How To DIY A Side Table To Do Double Duty As A Cooler

Relaxing on your porch with an ice-cold drink is one of life's simple pleasures. Lugging a cooler outside and having to get up and bend over to get another drink can quickly spoil the relaxing atmosphere, though. Not only is it a hassle that interrupts the moment, but coolers are also not particularly aesthetically pleasing. They stick out like a sore thumb and can make you feel like you're on an outing instead of in your own relaxing space. If you're experiencing this cold drink dilemma, there's a simple hack you should know about. You can DIY a cooler and side table combo that can enhance your home's front porch while keeping your drinks cold. This involves using a large fluted planter as the cooler and adding some drawer pulls to a stain-grade round board to make a lid. You then fill the planter with ice, place your favorite drinks inside, and put the lid on. With the top on, you can use the makeshift porch cooler as a side table to set your drink or book on.

This chic planter hack has lots of customization options. Not only is it great for keeping your drinks cold in the summer months, but it can also be used at other times of the year for small items that you want to keep accessible. No matter how you choose to personalize your new side table cooler, nobody will be able to tell that it's anything other than a cute table.

For this project, head to the home improvement store and get a large metal planter. It doesn't need to be any particular height or diameter. You should take into consideration the height of your porch or patio chairs, though. You may also want to choose a planter with a diameter that matches the size of the round boards that are available. Of course, if you find the perfect planter and there are no round boards that fit, you can buy a lumber piece and use a router circle jig or table saw circle jig to make your own lid. When you've selected your board, planter, and drawer pulls, all you need to do is attach a pull to each side of the top of the board. Do this by drilling pilot holes and then attaching them with screws. When you're done, just set the planter where you want it, fill it up with ice and drinks, and enjoy.

As far as customization options go, there is so much you can do. Just a few ideas are to paint your planter and lid to match your porch or patio decor, choose fancy drawer pulls, or give the planter a rustic look with chalk paint. If you can find an insulated bag of the right size, just place it inside the cooler before dumping the ice into it. That way, your drinks will stay cold for longer.