fabric scrap with a color or pattern that matches the space. You can use a stapler or hot glue to secure the fabric at the back and bottom, but remember to leave the top front open. That's where you'll tuck your flowers, or whatever else you put in there. To give the pocket a finished look, glue a strip of burlap, ribbon, or lace around the top edge of the fabric. You could even use twine for this if you want to go super rustic. The added texture gives the pocket even more of a farmhouse-y feel. 

Next, stain or paint a small wooden word cutout embellishment to add a message or theme — you could use something pre-made from a craft storeor hand-letter your own word or phrase on a blank sign if you feel confident in your penmanship. Finally, tuck in some faux flowers, dried herbs, or seasonal greenery. Lavender is classic, both for its fragrance and looks, but you could also use mini sunflowers or a festive mix for the holidays. The great thing about this project is that there's little chance of it losing its allure — you can switch things up with new decorations in the fabric pocket depending on the time of year.

Florals aren't the thing you can house in your wood pocket display. Any small item that can fit inside the fabric pouch will work, whether it's decorative or functional. Why not let it do double duty as an organizer around your home? Mount the pocket display in your shed or anywhere you store your garden paraphernalia, and use it to hold seed packets, plant labels, or even small tools (provided your pocket is durable and big enough). It's a charming way to keep your essentials handy while adding rustic decor to your gardening space.

Another idea is to use this piece of rustic decor to honor your family recipes. Simply slip handwritten recipe cards into the pocket for display or storage. Swap out recipes every week, or keep your favorites close by for easy meal prep. You can prop the display on the counter or mount it on the wall if you want to showcase you handiwork. 

It can also work well near the front door for mail, mobile phones, or sunglasses to avoid misplacing them or creating clutter. If your craft room or workspace is a little messy, your farmhouse pocket can keep your paintbrushes, scissors, or other crafting tools neat. This DIY isn't just fun to make — it has the potential to be really useful as well — so get creative and make it uniquely yours.