The Hanging Fixture That Brings More Greenery To Your Kitchen Without Taking Up Surface Space

Many people enjoy having greenery in their homes, whether it's through the implementation of faux plants or the display of real ones. In areas of the home where there are a multitude of unassigned surfaces, it can be easy to find places to sit plants. In the kitchen, though, it's another story. Counters are used for food preparation and the table is used for enjoying meals. Many kitchens, especially small ones, simply don't have the surface space for greenery. Of course, you could install a ceiling hook for a hanging plant. While that's certainly a solution, it lacks uniqueness and creativity. 

There is a more unique way, though, to have lush greenery while creating extra counter space in your kitchen. It involves suspending a wooden platform from the ceiling. Multiple plants can then be set on top for display. For this budget-friendly plant display DIY, you need a lumber board wide enough to support your planters, a drill, eye hooks, and hooked hanging chains. Wood finish and spray paint will enhance the look of the end result, but they are optional.

This is a great way to not only add greenery to your kitchen but to draw attention upward in the room, making it appear larger than it is. That makes this the perfect plant display hack for small kitchens and those that are taken up by a kitchen island. There are some customization options that will take this plant display idea to the next level, too.

First, you will want to sand and stain your lumber board. If your hanging hardware needs to be spray-painted, do that before hanging as well. When you've got everything painted and looking nice, it's time to choose where you want to place your hanging fixture. Then, locate and mark the ceiling joists along the unit's path. Use a drill bit slightly smaller than your eye hooks' screws to put pilot holes into the marked spots. Then, twist the eye hooks into the holes. Use the same method to place eye hooks into the sides of your lumber board. The hooks should be placed on both sides of the board and spaced out to form a triangle with the hooks on the ceiling. Finally, it's time to hang your new stylish plant stand. To do this, thread the hanging chains through the ceiling hooks and attach them to the lumber hooks on both sides. Place your planters on the wooden plank, and you're done!

If your plank is hung evenly, your planters shouldn't be at risk of falling off unless they are bumped during the watering process. If you want to ensure that the planters don't tumble off while you are caring for the plants, spray paint and attach some low-profile plant saucers to the plank. You could do this with super glue or screw them to the board. Set your planters in the saucers for added stability.

This project will turn out great as-is, but there are so many ways you can upgrade your basic plant shelf. While this hack is ideal for displaying plants, it can also accommodate the addition of lighting. Of course, hiring an electrician to wire lighting onto the hanging plant stand might be an option for you. If you are trying to keep this DIY budget-friendly, though, there are some other lighting options to consider. Wireless sconces meant for mounting on walls can be attached along the sides of the plank to add a bit of extra light to the room. Stick-on, remote-controlled, under-cabinet puck lights can also be added to the top or bottom of the unit for an even easier lighting solution.

Other ways to customize this DIY include painting the plank with something other than wood stain. You can use a color that complements your kitchen's decor or make the plank a conversation piece by painting it a bright color. Another interesting element you can add is a stenciled pattern with flowers or shapes.

This isn't just a great solution for displaying plants in kitchens that lack surface space; it can be used to display plants in any room, as long as there's decent lighting. Also, if you want the look of greenery without live plants, you can display faux plants. You can even just hang the beam and wrap faux ivy around it.